Ramakien (Ramayana in India) is the tale of the God Vishnu who incarnated as Rama to punish the Yaksa Totsagan - this is the story of Pra Ram and his Consort Sita (Nang Sida). Thai Ramakian Tale is one of the foundations of Buddhist Literature in Thailand, and is taught in every Primary school.
Nontok was born on Earth as the Yak Totsagan; his father was Lord Latsatian and Lady Ratchadaa (Taaw latsatian + Naang Ratchadaa). He grew up to become Ruler of Langka (what is now Sri Langka). His female Consort (called "Mahaesii", in Thai), was "Naang Montoe (who shall be appearing in her own story in a later post i shall make here). Naang Montoe has her own story, which must be told in a different place and time. Naang Montoe recieved her wish to get hold of a piece of "Khaw Tip" (divine rice, kind of similar to the "Manna" mentioned in the old Testament). Upon eating the divine rice, she became pregnant, and gave birth to a princess (who was the avatar of lakshmi - Vishnu's wife).Totsagan's (Nontok's) younger brother was named "Pipaek". Pipaek foretold in a prophetic moment, that the princess would cause the laying to waste of the Yak race, so they put the baby princess into a container and pushed it down the river to float away with the current. The container with the little princess floated downstream until it came to rest on the banks of the river next to the Ashram of the Ruesi (hermit) "Chanok". Phra Ruesi Chanok looked at the face of the little princess and saw her purity and beauty, and decided that he would raise the child as his adopted child.Because Ruesi Chanok still had to finish his 6 years hermitage in solitude, he was not yet able to cater for a young princess's needs. So he put the princess into a sleep and buried the container with the princess inside beneath the roots of a mangrove tree. Whilst he was doing this, he chanted a kata and called the Angelic beings (Deva) to protect her. As this was being said, a lotus flower rose up from the hole in the ground to recieve the princess, in her container.
Below Picture; The Hermit (Ruesi) Chanok finally ended his 6 years of solitude in the forest, in order to take up his duty as Ruler of the Kingdom (for the Hermit Chanok was, in fact the King of this region). He asked one of his servants, Nay Some, to plough the earth and look for Naang Siidaa.When Nay Some cannot find her, Phra Rasii Chanok performs the "Pitii Buong Swong" (ceremony of offerings) and then ploughs the earth himself..... After some time he finds the lotus that recieved the princess and manages to unearth the container. When the container is opened, all are surprised to see that the princess had grown 16 year old. Chanok gave her the name Lady Sita or, "Naang Siidaa" in Thai, which means in sanskrit - marks of the plough.
Hanuman is a white humanoid monkey (a kind of albino) - he has a very special recognition point; in the middle of the roof of his mouth is a crystal fang.
He has the supernatural ability to change form and have 4 faces and 8 arms. He can yawn and bark, and starts and moons are ejected. His weapon is the Dtrii Paetch (short trident, which he uses when receiving Yaks of high importance). He is extremely able and agile - he has the ability to disappear. He is the hertbeat of "Kong Grapan" magick, even when he is killed by deadly weapons, after a while he begins to come to his senses and comes back to life. Hanuman is the Son of the Angelic Deities / Consciousnesses, "Phra Paay, and "Naang Sawaaha". Naang Sawaaha was cursed by her mother, and was left alone in the barren realm, Phra Isworn (Shiva), ordered Phra Paay to take Phra Isworn's weapon and throw it into the mouth of Naang sawaaha. Naang Sawaaha became pregnant from this, and gave birth to an albino that flew out of Naang Sawaaha's mouth and hovered in the air! He was named "Hanuman", and it is believed that Phra Paay is his Father, because of this legend.Hanuman was a major character in theRamakian/Ramayana, because of his great self sacrifice in lending his services as monkey general of Phra Ram's (Rama) Army, and ending the war virtually singlehandedly with all his superhero-like feats. "ลอยอยู่ตรงพักตร์ ชนนี รัศมีโชติช่วงในเวหา มีกุณฑล ขนเพชรอลงการ์ เขี้ยวแก้วแววฟ้า มาลัย หาวเป็นดาวเดือนระวีวร แปดกร สี่หน้าสูงใหญ่ สำแดงแผลงฤทธิ์ เกรียงไกร แล้วลงมาไหว ้พระมารดร" Hanuman is assumed to be immortal and invulnerable (he was resurrected from the dead once in the Ramakian). The reason for his immortality being, that he is the son of Phra Paay (the wind/air God), and so, whenever he is killed and lays dead on the floor, it only requires a breath of wind to blow upon him and he is revived miraculously through the power of his Father "Phra Paay".
