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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a state visit to Thailand, was presented with the revered ‘World Tipitaka’ scriptures by his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on Thursday.
Accepting the gift with folded hands, PM Modi expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the significance of the sacred text for India, the ‘Buddha Bhumi’ (Land of the Buddha).
The ‘World Tipitaka’ was published by the Thai government in 2016 to commemorate the 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit. It is a meticulously compiled version of Lord Buddha’s teachings, preserving the precise pronunciation of over nine million syllables from the Pali Tipitaka. The Thai government has presented this scripture as a "Gift of Peace and Wisdom for All" to more than 30 countries worldwide.
PM Modi, while accepting the gift, remarked on the deep cultural and spiritual ties between India and Thailand. "PM Shinawatra has just gifted me the Tripitaka. On behalf of ‘Buddha Bhoomi’ India, I accepted it with folded hands. Last year, the sacred relics of Lord Buddha were sent from India to Thailand. It is a matter of great joy that over four million devotees had the opportunity to have a darshan," he said.
In March 2024, the holy relics of Lord Buddha were returned to India after being on a 26-day exposition in Thailand. These relics included those of Buddha’s disciples, Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalayana.
The Ministry of Culture, in a statement, highlighted that the journey of these relics had left a profound impact, with millions of devotees paying their respects during the exposition.
“Upon their return to India, the holy relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples were received with full state honours, underscoring their sacred significance and marking the successful culmination of the historic exposition,” the statement read.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi held discussions with his Thai counterpart, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties. Following the meeting, he took to social media to share details of their engagement.
"A productive meeting was held with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Bangkok just a short while ago. I extend my gratitude to the people and government of Thailand for their warm welcome and express my solidarity with them following the recent earthquake," PM Modi posted.
He further emphasised the alignment between India’s “Act East” policy and Thailand’s “Act West” approach, highlighting how these frameworks complement each other and create new avenues for cooperation across multiple sectors.
"India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and Thailand’s ‘Act West Policy’ align perfectly, opening up opportunities for bilateral collaboration in various fields," he added.
Earlier in the visit, the Thai government also released a special commemorative stamp featuring Ramayana mural paintings from the 18th century, symbolising the deep-rooted cultural ties between the two nations.
