Thai PM gifts PM Modi with 80-volume World Tipitaka phonetic recitation

BANGKOK: In a special gesture that spotlights the shared civilizational bonds underpinned by cultural, linguistic, and religious ties between India and Thailand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the Holy Scriptures. 'The World Tipitaka: Sajjhaya Phonetic Edition' by Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra following their bilateral discussions in Bangkok on Thursday.

The Tipitaka (in Pali) or Tripitaka (in Sanskrit) is a revered compilation of Lord Buddha's teachings, consisting of 108 volumes and regarded as the principal Buddhist scripture.

The edition presented to PM Modi is a meticulously crafted version written in Pali and Thai scripts, ensuring the accurate pronunciation of over nine million syllables and highlighting a significant moment of cultural and spiritual diplomacy.

This special edition was published in 2016 as part of the World Tipitaka Project by the Thai government to commemorate the 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit.

"PM Shinawatra just gifted me the Tipitaka, and I accepted it with folded hands on behalf of Bharat, the Land of Lord Buddha. Last year, India had sent the holy relics of Lord Buddha and two of his main disciples to Thailand. It is so heartwarming to know that around four million people paid their obeisance to the relics," said PM Modi. (IANS)

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