Assanee Poolrak
Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
Recounting how the Buddha converts Nandopananda, the Serpent King, this story, though less popular than the Vessantara Jātaka and Phra Malai, has enjoyed a presence in many literary works in Thai society since the Ayutthaya period. The existence of the story in many literary versions is evidence of its significance in Thai Buddhist culture. This paper aims to study the literary works inspired by the story and discuss their significance in Thai society.
It is found that the Nandopananda story inspired the creation of literary pieces, both in Pāli and Thai. In the Ayutthaya period, there was a piece of Pāli literature named Nandopanandavatthu, likely by a Thai poet. This Pāli literary work, in turn, contributed to Nanthopananthasut Khamluang, a corresponding Thai translation in 1736 by Prince Dharmadhibes. In the Rattanakosin period, King Rama VI also rendered into Thai the Pāli Nandopananda verse from the Buddhajayamaṅgalagāthā (also known in Thai as Gāthā Bāhuṃ). Despite being derived from the same story, its significance varies. The story of Nandopananda in the Visuddhimagga, and the Apadāna and Theragāthā’s commentaries, is used to explain the Iddhi-power of Moggallāna Thera and exemplify his great deed, which is a part of his biography. The theme of Nandopanandavatthu, (similar to Buddhajayamaṅgalagāthā) is to eulogise the Buddha’s victory over the nāga and simultaneously deepen faith in the Three Jewels. As for Nanthopananthasut Khamluang, not only the significance in Nandopanandavatthu remains, but there is also the juxtaposition of the translation with the translator’s life. In case of King Rama VI, the story of Nandopananda is used to encourage the Royal Navy officers by means of chanting his Thai-rendered gāthā.
(Presented in the International Conference on Buddhist Studies: Buddha's Biography – Buddhist Legends, 18-19 July 2015, Le Meridien Bangkok Hotel, Bangkok, organized by Department of Thai, Faculty of Arts, The Pali and Sanskrit Section, Department of Eastern Languages, Faculty of Arts and Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University)