SUPBHARER-MORTICIAN: CONTINUATION OF BELIEVE IN FUNERAL RITUAL OF BOR-HEAWMUNICIPALITY, MUANG DISTRICT, LAMPANG PROVINCE

Abstract

               The purposes of this research are: 1) To study the believe of funeral ritual in Buddhism 2) To study the funeral ritual in Lanna culture 3) To study the continuation of belief, funeral rituals and desirable characteristic of Supbharer (Undertaker) in the Bor-Haeo Municipality, Mueang District, Lampang Province. This research is used documentation and qualitative research from using in-depth interview consist of; Buddhsit Sangha leaders, Makkanayaka in communities, learders, Local Scholars and elderlies 34 people for analyzing the pattern of continuation of beliefs, rituals, funerals and the role of Supbharer(Undertaker).

              The result of study is found that:

              The belief and funeral ritual have been influenced from Indian traditional beliefs about the funeral rites on the banks of the Ganges River. This belief that it can be send souls of death man to the heaven by burning and rounding of the ashes, the dead bones down the Ganges. This ritual can be the traditional Crematory and float ash (scatter ashes over the sea). The funeral ritual expresses gratitude to the deceased as so-called "Thaksinadana”. It can be divided into four rituals, namely; 1) Ritual on the day of death, 2) Ritual in the day of the cremation, 3) Ritual on the day of cremation; 4) Ritual after the cremation day and hold on for a long time.

                Lanna culture has divided the funeral ritual style according to their social status,into 3 types namely1) the funeral of the high class people 2) the funeral of the monks; 3) the funeral of the common people. These ceremonies have the same purpose for sending the souls of the dead men to bliss way on the Buddhist belief. The high class and Buddhist monk funeral ceremonies will set the deceased on a High-altitude funeral pyre for the cremation that is different from a common people. As a present, the funeral ritual of the community is no different. It is up to the host’s need what kinds of ritual to perform, but it must not conflict with the traditional customs. In addition, the researcher found that there are the guidelines and patterns of continuation on believe and funeral ritual and Supbharer’s characteristic of desirable attributes of community include; 1) Beliefs: it is a sacrifice 2) Trust: the community has be confident and trust. 3) Income: it is an incentive to perform the duty and 4) The succession: it is the relay knowledge to descent and to who are interested.