These two things are totally different. Sri Statanarkanahut is a former name of Vientiane. In fact, as far as I can tell, the full name was Vientiane Sri Satanarkahut. Now there is a district whose name is Sri Satanark which is one of six districts of Vientiane capital.

Lan Xang is Lao language, but not Pali. Lan means million, whereas Xang means elephant.

Lan Xang is the former name of Laos. Yes, it was Lan Xang kingdom which means Anajak Lan Xang. 
 

-- Edited by TSP at 02:33, 2008-09-16

Zak wrote:

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Correct me if I'm wrong, then we both can edit this wiki but

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vientiane

"Sri Sattanak, or Sisattanak (Lao: ສີສັດຕະນາກ), is a former name of Vientiane. It is often confused with Sri Sattanakanahut, the Pali name of Lan Xang, the Kingdom of the Million Elephants. Sisattanak now is the name of one of the five districts of the city Vientiane."

This is what I sorta meant.

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You are quite right. What I don't unstand is why you put Pali name. Lan Xang is from Lao language, but not Pali.

Anajak Lan Xang (Lao) = Kingdom of the Million Elephants (English)

For the former name of Vientiane, I suppose so. According to history, last time they called not just Srisattanak, but Chantaboury Srisattanarkanahut, though I am not sure for the first part. There are now Chanttaboury district and Sisattanark district, which are considered as a center of Vientiane Capital. 
 

-- Edited by TSP at 03:08, 2008-09-18