SHRI SAI LEELA - Under Construction

SHRI SAI LEELA – APRIL 1986by Asoka. A collection of fables and traditional legends dating backfrom the 5th century B.C. give as the ancestors of the present kingssome of the Buddhas first disciples. Early Buddhist sculpturesreflecting the most primitive ideas of Buddhism provide undoubtedly avery strong argument in favour of an early colonisation of southernSiam by Indian Buddhists. The small Indianized kingdoms of Siam,which in centuries were knit by the Thais into a United Thailand, haveleft us archaeological remains some of which are among the mostancient in the peninsula. "The archaeology of Siam embraces themost diverse styles each of which is characteristic one of the epochsof Indian culture in the countries lying to the East of India." Buddhiststatuettes and other relics discovered in Pong Tuk (Southern Siam)show distinct Amaravati influences. Other Statues and bas-reliefs of alater date give evidence of Cupta influence. Some of these relics giveevidence of stimulus exercised by the monumental rock-carvings atAjanta Ellora and elsewhere. In the small Indianised States ofSouthern Siam and others under Funan political influence are foundtraces of Saivism and later, about the fifth century, of Vaisnavism. AChinese text of the fifth century affirms that "in the kingdom of Tunsunthere are more than a thousand Brahmans of India. The peopleof Tun-sun practice their doctrine and give them their daughters inmarriage; consequently many of these Brahmans do not go away."Some of the geographical names in Siam of this period, Dvaravati,Sukhodaya, Lopaburi (Lavapuri the city of Lava, son of the epic heroRama), Kanburi (Kanakapuri, the city of gold), are further evidence ofcontacts with India.17WWW.SAILEELAS.ORG