Hanuman is also renowned for his powers of being able to expand his body to giant size, and also to stretch his tail to incredible lengths (like in the story where he uses his tail to bridge the ocean to Langka)
Hanuman's role in the Ramakian;
Hanuman has many roles and many character traits are displayed in the various stories about this simian superhero, which enthrall, and capture the hearts of his audience.In Hindu India, monkeys are generally revered and respected because of hanuman's role in the Ramayana, and many "monkey temples" are to be found in every town.Humanoid Monkeys generally tend to play a role as soldiers in Phra Ram's army, hanuman being Phra ram's commanding general. Hanuman has been incorporated into various belief systems spreading across the Far East and South East Asia, from India to Bali, over China to Japan. He is to be found in many myths and legends (apart from Ramakian). From the Thai point of view, hanuman is a hero figure, brave and able, both clever, and physically agile. He was used in olden times in Thailand as the mascot of the Gabee Tuch Pennant (ธงกบี่ธึช) when entering into battle.Hanuman is often used in the building of edifices, ad of course, for protection in Sak Yant tattoo. Especially in the Khone theater, which depicts mostly scenes from ramakian, Hanuman seems to attract more interest than any other character in the story; especially from children! Because Hanuman is a figure with a personality that stands out more than anybody else - he wears white, has white fur - shrugs heavy attacks off with a laugh..absolutely invincible.Hanuman may be really the first Superhero of history.He is a master of the dancing arts, with such a gracious way of behaving and speaking....wherever Hanuman appears, he is center stage. Hanuman became Phra Ram's commanding General, by volunteering for duty and prepared to sacrifice his life, with no expectation of any reward, and no promise from Phra Ram of any recompensation of any sort!Whatever m ission Hanuman recieved from Phra ram, however difficult, tiring or impossible it seemd; whether it was to fly and lift a mountain with herbs on it (needed to heal Phra Laksaman and Phra Ram, or to go steal the chariot of the sun. If you compare Hanuman to other faithful servants of Phra ram, like Pipaek or Sukriip, you will have to admit that Hanuman has to labour more and suffer more toil, especially considering the fact that Phra Ram offered no reward, and that Phra Ram had never helped Hanuman in any way before this time. Hanuman's greatest toil and strugle, the mission with the most danger, where Hanuman sacrificed his self the most, where he must have felt down the most, was the chapter where "Hanuman offers the Ring"
The Ramayana & Ramakian can be supposed to be essentially one and the same thing.Unfortunately, this is not exactly the case; Indonesian Hindus and Indian Hindus can watch some of the "Hong" (scenes) from Thailand's Ramakian and not understand what is going on. This is because, as the Ramayana spread throughout South-East-Asia, it received "adaptations' and additions to the story in order to make it more easy to relate to with local audiences. Ramakian Heirarchies & Family Trees. For anyone intending to read and understand the Ramakian to it's full extent, it is important to learn the lineages of ancestry from which the main figures of the Ramakian emerged. I shall attempt to give a catalogue of the main characters and their ancestries. I shall give the family trees of both the Human, and the Yaksa races.
The Families will be catalogued as such; 1.The Royal family of Ayodhaya (Ayuttaya in Thailand is named after it). This is Phra Ram's Family. 2.The Royal Family of Langka - This is the race of Yaks ยักษ์, or "Yaksa", Yaksa is a Giant. Totsagan (the reincarnation of Nontuk), was born into this Family. 3.The Royal Family of Khiid Khin - This is the race of "Vanora"วานร (called "Waanorn", in Thai), meaning "monkey". The Hero General of Phra Ram's army, Hanuman, is from this Famliy tree, along with other well known major Characters from the Ramakian, such as; Onkot, Sukriip, Paalii, and Hanuman's son "Majchaanu. Family Trees will appear below as i add them. (meaning i return to update this and other posts as i go along) FAMILY TREE - AYODHAYA. Click on the Image to see enlarged pic and read the family tree.
Now that Nontuk and Phra Naaraayn have been born on Earth as Phra Ram พระราม and Totsagan ทศกัณฐ์์, it is perhaps time to introduce you to Vishnu's (Phra Ram's) "Mahaesii" - เมหสี(Consort)ว IN the heavenly realms, Vishnu always is accompanied by his Consort, Phra Lakshmi. Lakshmi always follows Vishnu in his incarnations, and is usually born in the vicinity of him, growing up to meet and be his consort in all incarnations. Naang Siidaa is the incarnation of Vishnu's Consort, Phra Lakshmi, and therefore fulfills the prophecy in becoming Phra Ram's wife. It is important not to forget that the Yak Totsagan (Nontuk reincarnated), sees and desires Naang Siidaa, but inf act she is his own daughter, because she is the same child that he threw down the river years before. This element of incests is often overlooked or not spoken about in most circles. I find it an interesting twist in the fact that Totsagan doesn't know he is desiring his own daughter. It is also remarkable when you consider that Naang Siidaa is depicted as human, her Father was a Yak, and her mother was Naang Montoe (ex Consort of Phra Intr,or Indra if you like). Naang Montoe had a human appearance, so obviously Naang Siidaa got her looks from her Mother.
Phra Isworn (พระอิศวร) Phra Isworn is the Thai name for the Deity Shiva, or Siva, if you like. In the Ramayana Phra ram and Naang Siidaa, along with Totsagan, all come from a previous incarnation in the heavenly realms, where the Three Lords of Heaven rule; Phra Isworn (Shiva), Phra Prohm (Brahma), and Phra Naaraayn (Vishnu Narayan). Phra Isworn is the highest of all three, due to the fact that he has never been born (avatared). Phra Naaraayn likes to help the Humans and beings in dire distress and suffering. Vishnu (Phra Naaraayn), is accounted to have 10 Avatars (incarnations), 9 of which have already foregone us. Krishna, Phra Ram, Buddha, and the future Buddha Maitreya are of his manifestations. Vishnu has a Consort (Lakshmi), who always follows him on his births as an Avatar of Vishnu. In the Ramakian, she manifests as Naang Siidaa.
