This is the beginning of the kingdom of Siara,
which commences from the year 1350. DvarHztafi
became the capital of the new kingdom under the
name of Ayuthia (Ayod/iya).
This new kingdom was essentially Indian in
character. The ruling princes of Siam still claim to
be descendants of Indian colonists. Their religion is
Indian, their manners and customs speak of tfceir
Indian origin. We do not know whether the first
historic king of Siam, Indraditya, was an Indian by
birth, or whether he traced his descent from any
Indian colonist in Siam. His Indian name, if he was
a Thai Prince, shows how greatly he was influenced
by Indian culture. As the culture and civilisation of
Siam was only a legacy of India, we can call Siam—
an Indian colony. From the cultural point of view,
Siam has to acknowledge a debt to India.
With the foundation of this new kingdom, a
change came over Siam. Hinduism came to be re-
placed by Buddhism in the thirteenth century. Bud-
dhist missionaries came over to Siam to preach the
gospel of Lord Buddha. Sometimes, learned Buddhist
priests were invited from other countries to consoli-
date the Buddhist church in Siam. They also brought
Pali literature with them to Siarn, because it was Pali
Buddhism or jfftnayuna form of Buddhism which
Siam had accepted. There was a consequent building
of many new monasteries for the dwelling of the Bud-