The MahaBhuddhathaphisek Ceremony at Salachai Temple, Sala Subdistrict, Kokha District, Lampang Province: The Process of Performing and Symbolic Representations of Ritual

Abstract

The study aimed to study the process of performing and symbolic representations in the MahaBhuddhathaphisek ceremony at Salachai temple, Sala subdistrict, Kokha district, Lampang province by using in-depth interviews and participatory observation. The study indicated that this ceremony was held to celebrate on the occasion that the temple had been founded for 100 years, including the completion of the reconstruction of the temple and the principal Buddha image of the temple.

The ceremony was conducted for 3 days. The​ first​ day​ was​ known​ as the​ day​ of​ preparation, there​ was​ a​ procession to​ invite PhraUpakut​ for​ being the​ Guardian of​ the​ ceremony​ without​ any​ obstacles. The​ second day​ was​ the​ ceremony​ day, the​ first​ part​ started by having the​ eyes​ closed of​ the​ principal​ Buddha​ image, later it​ was​ a​ prayer ceremony​ called "SuadMonTan". As​ for​ the​ ceremony​ in​ the​ second​ period, it​ was​ opening​ ceremony​ of​ the​ principal​ Buddha's​ eyes​ which proceeded​ according to​ the​ sequence of​ steps specified until the​ end​ on the​ morning of​ the​ third day. ​And​ on​ the​ third​ day​ of​ the​ ceremony, there​ was​ a​ merit making ceremony​ dedicated to​ Thai alms, and​ there​ was​ a​ procession​ to​ invite​ PhraUpakut​ to​ his​ original location. Therefore considered as​ the​ completion of​ the​ MahaBhuddhathaphisek​ ceremony.

The​ symbolic​ representations that​ appeared in​ the​ MahaBhuddhathaphisek ceremony​ include 1) PhraUpakut was a sign of peace and​ order without all dangers 2) Khanhakothak was​ a sign​ of​ humility 3) Khantang was​ a symbol of​auspiciousness 4) the​ opening ceremony​ of​ the​ principal Buddha​' s eyes was​ a sign​ of​ finding the​ light that​ meant the​ intelligence in​ life and​ 5) Khawmathupayas was​ a​ sign​ of​ perseverance and​ determination.