สำนักงานราชบัณทิตยสภา

99  The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume IV - 2012 Ramakien. The character of Ravana’s younger brother, who joins Rama’s side, is called Bibhesana in King Rama VI’s Ramakien. This character is known as Bibhek in the earlier Ramakien. Bibhek is an astrologer and a timid character who is afraid of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Indrajita. However, King Rama VI depicted him as a brave warrior in the same way he is depicted in the Valmiki Ramayana. Bibhesana is righteous and he is afraid of no one. King Rama VI composed the following episodes of the Ramakien (King Rama VI, 1959) Losing Sita, Part I : Surapanakha’s Jealousy Part II : Catching the Golden Deer The Burning of Longka Bibhesana Driven out of Longka Building the Causeway to Longka Part I and Part II Wars with Longka (in three parts) Part I : Sukasaran in Disguise Part II : Sugriva Breaks the Royal Umbrella Part III: Angad Delivers Rama’s Message Nagapasa (The Arrows of Naga) In the introduction of King Rama VI’s Ramakien, the king clearly explains his purpose for composing the Ramakien; that it was meant only for performing Khon. Accordingly, each episode contains texts for singing, recitations, as well as dialogues, making it more suitable for performance rather than for pure reading. King Rama VI said that he did not wish to compete with the former royal compositions which he could never match (Rama VI, 1959: p.a). King Rama VI’s promotion of Khon Although Khon had been performed regularly before King Rama VI’s time, it was formerly a court ritual or court entertainment, not meant for the general public. Originally, Khon performance was called “Kan Len Duek Dam Ban” (Kan Len means ‘performance’, Duek Dam Ban means ‘ancient’) It was perfomed in the Indrabhisek Ceremony which is the re-enactment of “the churning of the ocean” to obtain the sacred drink that gives immortality. The Devas (gods) and Asuras (divine evil beings) unite their efforts to churn the cosmic ocean, using a mountain bound by a giant naga to Srisurang Poolthupya