INTRODUCTION

If you've reached this page, you probably already know about Hanuman and the Ramayana. In this Storybook, you will be learning about Hanuman and the Ramakien, which is the version of the Ramayana that is also the national epic of Thailand. The story of Rama, Sita, and Hanuman is famous all over India, and it is also famous throughout South Asia. The Ramakien is the national epic of Thailand, the Phra Lak Phra Ram is the national epic of Laos, and there are versions of the Ramayana recited and performed in Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, and beyond. I have also prepared a list of Ramakien Resources if you want to learn more.

I first became aware of the Ramayana storytelling traditions of south Asia thanks to the beautiful artwork, especially the shadow puppets and masks used in theatrical performances. Here are some examples of Hanuman puppets and masks; you can see more at my Pinterest Board: Hanuman Puppets and Masks. I also have a Hanuman Art page here at the site, plus a gallery of sculptures from the Wat Phanan Choeng Temple.

As I became curious about the Rama story as told in other places, I found a copy of the Ramakien to read in English. The book is out of print and hard to find, but just recently I discovered an online edition at Chulalongkorn University Library in Bangkok, Thailand, which means anybody can read the Ramakien in English if they want, all thanks to the Chulalongkorn librarians.

Reading the Ramakien is a fascinating experience: it is the Ramayana, but it is also definitely NOT the Ramayana. The characters have different names and different personalities. Many of the events are the same, but there are all kinds of adventures in the Ramakien that I think will surprise you!

In this Storybook, I have chosen four stories to tell about Hanuman which appear in the Ramakien but which are not part of the traditional Indian Ramayana:

• The Birth of Hanuman. Remember Ahalya? She's the one who slept with Indra disguised as her husband. The Thai story of Hanuman's birth starts with Ahalya.
• Hanuman and the Mermaid. This story takes place while the monkeys are building Rama's bridge, and it is probably the most famous episode in the Ramakien.
• Maiyarap. An ally of Ravana, King Maiyarap, has kidnapped Rama, and Hanuman must journey into the underworld to rescue him.
• Hanuman's Victory. Hanuman defeats Maiyarap, which is no surprise... but there is a big surprise that awaits Hanuman at the end of this story.

I hope you will enjoy these unfamiliar Hanuman stories! And for some more art, here are some images from the Wat Phanan Choeng Temple: