12/04/2024
The western entrance of the Pimai stone temple’s main building showcases a captivating carving on its lintel. In the top portion of the relief, there is a depiction of a man reclining on the lap of another. The reclining figure seems to be bound with what looks like tightly wound rope. The faces of the seated individuals are hidden, stealthily chiseled away by a thief, making it impossible to discern their feelings. Nonetheless, it can be surmised from the sorrowful demeanor of the surrounding monkeys.
This actually belongs to the Indian epic, the Ramayana, which spans nearly 100,000 verses. To put it in perspective, the combined length of the Iliad and Odyssey is under 40,000 verses. Despite being the world's second-longest epic, it falls short of the Mahabharata, the longest epic, by fourfold. Wherever Hinduism spreads its influence, it brings along the Ramayana and Mahabharata together.
The core of the Ramayana revolves around Prince Rama's banishment to the forest, forsaking his kingdom. Subsequently, Rama and his princely brother, Lakshmana, muster a monkey army to confront the army of the demon king Ravana, who abducted Rama's wife, Sita. In the end, righteousness prevails over evil as Rama defeats Ravana and rescues Sita.
The relief portrays the narrative of Rama assembling a troop of monkeys to confront the formidable demon prince, Indrajit, the son of Ravana. Indrajit possesses a unique arrow known as Nagapasha, which, upon being launched, metamorphoses into a mystical serpent entwining its prey. Consequently, the prone figure represents Rama, ensnared not by a mere rope but by the serpent itself. A closer observation reveals Lakshmana's proximity to Rama's head, indicating both siblings being ensnared by the serpent.
Hanuman, the renowned white monkey of great prowess, knew of the herbs nearby. Once the serpent inhales the fragrance, it loses its grip and cannot resist. Subsequently, Hanuman flew to the mountain where the herbs grew, despite his uncertainty about their exact identity. Consequently, he transported the entire mountain to the battlefield. As the wind carried the scent of the herbs to the serpent, Rama and Lakshmana were liberated from its coils.
The Thai adaptation of the Ramayana, known as "Ramakien," is performed as a masked dance drama in Thailand. Recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it represents various Thai fine arts traditions. If you ever get the chance, make sure to see it at least once—it's sure to leave a lasting impression.
In this version of the story, as depicted in Ramakien, there's a deviation from the usual narrative. The conflict during the battle with Indrajit focuses solely on Lakshmana and Indrajit, with Rama choosing not to participate in combat, remaining at the camp. When Lakshmana is struck by the Nagapasha arrow, wielded by the demon prince Indrajit, a defected demon named Phiphek informs Rama of the dire situation. Upon Rama's arrival at the battlefield, he uses an arrow to call upon Garuda, a creature with both bird and human features, to remove the serpent from Lakshmana's body.
For today, we'll provide you with a recording of a Ramakien performance, focusing on the battle scene, for your enjoyment. Don't worry if you don't speak Thai—you'll still be able to understand and have a great time.
Here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDzGtnf57l0
More stories, more fun.
