The Ritual of Offering to Chao Pho Maha Yak Sam Phan Ton at Wat Si Lom, in Lampang Province: Symbolic Communication

Abstract

This article analyzes the beliefs reflected through symbols in the ritual of offering to Chao Pho Maha Yak Sam Phan Ton (the Three Thousand Giants), at Wat Si Lom, Wiang Nuea Subdistrict, Mueang District, Lampang Province. The study employed folklore and folklife methodologies, gathering data from both documentary sources and fieldwork, including interviews with qualified informants. The collected data were then analyzed to examine beliefs through symbols, including individual behaviors and objects that appear in the ritual, in line with relevant theories on symbolism. The findings are presented through descriptive analysis.

            The study reveals that the ritual of offering to the Chao Pho Maha Yak Sam Phan Ton (the Three Thousand Giants) reflects underlying beliefs through five symbolic aspects: beliefs about the ritual performers, beliefs about the ritual location, beliefs about the timing of the ritual, beliefs about the ritual objects, and symbolic behaviors during the ritual. These symbols not only signify the community's reverence for Chao Pho Maha Yak Sam Phan Ton (the Three Thousand Giants) but also convey moral lessons and reflect the collective worldview of the local people.