The Story of Mahajanaka by His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej: a Study of the Royal Literary Work of Thailand

Abstract

The story of Mahajanaka by His Majesty the Late King BhumibolAdulyadej is a
well-known literary work of Thailand. The characteristics and actions of Prince
Mahajanaka, the main character, share many similarities with those of His Majesty the
Late King BhumibolAdulyadej. The study aims at analyzing the story of Mahajanaka as a
literary work that honors the benevolence and virtue of the late King. This
documentary research employs the official Thai administrative framework of honoring a
king as a Bodhisattva, the literary frameworks of using Buddhist literary works to honor
a king, and the role of the Jataka literary works to depict a king as a Bodhisattva. It was
found that the story of Mahajanaka is a Thai literary work that cleverly honors the life
and deeds of our late King through the attributes, roles, and ways of life of Prince
Mahajanaka. The story portrays the King as having the same status as Prince
Mahajanaka Bodhisattva. The similarities between Prince Mahajanaka and the late King
can be found in the word “Mahajanaka” itself, both of their fathers passing away when
they were young, being away from their homeland, returning their homeland after
growing up, having so much perseverance, that they were protected from danger,
successfully carrying out their duties, their family lives, developing agriculture, and
leaving the monkhood so that they can help those who suffer. The story of
Mahajanaka emphasizes the role of contemporary Buddhist literary works in honoring
kings. This has long been a practice since the Sukhothai period. The Story of
Mahajanaka also has a characteristic of the Jatakas, which is to honor kings as
Bodhisattvas, comparable to Mahachat Kham Luang in the early Ayutthaya period.