1205. Ayodhya and South Korea.....Connection!

The Kings ruling the Kosala Kingdom always had sweet words while interacting with others. They were called Ikshvaku, in Sanskrit Ikshu is Sugarcane and Vak is Words. Their words were like the juice dripping from sugarcane. The Ikshvaku dynasty is also known as Suryavamsha (Solar dynasty). The important Kings in this lineage are Ikshvaku, the founder followed by Kukshi, Kukutstha, Prithu, Mandhatri, Muchukunda, Ambarisha, Harishchandra, Dilipa, Sagara, Raghu, Dasharatha and Shri Rama. 

Shri Rama whom the whole nation regards as “Maryada Purushottama” (Ideal Highest Being) was the 67^th King in the dynasty and ruled around 7000 B.C. The linage after Shri Rama continues thereafter for many millenniums. Irony is that a few so called “Intellectuals” question the existence of Shri Rama here in this land. Many of us know that Ayodhya which is also referred to as Saketa is the city where Shri Rama was born and it is considered holiest place. Ayodhya is holy not only to us but also to many from South Korea who visit here every year. They come to pay tributes to the legendary Queen Heo Hwang-ok (Suriratna). 

The legend goes like this: Indian Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya travelled to South Korea and married a Korean Prince, Kim Suro. Her father who was a mystic King could foresee future and turn of events that could help in shaping the incidents in favourable manner. He saw in his dream the providence giving him Divine advice to give his daughter in marriage to the Prince of Korea. This legend is described in Samguk Yusa (History of Three Kingdoms) written by Iryon, a Monk. Princess Suriratna was 16 when she married Prince Kim Suro of Kimhye Dynasty. Suriratna spent 41 years of her life for the welfare of Korea and finally died when she was 57 years old.

Interestingly, Queen Suriratnas tomb in South Korea has a pagoda in frontage, which is built with stones believed to have taken from Ayodhya. Even to this day, around seven million Koreans with surnames Kim and Heo from Kimhae trace their ancestry back to the royal Indo-Korean couple. Here too a monument has been built in memory of Suriratna on the picturesque banks of River Saryu in Ayodhya. Built in Korean tradition, the monument has a three-metre high stone weighing 7,500 kg.

Koreans believe that the lineage of Suriratna and Kim Suro controlled various states of Korea in 7th century and it was their relatives who were rulers there. Though there are many ancient Korean Kings and Queens who are revered by locals, among them Queen Suriratna is respected the most for her knowledge and intelligence.

Kimhae has big statue of Queen Suriratna at the central place of the city. The statue is remembrance of the fact that piousness of Hinduism and its teachings is respected by all in the form of Queen Suriratna for her part in shaping the future of Korea and its prosperity.