Uranggadhat Nidana, Phra Chao Lieb Lok Legend of Isaan Lanxang Version: Inheritance and Creativity

Abstract

Uranggadhat Nidana or Phra That Phanom Legend, is part of the folk literary of Thai-Laos culture. The story explains the building of Phra That Phanom, along with the travels of Buddha into Lanxang kingdom along the banks of Maekong River and the placing of his footprints in many places. The article aims to study the inheritance of Uranggadhat in Isaan Region and the creation of legends in the context of Thai-Lao culture.

The results found that Uranggadhat Nidana was created by poets of the Lanxang Kingdom. Text was originally written on palm leaves but was lost someplace around the Maekong River. Phraya Sri Chai Chompu, the interior minister in the court of King Suriyawongsa, had it rewritten and translated. Lao manuscripts of Uranggadhat Nidana have been printed on the ocassion of cremation ceremony of the supreme patriarchs of Laos and have been widely published on several occasions of the people living on the left side of the Maekong River. Uranggadhat Nidana discusses many sacred religious places, explaining how when the Buddha went to any location, he imprinted his feet as evidence. Moreover, it was found that Uranggadhat Nidana was created as literature for celebrations. This study reflects that the people living around the Maekong River have had a strong belief in and respect for Buddhism.