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THAILAND .A
WAT A RUN, Q <= ~
BANGKOK CAMBODIA I
~
VIETNAM
·~-
GULF OF
THAILAND
ANOAMAN
SEA

THE C HAKRI DYNASTY
In 17?:/., Chao Phraya C hakri (later King Ram a I)
established the C hakri dynasty in Krung Thep
(Bangkok). The reigns of Rama I, II and Ill were
a time of stability. Ram a II was a literary man,
while Ram a Ill was a staunch traditionalist.
King Mongkut (Ram a IV) modernized S iam
(Thailand), and opened it up to foreign trade
and influences. His son, King Chulalongkorn,
or Ran a V ([ 1868- 1910), was perhaps the
greatest Chakn Icing. He furthered modern-
ization by mtrodudng finandal reforms and
abohsh1ng slavery. He was idealized by his
subjects, and his funeral was a grand state
affair. Even today, he is commemorated on
Chulalongkorn Day (October 23)

KHMER ARCHITEClURE
Thailand's stone temple complexes, or prasats,
were bu1it by the Khmers, who ruled much
of Scotheast Ma in the 9th-13th centunes
Prasats were built to symbolize kingship and
the Lrwerse Most have staircases or bridges
lined With nagas (a seven-headed serpent
thought to be the keeper of life's force),
leading to a central monument This is us ually
decorated with carved stone rei iefs and topped
by a prang (tower) Prangs symbolize Mount
lVI eru, the abode of the gods in Hindu-Buddhist
cosmology. Lintels and pediments over the
entrances depict Hindu and Buddhist deities

ARUNA, INDRA, AND VAYU
Worstvped 1n India from the early Vedic age
( 1500 BC), the HmciJ deities Aruna, lndra, and
Vayu person1fy nature and the elements. Aruna,
the god of dawn, is the charioteer of Surya, the
S un god. Red-skinned, he stands on the chariot
in front of the Sun, sheltering the world from
its fury with his body. lndra, the god of the
sky and the heavens, rides a golden chariot
drawn by horses and is armed with a vajra,
or thunderbolt lndra sends the rain and nules
the weather, and is often depicted sitting on
Air avatta, the fcor-tnunked white elephant who
represents a ran doud. Vayu (Phra Pai 1n Thai)
IS the god of the winds and messenger of the
gods. He is also the regent of the northwest
quarter of the heavens and is depicted with
white skin, seated on an antelope.