During his visit to Thailand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a special gift from Thai Prime Minister Pattongtarn Shinawatra—an exclusive edition of the Buddhist scripture titled The World Tipitaka: Sajjaya Phonetic Edition. The presentation took place during bilateral talks held in Bangkok, underscoring the strong cultural, linguistic, and religious ties between India and Thailand.
The Tipitaka, meaning 'three baskets' in Pali, is one of the primary Buddhist scriptures comprising rules, principles, and teachings of Buddhist monks. This special edition, consisting of 108 volumes, was published by the Thai government under the World Tipitaka Project in 2016 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession and Queen Sirikit’s contributions.
Written in both Pali and Thai scripts, the book contains over nine million words, crafted to be recited with accurate pronunciation. It highlights Thailand’s dedication to preserving Buddhist teachings and promoting them globally.
Upon receiving the gift, Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude, stating, “Prime Minister Shinawatra gifted me the Tipitaka. I humbly accept it on behalf of India, the holy land of Lord Buddha. Last year, India sent the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and two great religious leaders to Thailand. I am very happy to know that nearly four million people paid homage to the relics.”
Thai officials noted that Thailand’s kings, recognized as guardians of Buddhism, have consistently played an active role in disseminating the Tipitaka to other countries, reflecting the deep spiritual connections between the two nations.
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