สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume II - 2010 Śaivism in Thailand as Recorded in Inscriptions and Old Documents from Sixth Century to Early Ayudhyā Period 44 Śaivism in Thailand as Recorded in Inscriptions and Old Documents from Sixth Century to Early Ayudhyā Period Chirapat Prapandvidya Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute, Academy of Arts Abstract From the literary evidence the contact between India and Southeast Asia must have begun a few centuries before the Christian era. Śaivism, as one of the major sects of Hinduism, must have existed in Thailand, especially in the northeastern and eastern parts, as early as the 6 th century CE, as evidenced by the earliest inscriptions written in Sanskrit. It can be assumed that the Thai people, who appeared in Southeast Asia as early as the 11 th century CE, before the Sukhodaya period, must have adopted Buddhism as well as Hinduism as their religions, similar to the Mons and Khmers who also occupied the area which is now present day Thailand. Based on the high frequency of inscriptions belonging to Śaivism found in northeastern Thailand it is quite certain that Śaivism was very influential from 6 th to the early 12 th century. It began to decline during the time when the Buddhist King Jayavarman VII came into power between the later part of 12 th century and the early 13 th century. In spite of Singhalese Buddhism being adopted as the state religion by King Rama Khamhaeng, the third king of Sukhodaya, Brahmanism was also practiced along with Buddhism by the Thais, and this has remained the same in Thailand ever since. Key words: Thailand Śaivism, inscriptions, old documents Indian Contact with Southeast Asia The region known collectively as Suvarṇabhūmi and Suvarṇadvīpa , roughly implied, in those days, Southeast Asia. “There are many references to sea voyages between Indian ports and Suvarṇabhūmi or Suvarṇadvīpa in old popular stories in the Sanskrit works based upon the lost Bṛhat-kathā, as well as Buddhist Jātakas , Jain Samarāichcha-kathā and other works. The heroes of most of these stories are