Sahasrabahu - The Prince of Bengal Who Ruled Thailand
●|| Sahasrabahu - The Prince of Bengal Who Ruled Thailand ||●
The Aryan Hindu Civilization was brought to Thailand indeed by the Bengalees. As per history, Mahārājādhirāja Sahasrabāhu, the son of Baṅgarāja Siṁhabāhu, brother of Laṅkāpati Vijaẏa founded his dynasty in Thailand and granted the land a Sanskrit name Śyāmadēśa 🇹🇭
The Aryan Hindu Civilization was brought to Thailand indeed by the Bengalees. As per history, Mahārājādhirāja Sahasrabāhu, the son of Baṅgarāja Siṁhabāhu, brother of Laṅkāpati Vijaẏa founded his dynasty in Thailand and granted the land a Sanskrit name Śyāmadēśa 🇹🇭
Most of us are familiar with the legendary tale of Prince Vijaya, the eldest son of King Simhabahu of the ancient Bengali kingdom of Singhapura, who sailed to Sri Lanka and established the Sinhala royal dynasty. His story is well documented in Sri Lankan chronicles such as the "Mahavamsa" and "Dipavamsa".
However, what remains less known is the remarkable journey of his younger brother, Prince Sahasrabahu, who, much like his elder brother, played a crucial role in expanding Bengali influence in Southeast Asia. Historical traditions and cultural imprints suggest that Prince Sahasrabahu sailed eastward and laid the foundations of what would later become the kingdom of Siam — present-day Thailand.
Under his leadership, Bengali culture, Gaudiya art, architecture, and religious practices spread across large parts of Southeast Asia. Evidence of this cultural diffusion can be seen in the region’s ancient temples and monuments. Notably, the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, as well as several ancient temples in Thailand, bear clear signs of Bengali-Gaudiya architectural styles and iconography.
These temples, adorned with motifs reminiscent of ancient Bengal, stand as enduring symbols of this forgotten cultural bridge between Bengal and Southeast Asia. The presence of these stylistic elements—such as terracotta ornamentation, lotus motifs, and Gaudiya temple layouts—serve as strong archaeological indicators of this historical link.
Thus, the founding of Siam by Prince Sahasrabahu of Singhapura marks a lost yet glorious chapter in the maritime and cultural history of Bengal, reminding us of the far-reaching impact of ancient Bengali civilization well beyond the Indian subcontinent.
Source : Rarh The Cradle Of Civilization ( Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, 1981), by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar; Richard Gauthier, Publication date 1981.
However, what remains less known is the remarkable journey of his younger brother, Prince Sahasrabahu, who, much like his elder brother, played a crucial role in expanding Bengali influence in Southeast Asia. Historical traditions and cultural imprints suggest that Prince Sahasrabahu sailed eastward and laid the foundations of what would later become the kingdom of Siam — present-day Thailand.
Under his leadership, Bengali culture, Gaudiya art, architecture, and religious practices spread across large parts of Southeast Asia. Evidence of this cultural diffusion can be seen in the region’s ancient temples and monuments. Notably, the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, as well as several ancient temples in Thailand, bear clear signs of Bengali-Gaudiya architectural styles and iconography.
These temples, adorned with motifs reminiscent of ancient Bengal, stand as enduring symbols of this forgotten cultural bridge between Bengal and Southeast Asia. The presence of these stylistic elements—such as terracotta ornamentation, lotus motifs, and Gaudiya temple layouts—serve as strong archaeological indicators of this historical link.
Thus, the founding of Siam by Prince Sahasrabahu of Singhapura marks a lost yet glorious chapter in the maritime and cultural history of Bengal, reminding us of the far-reaching impact of ancient Bengali civilization well beyond the Indian subcontinent.
Source : Rarh The Cradle Of Civilization ( Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, 1981), by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar; Richard Gauthier, Publication date 1981.
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