Ramayan of Thailand

Thai Ramayan is the national epic of Thailand, it is taught also in universities and schools of Thailand.

The names of the characters-

Phra Narai/Witsanu (Narayana/Vishnu)

Phra Isuan/Siwa (Isvara/Shiva)

Phra Phrom (Brahma)

Phra Uma-thewi (Uma/Parvati) - Consort of Phra Isuan

Phra Laksami (Lakshmi) Consort of

Phra Narai Phra In (Indra) - The King of thevadas- lesser celestial deities. Father of Pali.

A-thit (Aditya or Surya) - the solar deity.

Phra Phai (Vayu) - the wind deity. Father of Hanuman

Phra Witsawakam/Witsanukam (Vishvakarman)

Phra Ram (Ram) - The son of the king Tosarot of Ayutthaya and the Incarnation of Pra Narai. Nang Sida (Sita) - The wife of Pra Ram, who embodies purity and fidelity. Incarnation of Nang Lakshmi. Phra Lak (Lakshman), Pra Phrot (Bharata) and Pra Satrut (Shatrughna) - half-brothers of Pra Ram, who represent the reincarnated possessions of Pra Narai. Thotsarot (Dasaratha) -often called Thao Tosarot. King of Ayutthaya and father of Pra Ram and his brothers. Nang Kaosuriya (Kausalya) - one of the three wives of Tosarot, mother of Pra Ram. Nang Kaiyakesi (Kaikeyi) - one of the three wives of Tosarot, mother of Pra Phrot. Nang Samut-thewi (Sumitra) - one of the three wives of Tosarot, mother of Pra Laks and Pra Satrut. Friends of Phra Ram Hanuman - God-king of the apes, who supported Pra Ram and acted as the monkey general. Pali Thirat (Vali) - King of Kitkin, elder brother of Sukreep and uncle of Hanuman. Sukreep (Sugriv) - Viceroy of Kitkin, younger brother of Pali and uncle of Hanuman.

Some Distinguishing features of Hinduism

Hinduism has certain unique features that distinguishes it from all other religions.

1. According to Hinduism God is one indivisible, universal and eternal self. The one becomes many and the many have to return eventually to the one as a part of the process of creation and destruction.

2. Hinduism believes that man is eventually divine in nature.The basic purpose of a human being is to realize his divine nature and return to his original abode.

3. Hinduism firmly declared that desire is the root cause of suffering. Actions performed out of desires and attachment lead to bondage and suffering.

4. Hinduism also believes that world is an illusion or maya. Attachment with it is the cause of birth and death. When a person overcomes his delusion and attachment to the world with his knowledge, selfless actions, detachment and withdrawal of senses, he attains liberation.

5. It is said that each being is born numerous times on earth until it attains liberation. The physical body is just like a garment which is worn and discarded at the end of each lifetime of the soul.

6. Not only human being but also all living beings contains the individual self. Beings continue to evolve and degenerate in to lower life forms upon the actions they perform in the period of lifetime. Human life is a precious opportunity to attain liberation.

7. God is a dynamic and active principle who is responsible for all happenings in all worlds. He upholds and enforces the divine law(Dharma) to keep the world in peace. When the world goes in to disorder or when evil gains ascendance, he incarnates upon earth to destroy the evil.

8. Hinduism also believes in the concept of Karma according to which all actions produce positive or negative consequences. One should perform their actions selflessly without desire for their fruit and offer them to god as sacrificial offering.

9. Hinduism is not a dogmatic religion. It affirms that the paths to God are many and whatever path one may choose, one will attain them only at the end. One should exercise discretion in choosing one's spiritual path and methods of worship.

10. Hinduism does not believe in converting other people to its faith especially when they are not qualified and when they are not ready. An individual has the freedom to choose his or her faith but no one should force others or tempt them with reward to change their faith. It would be a great disservice to humanity.

Upanishads

The term Upanishad literally means "sitting down near" or "sitting close to" and implies listening close to the mystic doctrines of a guru or a spiritual teacher who has cognized the fundamental truths of universe. In other words Upanishads means Brahma knowledge by which ignorance is annihilated. Historians say that Upanishads were composed from around 800-400 BC. Several versions of the writings have been written later several times.

It has been found that there are more than 200 Upanishads written. But only 13 of it has been identified out as presenting core teachings. They are Chandogya, Kena, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Katha, Mundaka, Taittriyaka, Brihadaranyaka, Svetasvatara, Isa, Prasna, Mandukya and Maitri Upanishads.

One of the writing in Brihadaranyaka upanishad is as follows: 
"From the unreal lead me to the real!
From darkness lead me to light!
From death lead me to immortality!"

The authors of upanishads are many and cannot be highlighted with a single author. According to some scholars the main figure in the upanishads is Yajnavalkya , the great sage who propounded the doctrine of neti-neti, the view that 'truth can be found only through the negation of all thoughts about it'. Other important sages are Uddalaka Aruni, Shwetaketu, Shandiliya, Aitareya, Pippalada, Sanat kumara etc. Many earlier Vedic philosophers like Manu, Brihaspathi, Ayasya and Narada are also in upanishads.