IV Mongolia

In Mongolian literature, the contributions of Indian literary elements all came through Tibet as vehicles of Buddhism. The story of Rama probably came into Mongolia by this way. At the same time, there were many Buddhist sutras coming into Mongolia. A scholar from the People's Republic of Mongolia, Damchinsuren (丹木丁苏伦) , discovered four kinds of Mongolian Rama stories: 1 King of Jivaka

2 Hitopadisa , (Beautiful Words ) (Subhasita)

3 Crystal Mirror

4 Ear －ring , a dictionary of names.

In the following these are discussed in this order:

1. The story of the king of Jivaka is told as a Jataka and was translated from Tibetan into Mongolian in the 18th century. It isn't clear what the Tibetan original was like. The story goes like this: The King of Jivaka had three wives and no children. The king went into the sea to look for an epiphyllum. He returned with one and gave it to the queen. The queen ate the flower and bore a son named Rama. After Rama grew up he succeeded to the throne and invited Krakuchanda to come and preach. The devil in Lankapura changed into a golden deer with a golden breast and silver hips and went into a field where immortals were meditating. The immortals sought protection from the king. Rama used stones to knock out the eyes of the deer and throw it out.

In the devil's country an old woman gave birth to a daughter. The prophets said, "If this girl is allowed to live, the country will be devastated. " So they put the girl into a box and threw it into the sea, where it drifted to the island of Yenfoti. A peasant picked her up and brought her up. She married Rama. The devil king Dasagriva knew from his sister that Rama's wife was beautiful. He asked a little fairy to change into a golden deer and attract Rama away so that the devil could abduct the queen. When Rama was looking for his wife he entered the country of the monkeys and saw two monkeys fighting. He allied with Sugriva and killed Balin. He sent the monkey Hanuman to Lanka with monkey soldiers and rescued the queen back. Rama and his wife were reunited.

1. Hitopadisa was translated from Tibetan to Mongolian in the 13th century by Saja Pandita Gungajaltsan. It has three Tibetan versions with annotations. These versions all use the simple Rama story explaining the couplet 321. From the 13th century on, Beautiful Words have been translated many times.

2. Crystal Mirror was written in 1837 by Jambadorji. It contains a legend telling the origin of the Sakya nationality and the saga of King Sun. There was a so－called Sun dynasty in which there was a king named Dasagriva. The capital was Kapil (Kapilavastu). At the end of the legend there is a Rama story.

In these stories there is an interesting episode. There was a crystal palace where a group of devils lived. A hundred devils 'figures were reflected on the walls so Rama couldn't find the king of the devils. Later Hanuman discovered the secret and told Rama. When Rama knew exactly where to shoot he killed the devil king with an arrow. The Valmiki's Rāmāyana doesn't have this story but Dandin's Kavyadaisa , (Mirror of Poetry ) , chapter 2, stanza 299, contains it; therefore it is also an Indian legend.

For the most part the Mongolian Rama stories preach Buddhism and are the same as in other parts of China. The whole Jivaka story is a Jataka in which Rama is Sakyamuni himself. In two places, Krakuchanda is mentioned. In the previous world, the king of Jivaka used to meet him on an island. In the Jivaka story (where he is Dasaratha) , after Rama is enthroned, Krakuchanda is invited to preach, so the Buddhist color is very strong.

Local color is also strong. For example, when Rama chased the golden deer he had to cross nine mountain passes, nine valleys and nine rivers. This way of telling stories in Mongolian folklore is very common. Another example is when the golden winged bird blocked the way of the devil, the translation would go like this: "If the way is blocked for too long, the horses will become tired and the food will be used up. " Such situations are common in travel on deserts and this is typical in Mongolia. On the other hand, the Rama story has also been woven together with Mongolian folk legends and beliefs. In Mongolia there were no monkeys but there was monkey worship. There are even books dealing especially with the worship of monkeys; such books expound on how to offer sacrifices, how to pray for wealth, and how to have wishes realized. In Tibet and northern Mongolia there was a popular legend about the king of Shambal, where Hanuman became the advisor to the king.