Yamayana

yes, thats how Ramayana is called in Myanma (or Burma!)

excerts from a very nice article from 'Ramayana in Myanmar's heart':

Just as the Illiad and the Odyssey, the two epic poems of the ancient Greek poet Homer laid the foundation of Western literature and contributed much to the hellenization of Europe, Ramayana and Mahabharata the two ancient Sanskrit epics of India exerted a profound impact upon the cultures of South East Asia and have played no small role in the indianisation of the major portion of that region. Out of ASEAN TEN at least seven nations Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia have received the influence of Hindu culture since the early days of Indian colonisation.

Though the themes of both epics are the eulogization of moral and physical courage of gallant warrior heros, Mahabharata deals mostly with the principles of moral conduct whereas Ramayana records the bold exploits and love affair of a hero prince Rama. Besides battles in the Mahabharata were fought between men and men but in the Ramayana war was fought between men and monkeys on one side and ogres (demons) on the other. The two also differ in the location of their origin. The Mahabharata originated in Northern India. The ancient kingdom of Kausala located to the northeast of the Ganges River was the birthplace of the Ramayana epic. The Mahabharata was a combined work of many authors. Ramayana was the brain child of one writer and he was a Rishi (Hermit) named Valmiki. It is not surprising that Ramayana is more appealing in terms of entertainment than Mahabharata.

When and how Ramayana came to take pride of place in Myanmar's heart is one of academic debate. But the oral tradition of the Rama story can be traced as far back as the reign of King Anawrahta(A.D.1044-77 ) the founder of the first Myanmar Empire. In later periods there are ample archaeological, historical and literary evidence to show that Ramayana entered into Myanmar culture at an early date. At old Bagan is a Vishnu Temple known as Nat Hlaung Kyaung which is adorned with some stone figures of Rama and Parasu Rama. The Rama story is depicted in the Jataka series of terra-cotta plaques on the panels of Petlcik Pagoda in Bagan.

In a stone inscription in the Mon language, King Kyanzittha ( A.D.1084-1113 ) of Bagan dynasty proclaimed that in his previous existence he was a close relative of Rama of Ayodhya. So we may say that the Rama tradition had been established in Myanmar culture since the Bagan period. Rama has been continuously present in the cultures of the post-Bagan periods. In all media of visual arts and all forms of literary art, Ramayana was the favourite theme. Contacts with neighbouring countries with Hindu cultural influence such as Linzin(Laos), Zimme(Chiengmei), Ayuthia(Thailand) and Malayu(Malasia) further contributed to the development of Ramayana as the popular theme in Myanmar performing arts.

some humour for the morning: apparently our Mu Ka writes in Murasoli:

..the DMK had neither tried to impose its ideologies on others nor had it allowed others to impose theirs on it.

However, he is there no objections to projects across rivers like Krishna and Brahmaputra, which are also named after gods. But attempts were being made to scuttle the Sethusamudram project in the name of Ram Setu, he added

I laughed my head out at what kind of people (ignorant? arrogant? what words shall we use..) we are dealing with.

How many births have you not done hard and painful labour with body, mind, and speech. Now at last, stop!

Enough of wealth, sensuality, and good deeds. In the forest of samsara the mind has never found satisfaction in these

Kingdoms, children, wives, bodies, pleasures -- these have all been lost to you life after life, attached to them though you were.

-verses 8-6, Ch X, Ashtavakra Gita

some verses from Ch 1 of the same text:

You do not belong to the brahmin or any other caste, you are not at any stage, nor are you anything that the eye can see. You are unattached and formless, the witness of everything - so be happy.

Just as a mirror exists everywhere both within and apart from its reflected images, so the Supreme Lord exists everywhere within and apart from this body.

Just as one and the same all-pervading space exists within and without a jar, so the eternal, everlasting God exists in the totality of things.