Pathom Malai, Thutiya Malai and Chunlangkha Malai and the Thet Maha Chat Tradition of Tai Ethnic Groups at Wat Pha Take Mai Sai District Chiang Rai Province
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Abstract
The objectives of this article are to investigate three versions of Phra Malai scripture: Tai Yuan, Thai Isan and an ethnic group of Tai Yai, Tai Khoen and Tai Lue at Wat Pha Taek, Tambon Wiang Phang Kham, Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. The investigation was on the content and the relationship between Phra Malai scriptures and the tradition of Maha Chat sermons. The study found that Phra Malai scriptures versions of Tai Yuan and Thai Isan have two parts. The two parts of the Tai Yuan version are called Pathom Malai and Thutiya Malai, while the two parts of the Thai Isan version are called Malai Muen and Malai Saen. However, the Phra Malai scripture version of the ethnic Tai group kept at Wat Pha Taek, Tambon Wiang Phang Kham, Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province has three parts called Pathom Malai, Thutiya Malai and Chunlangkha Malai. Regarding the content, the first two parts of all three versions of Phra Malai scriptures are the same, with the first part about Phra Malai taking eight lotus flowers offered to him by a poor man to pay homage to Phra That Chula Mani in Daowadueng Heaven. The second part is about Phra Malai meeting Phra Sri-arya who instructs Phra Malai to inform humans that if they desire to be born in his religion, they should prepare a thousand items of offerings to Dhamma and listen to all the sermons of Maha Chat in one day. For the third part of Phra Malai scripture, the content continues about Phra Malai coming down to Chomphu Thawip or Jambudvipa to inform humans of Phra Sri-araya’s instructions, but with the humans negotiating that the poor could not afford a thousand items of offerings. Thus, when Phra Malai and Chunlangkha Ubasok went to ask Phra Sri-araya for permission to offer less items, permission was granted, and if the Thet Maha Chat could not be organized by one person, it could be jointly organized by many people. The study found further: 1) the tradition of Thet Maha Chat among Tai Yuan, Thai Isan and the Tai ethnic group at Ban Pha Taek listen to Phra Malai sermons before Maha Chat sermons; 2) Phra Malai scriptures describe the origin of the Thet Maha Chat tradition, the length of time for the sermons and the arrangement of the thousand offering items for Thet Maha Chat; and 3) Chunlangkha Malai describes the origin of Thet Maha Chat of the Tai ethnic group at Wat Pha Taek where Thet Maha Chat is classified into two types according to how the sermons are organized: Tang Dhamma Wessantara jointly hosted by people in the community and Than Maha Pang hosted by an individual person or a couple who are husband and wife.
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References
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Anonymous. (1998). Chunlangkha Malai. Phapsa 1 Phap. Sombun. Aksontham. Cho. So. 1360. [Chunlangkha Malai. Folded Sa Paper. Complete. Aksontham Script.] Wat Pha Taek, Tambon Wiang Phang Kham, Amphoe Mae Sai, Changwat Chiang Rai.
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