Lao PDR (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) has released a postage stamp showcasing Shri Ram Lalla of Ayodhya, becoming the first nation globally to feature this revered deity on a stamp. This issuance coincided with the visit of India’s external affairs minister, Dr. S Jaishankar, and underscores the profound civilisational and cultural connections between Lao PDR and India.
The statue of Shri Ram Lalla, depicting Lord Ram in his child form, is a significant element of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Made from black stone, this statue stands 51 inches tall and was ceremoniously placed in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum on January 22, 2024.
Laos is a landlocked country bordered to the north by China and to the northeast and east by Vietnam. Cambodia lies to the south of Laos, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar to the northwest. Laos is considered part of India’s extended neighbourhood, with only Myanmar separating it from India’s North East.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, and Lao PDR’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Saleumxay Kommasith, jointly unveiled the special commemorative postage stamp set during a ceremony in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. India’s ambassador to Laos, Prashant Agrawal, was also present at the event, which took place during Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to the Southeast Asian country for ASEAN meetings.
A good meeting with DPM and FM Saleumxay Kommasith of Lao PDR. Thanked him for the warm hospitality.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 27, 2024
Witnessed exchange of MoUs on 10 Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) for Laos under Mekong Ganga Cooperation and cooperation in sharing successful Digital Solutions.
Launched a… pic.twitter.com/XB02tPpJ80
The stamp set includes two distinct stamps: one featuring Lord Buddha of Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos and a significant Buddhist site, and the other depicting Lord Shri Ram of Ayodhya.
Buddhism and Hinduism have long served as a strong bridge between India and Lao PDR, with India being the birthplace of the two faiths and home to many important sites associated with them, which have a significant following in Southeast Asia.
The Ramayana is a revered epic in India and holds a special place in Laotian culture as well. In Laos, the Ramayana is known as Ramakien or the Story of Phra Lak Phra Ram and is often performed during auspicious occasions. The theme of the stamp set, “Celebrating Shared Cultural Heritage of Lao PDR and India,” symbolises the longstanding historical ties between the two nations.
According to some historical accounts, the Lao people’s original belief system was animism, which was later influenced by Indian culture. Hinduism followed, and subsequently, Buddhism became prominent. Buddhism has played a significant role in Lao history and influences nearly all aspects of Lao life today. Currently, about 65% of the Lao population practices Hinayana (Theravada) Buddhism, although animism still coexists with Buddhism.
The exact period of cultural contact between India and Laos is unclear due to a lack of historical records. However, it is generally accepted that Hindu and Buddhist practices were introduced to Laos in the early centuries of the Common Era, despite local traditions suggesting Buddhism arrived in Laos before Christ. According to these traditions, a Buddhist shrine (That) was built in Laos during Emperor Asoka’s reign, around the mid-third century BCE.
The Ourangkharittan chronicle mentions that Luang in Vientiane was originally constructed by a Buddhist monk, Phra Chao Chanthaburi Pasithisak, to house a relic from Rajgir in India.
Hinduism and Buddhism quickly became the official religions throughout Southeast Asia, with Sanskrit often serving as the main court language. In Laos, Buddhism and the Ramayana are the primary symbols of Indian culture.
The appeal of Hinduism and Buddhism in Southeast Asia was both political and spiritual. Southeast Asian states were chiefdoms with temporary rulers and uncertain succession lines. Although Hinduism and Buddhism were introduced peacefully, they inspired aspirations for universal kingship among Southeast Asian rulers. These rulers emulated King Asoka of India’s Maurya dynasty, who was regarded as a chakravartin, or universal ruler, and a role model in Southeast Asia. Hinduism and Buddhism provided an elaborate system of beliefs and rituals that enabled Southeast Asian rulers to claim divine legitimacy by identifying with Vishnu, Shiva, or Buddha, and to build larger, more organised polities or empires.
This led to the establishment of a more organised and enduring political order in Southeast Asia, though some elements of the previous political fabric remained. This transformed Southeast Asia into a region of mandalas (a Sanskrit word meaning ‘sacred circle’). In daily life, rituals, customs, and public ceremonies still show traces of Hindu influence. For example, the traditional greeting to learned persons and religious teachers by joining hands at the heart level is similar to the Indian practice of Pranam.
