Dvaravati

Part of History of Thailand
Prehistoric Thailand
Early history of Thailand
Initial states of Thailand (3 BCE–1238) Suvarnabhumi Central Thailand Dvaravati Lavo Supannabhum Northern Thailand Yonok Singhanavati Ngoenyang Hariphunchai Southern Thailand Pan Pan Raktamaritika Langkasuka Srivijaya Tambralinga Sri Thamnakorn
Sukhothai Kingdom (1238–1448)
Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351–1767)
Thonburi Kingdom (1768–1782)
Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)
Kingdom of Thailand Military rule (1932–1973) Democracy (1973–present)
Regional history Isan Lanna Nakhon Si Thammarat Phitsanulok
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See Dvaraka for the Yadava capital of the Mahabharata.

The Dvaravati (Thai: ทวารวดี) kingdom existed from the 6th to the 11th centuries. The Kingdom was then absorbed by the growing Lavo and Subharnaburi kingdoms. The people of the kingdom used the ancient Mon language, but whether they were ethnically Mon is unknown. There is evidence that this kingdom may have had more than one race, including Malays and Khmer. The theory of Thai migration into Dvaravati has been refuted and is now known to have happened much later.

Territory of Dvaravati

Mon Wheel of the Law (Dharmacakra), art of Dvaravati period, c.8th century.

Mon Buddha, art of Dvaravati period, c.7th century. Frontal view.

Mon Buddha, art of Dvaravati period, c.7th century. Side view

Mon kingdom silver wheel tankas, South Burma, 8th century CE

The term Dvaravati derives from coins which were inscribed in Sanskrit with śrī dvāravatī. The Sanskrit word dvāravatī means "she with many gates " (from dvar "door gate").

Little is known about the administration of the kingdom, or even whether it was technically a kingdom at all. It may simply have been a loose gathering of principalities rather than a centralised state. The main settlements appear to have been at Nakhon Pathom, U Thong and Khu Bua west of the Chao Phraya. Other towns like Lavo (modern-day Lopburi) or Si Thep were also clearly influenced by the Dvaravati culture, but probably were not part of the kingdom.

Dvaravati itself was heavily influenced by Indian culture, and played an important role in introducing Buddhism and particularly Buddhist art to the region.

Further reading

• (Sri) Dvaravati, Dhida Saraya, ISBN 974-7381-34-6

External links

• http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/7153/p7153/buddhart_s.htm

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