Thai Monarchy
As with some other aspects of Thai culture and that of Southeast Asia, the concept of Thai kingship has drawn on ancient Brahmin ideas, modified by later Buddhist ones. The Hindu or Vedic idea of a king is of a warrior leader whose absolute power comes from military might, and who is accorded the status of a semi-deity, a status protected by strict traditions. Kings were traditionally approached by their subjects crawling on the ground before them, persons outside the royal family were not allowed to touch them, and a special royal language had to be used in their presence. All royal protocol, with its elaborate ceremonies and rituals was supervised by a caste of Brahmins. This concept is known as Dhevaraja (เทวราชา). The other source from which ideas of kingship was inherited was Theravada Buddhism. Buddhism urged that the king must govern in accordance with Dhamma, the teachings of the Buddha. This concept is known as Dhammaraja (ธรรมราชา). Over time, these two concepts have occasionally been at odds with each other.