Did she dedicate the world’s oldest war memorial?
In her youth, myth and history intertwine like a lover’s embrace to weave the fascinating origin story of Queen Jamadhevi.(sometimes spelled, Jamadevi, Camadevi, Chammathewi, or in Thai “จามเทวี”) The records are slim of her early years, and thus give slightly varying accounts of the dates of her birth and reign over the Harinpuchai Kingdom. However we know that she was born sometime between 623-633 A.D. to either a ruler of the Lavo kingdom, or a wealthy merchant named “Inta” depending on which legend you prefer. But from there it gets interesting as most sources agree she was abducted shortly thereafter.
According to the ancient legend of Camadevivamsa, a giant bird swooped down and snatched up the young baby at just 3 months old, flying her to the village of Doi Suthep where it gave her to the mysterious hermit Suthewa Rusi who lived deep in the jungle mountains of what’s now Chiang Mai, Thailand. The wise old hermit, named her “Vi”, cared for her diligently and saw to it that she was well educated in the old ways, literate, and clever.
Vi grew up swiftly under Suthewa Rusi’s care, and upon her 13th birthday, he had a great vision where he foresaw Vi becoming a great and powerful leader of a far away kingdom. Not knowing precisely what it meant, he knew what he needed to do and he began building a raft and gathering supplies for her to set off down the river to her destiny. The Hermit knew that if she headed down stream that she would eventually reach the Lavo Kingdom which was the most prosperous in the area of that time.
So it was that the future queen set off, alone at just 13yrs old, to meet her fate down the river to Lavo. What would have been an arduous, perhaps deadly journey for many, was made easier for her as she was well learned in the ways of the forest from her time growing up under the Hermit’s tutelage. This voyage would be just the first of many challenges from which Vi would emerge victorious.
It took several months, but she finally made it to the Kingdom of Lavo. When she arrived the people were amazed by her story, particularly the King & Queen of Lavo who took her in to live with them in the palace. They soon gave her a new name “Jamadhevi”. Upon hearing of the old Hermit’s Prophesy of her becoming the ruler of a strong and powerful kingdom, with a marriage to great man, they arranged for her to be made the official Princess of Lavo, with a coronation to occur the following year once she reached 14yrs of age.
Princess Jamadhevi lived a good life as a member of the Lavo court and eventually met the love of her life, Prince Ramrat from the neighboring Kingdom of Ramburi. When she turned 20 years of age she was engaged to marry Prince Ramrat. However, her beauty, poise, and grace was renown through the lands and she attracted many suitors. But none so adamant as the Prince from the Mon Kingdom (Burma) who asked her adopted father, The King of Lavo, for her hand in marriage only to fly into a murderous rage when he denied the Prince’s request.
Angry and humiliated, the Prince of the Mon Kingdom declared war on the Kingdom of Lavo in an attempt to win Princess Jamadhevi for himself. Upon hearing this, the ever brave and self sufficient Princess, vowed to take up arms and personally lead her troops in the impending war. She gathered allies from the surrounding kingdoms, and together, under her keen leadership they repulsed the Mon invaders and saved the Kingdom of Lavo. As well as her freedom to be with the man she loved, Prince Ramrat.
But her victory was not without consequence. A large number of her soldiers died in the many battles through the war. And while her people loved her and supported her cause, they were devastated by the loss of so much life, so many broken families. So many husbands, sons, brothers, and fathers that never came home again to their loved ones so that their Princess could share a life with hers.
The lament of her people was not lost on Princess Jamadevi. She was compassionate, and just. And so it was, when the war ended in 653 A.D., instead of rushing to marry Prince Ramrat right away, she tended to the emotional needs of her people. Over the next two years she commissioned a special temple to be built, a memorial to the fallen soldiers lost to the war. Additionally she and her trusted aids, hand crafted these unique amulets unlike any seen before or since. What would become to be known as “Queen Jamadhevi” Amulets came in two different types, one featured her proud image, standing tall in her battle regalia, sword drawn and fierce, yet somehow still feminine and delicate. These clay, sun dried amulets, were imbued with blessings of protection, safety, and survival at the new temple where they were given to her veteran troops who fought for her in the war. Other Amulets of Queen Jamadhvi where crafted showing her sitting peacefully under a decorated canopy, the image of serenity and abundance, these were given to the widows and families of those lost in the war, after being blessed at the temple with strong incantations for protection and general well being.
Once Princess Jamadhevi had completed the Memorial Temple and Amulets for her troops and their families, she once again turned her attentions to the love of her life, Prince Ramrat, and they were married in 655 A.D., a full two years after the war ended.
They lived happily together for several years until around 659 A.D. when the Hermit Suthewa Rusi visited her in Lavo to beseech her to take over the newly founded Kingdom of Harinpuchai from his ailing friend, a king with no heirs. Wanting to repay the wise Hermit for raising her when she was a child, Princess Jamadhevi agreed and left for Harinpuchai with her husband, where she was crowned Queen and ruled peacefully for many years, by some accounts living well into her 90’s and long beloved by her people for centuries to come.
Surviving amulets in good condition from this period almost 1500yrs ago, are incredibly rare, we have a very precious few Queen Jamadhevi amulets for trade, if you’re interested in them for yourself or a loved one please contact us directly and we’ll be happy to share.
#BuddhistAmulets #QueenJamadevi #LiveYourBlessedLife #WarriorQueen #Tavaravadi #Amulets #ThaiAntiques #ThaiAmulets #จามเทวี #Lavo #LavoKingdom #Harinpuchai
