Ramakien - Thai

My fur is as white as a fresh jasmine flower, and my strength can move mountains. My name is Hanuman, and I am a warrior, the son of the wind god, and loyal to the greatest prince in the world, Phra Ram. Long ago, in the golden city of Ayodhya, where temple spires glittered in the sun and the air smelled of sweet incense, lived the noble Phra Ram and his beautiful wife, Nang Sida. Their love was as bright and warm as the morning sun, a light for the whole kingdom to see. But even the brightest light can attract the darkest shadows. A terrible shadow was creeping towards their kingdom from across the sea, a shadow that belonged to the fearsome, ten-headed demon king, Thotsakan of Lanka. He was jealous of their happiness and wanted Nang Sida for himself. Our story, one of courage, loyalty, and the fight between good and evil, is known throughout Thailand as the Ramakien.

One fateful day, while Phra Ram and his brother Phra Lak were deep in the forest, the wicked Thotsakan used his dark magic to create a distraction. He transformed one of his demons into a beautiful golden deer that danced before Nang Sida. Enchanted, she asked Phra Ram to capture it for her, and he and Phra Lak went after it, leaving her alone. That was Thotsakan’s chance. He disguised himself as a holy man and tricked Nang Sida, grabbing her and flying away on his chariot to his island kingdom of Lanka. When Phra Ram returned to find his beloved wife gone, his heart was shattered into a thousand pieces. He vowed he would search the ends of the earth to get her back, and that is when I, Hanuman, pledged my life to help him. I am no ordinary monkey, you see. I can change my size from as small as a fly to as large as a mountain, and I can leap across entire oceans. Phra Ram trusted me to find where Thotsakan had taken his wife. With a mighty push, I leaped into the air, my long white tail trailing behind me like a comet. Can you imagine flying so high that the clouds feel like pillows beneath you? I soared over the vast blue sea for days until I finally spotted the dark shores of Lanka. The city was a fortress of black stone, guarded by grotesque demons with sharp teeth. I made myself as small as a gnat and slipped past the guards, searching every corner until I found Nang Sida in a lonely garden, crying but still full of hope. I gave her Phra Ram’s ring as a sign that help was on its way. Before leaving, I decided to give Thotsakan a little warning. I changed back to my normal size and let his guards capture me. “A monkey spy!” they shouted. They wrapped my tail in oily rags to set it on fire, but I just smiled. As they lit the flame, I used my magic to make my tail grow longer and longer, until it was a giant, fiery whip. I leaped from rooftop to rooftop, setting the demon king's palace ablaze. Lanka burned as I flew back to Phra Ram with the good news.

When I returned, Phra Ram was overjoyed to know Nang Sida was safe. Now, we just had to get to her. We gathered a great army of monkeys and bears, brave warriors from all over the land. But how could an army cross the ocean? We built a bridge. It seemed impossible, but every single soldier helped, carrying giant stones and placing them in the water while chanting Phra Ram’s name. Miraculously, the stones floated, and we built a causeway all the way to Lanka. The battle that followed shook the very foundations of the earth. Thotsakan, furious that his city was invaded, sent out his most powerful demons—giants who could throw mountains and sorcerers who could command lightning. But we fought with all our might for what was right. I swelled to the size of a hill, swatting demons away like flies and clearing paths for Phra Ram. The fighting raged for days, but the final duel was between Phra Ram and the demon king himself. Thotsakan used all his ten heads to plan attacks and all his twenty arms to wield terrible weapons. It was a terrifying sight, but Phra Ram, who was an incarnation of the great god Vishnu, was armed with a celestial arrow given to him by the gods. With a steady hand and a true heart, he fired the arrow, which struck Thotsakan and defeated the demon king once and for all. Good had triumphed over evil. We rescued the joyful Nang Sida, and our return to Ayodhya was met with a festival of lights, cheers, and celebration that lasted for weeks. Phra Ram and Nang Sida ruled their kingdom with kindness and wisdom for many years, and I remained their most loyal friend and protector.

The Ramakien is more than just a story of a great battle; it’s a lesson about unwavering loyalty, incredible courage, and the powerful belief that light will always overcome darkness. For centuries, people in Thailand have shared this tale to teach their children about right and wrong. If you ever visit the grand palaces in Bangkok, you can see our adventure painted in brilliant colors and glittering gold on the temple walls, especially at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You can also see it come to life in the graceful Khon dances, where performers in stunning masks and elaborate costumes tell our story through movement, without speaking a single word. They become me, Phra Ram, and even the fearsome Thotsakan. The tale of the Ramakien reminds us that even when things seem hopeless, having loyal friends and a brave heart can help you overcome any challenge imaginable. It’s a story that still inspires artists, dancers, and dreamers to this day to always believe in the power of goodness.