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A primary link between India and Cambodia that dates back over a millennium is an interesting version of the epic Ramayana, which has recorded the trials and tribulations of Ram in some 48,000 Sanskrit verses.
The Reamker, the Cambodian version of the Ramayana, has a strong Buddhist influence and the image of Ram, an incarnation of Vishnu, the preserver in Hinduism's Trinity, has been modified to resemble that of Siddhartha, who eventually became the Buddha. While the bas-reliefs of the famous Angkor temples depict several episodes of the Ramayana, there are also some Buddhist monasteries here that have preserved some palm-leaf manuscripts of Reamker among their sacred texts.
"Reamker in Cambodia dates back to the third century," said Mil loom, a government-approved guide, who claims to have joined the profession when he was all of five. "The Angkor Wat temple has several episodes from the Reamker in the stone carvings," he added, showing a scene from the epic depicting a fight between two monkey lords that is engraved in the temple.
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visited the temple, which has been conserved and restored by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), on Wednesday.
Interestingly, the local influence is also evident from the fact that Agni, the Hindu fire god, rides a rhinoceros in the Cambodian version of the Ramayana, rather than a ram as in Valmiki's original Sanskrit edition. The central theme of the epic - victory of good over evil and the essence of its protagonist s a model son, emperor, mentor and husband is well preserved in the Reamker. But it also has innovations not round in Indian versions.
Save Hanuman, the names of the main characters of the epic stand either modified or changed altogether.
Ram, for example, is Preah Ream, Lakshman is Preah Leak, Sita is Neang Seda and Ravana is Krong Reap.
The Reamker also has some additional characters, such as Nil Ek, the aide-de-camp of Ram's trusted follower and monkey general Hanuman, and Sovann Maccha, the queen of the mermaids.
Sovann Maccha first thwarts attempts by Preah Ream's monkey soldiers to build a bridge over the mighty sea to the land of giant ogres called Krong Langka, (an adaptation of Lanka in the Indian epic), where Neang Seda is held captive by Krong Reap. She later Relents after Hanuman plans to seduce her into supporting his cause, which is to rescue Preah Ream's wife, Neang Seda, from the clutches of the 10-headed ruler of Langka, Krong Reap.
The Cambodian version of the Ramayana is among the numerous adaptations of the epic among Asian nations, just as there are different versions in India.
Hikayat Seri Ram of Malaysia has a distinct influence of Islam. Thais believe that Ramakein is their own creation and that Ram was a native of Thailand. In Myanmar, Ram is described as a pious Buddhist king, while Tibetans say that Sita was the daughter of Dasagriva, or Ravana.
Besides Ramaker's instructional
and religious importance, episodes from the Ramaker are often performed
within villages for magical purposes. When there drought the people hope
the performance will rain. (IANS)
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