Impact of Indian Cultures on Southern Thailand with special Reference to Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

By : Thanon Chitkament

Page No: 55-81

Abstract
This paper is an endeavour to show how Indian influences in numerous forms can be easily observed upon the culture of ancient Thailand, both social and material, within an archaeological context. It is surmised that Hinduism reached Southern Thailand owing to Indian merchants around the 5th century CE, and spread to Nakhon Si Thammarat, which became a flourishing religious centre. The ancient art objects such as icons and sculptures, epigraphs, monuments, besides coins and seals have been found dated to around the 7th - 13th century CE, which indicate the chronology of Hinduism in that period. Therefore, this work is an attempt to discuss the correlations between different aspects of objects, discovered in Thailand, mainly in Nakhon Si Thammarat province showing the nature of impact to understand the interaction between India and southern Thailand in terms of economy and trade, religion, society and culture.

Author:
Thanon Chitkament
47 Bis rue de Maine, 72200, Bazouges-sur-le-Loir, France