Underscoring the shared cultural heritage that spans the Southeast Asian region for millennia and deepening ties between India and Laos, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) commenced the restoration of the fifth-century Wat Phou Hindu Temple, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
UNESCO describes the temple complex as embodying the Hindu concept of the connection between nature and humanity. The site also includes two planned cities along the Mekong River and Phou Kao Mountain. The Wat Phou temple, which dates from the 5th to 15th centuries, is primarily linked to the Khmer Empire.
Wat Phou temple was reportedly constructed for Lord Shiva in the fifth century. The site features mythological scriptures dedicated to Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. However, with the spread of Buddhism in Southeast Asia, the temple was converted into a Buddhist shrine.
In 1955, Laos released a set of 6 stamps on Ramayana depicting Lord Rama, Sita, Raavan & Hanumaan.
In 1971, it issued another stamp that depicted Matsya fighting with Lord Hanuman.
Cambodia
Not just Laos but South Asia shares its cultural heritage with India, its traditions, and religions that have spawned from here. To the south of Laos lies Cambodia, another nation whose cultural and social fabric has been deeply influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism.
The roots of Hinduism in Cambodia date back to the Funan Kingdom, which ruled from 100 BC to 500 AD, with kings worshipping Vishnu and Shiva during this era. Hinduism continued to be the dominant religion when the Khmer Empire rose to power, maintaining its prominence until the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1218). Nothing testifies it more prominently than the Angkor Wat Temple, located within 402 acres sprawling within the ancient Khmer capital city of Angkor, it is considered as the largest religious structure in the world by Guinness World Records. It is one of the few temples in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma.
Hindu iconography is prevalent in many of the temples within the park, offering historians insights into the Kingdom’s religious history. This includes Khmer representations of Ganesha and Hanuman, as well as bas-relief carvings illustrating scenes from the Ramayana, known as the Reamker in Cambodia, which remains a significant element in traditional performances.
As a mark of tribute to its Hindu past, Cambodia brought out several stamps on Hindu deities. While Buddhism is the main religion (nearly 97% of the population is Buddhist) of Cambodia, Hindus account for less than 0.2% of the overall population. However, Cambodia has clung to its Hindu past and issued several stamps on the same. In 1964, Cambodia issued a set of 5 stamps on Hanumaan.
In 2006, Cambodia issued a set of 5 stamps depicting Luv Kush, Lord Rama, Sita, Raavan and Hanumaan. It also issued a miniature sheet featuring Matasya with Hanumaan.
Thailand
Thailand, another Southeast Asian country, has nearly 95% of its population practising Buddhism. Hindus constitute around 0.03% of the total population.
Hinduism in Thailand dates back to more than 2,000 years ago. Several factors, including immigration from India, trade and cultural ties have contributed to the growing influence of Hinduism, and later of Buddhism in Thailand. The famous Thai epic Ramakien is derived from the Buddhist Dasaratha Jataka, a Thai adaptation of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Thailand’s national emblem features Garuda, the mount (vahana) of Vishnu.
The city of Ayutthaya, located near Bangkok, is named after Ayodhya, the birthplace of Rama. Many Hindu rituals are still observed, including the use of holy strings and the pouring of water from conch shells. Additionally, many Thais worship Hindu-Buddhist deities, such as Brahma at the renowned Erawan Shrine, along with statues of Ganesha, Indra, and Shiva.
The effect of the Hindu culture on Thai society is also heavily reflected in its philately. In 1973, Indonesia issued a set of 8 stamps depicting various scenes from Ramayana which included Ashoka Vatika, Ravana’s Parasol, Vanara Sena crossing the sea etc.
In 2005 it issued a set of 4 stamps that depicted Rama meeting Sita, Ravana, Hanumaan and Ram fighting Ravana.
In 2014, it issued a set of 2 miniature sheets depicting Ganesha. (Pic 17). In 2016, it issued a set of 2 stamps as part of a joint issue with Indonesia, depicting scenes from Ramayana.
Whether it is India, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, or Indonesia, every country has a unique Hindu tradition that adds to the rich tapestry of the multi-religious societies these nations embody and give a glimpse into the diversity and tolerance of multiple interpretations of the faith that Hinduism uniquely offers.
