Southeast Asian countries absorbed Indian civilization and have belonged to the Indosphere for thousands of years through religion and trade. The Pallavas, an ancient dynasty in southern India, were among the first to bring these influences. Some even became royal consultants or married local princes, gaining access to the throne. If you travel to southern Thailand, many people there might descend from South India, as indicated by their darker skin, deeper-set eyes, and longer noses compared to ordinary Thais. There were older kingdoms in that region, such as Tambalinga, where a local queen likely married a Pallavan. Hinduism was the first to come to this region, followed by Buddhism. The languages used in these religions were Pali and Sanskrit, which are akin to Greek and Latin for European languages. Although Thai does not share the same roots as Hindi, it has borrowed extensively from Sanskrit and adapted it into its own pronunciation. In contrast, India has largely abandoned Sanskrit in favor of English. It’s interesting to note that the names of banks in Thailand are predominantly Sanskrit. The name "Invincible City" in Sanskrit is Ayodhya, which is, of course, derived from the Ramayana. It is clearly an inspiration, as it is the source and the oldest reference. The Thai version is pronounced Ayutthaya; it is actually supposed to be Ayodhya, but due to linguistic convenience and compatibility, it evolved into Ayutthaya. The series may have used "Ayodhya" as a gimmick. PS: Ayutthaya Kingdom established in 1351. Meanwhile, Isn’t Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh was originally known as "Saketa" and was renamed Ayodhya only in 1856??
PS: Ayutthaya Kingdom established in 1351. Meanwhile, Isn’t Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh was originally known as "Saketa" and was renamed Ayodhya only in 1856??