พระราหู เทพเจ้าแห่งโชคและโภคทรัพย์ การสร้างสรรค์ความหมายใหม่ของสัญลักษณ์พระราหูในสังคมไทย

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to study the resignification of the Rahu symbol in Thai society by examining Rahu sculptures in the central and eastern regions of Thailand which have been cast in increasingly large numbers in contemporary (1997-2017) Thai society.
According to the research results, it was evident that Rahu previously symbolized maleficence or misfortune, as reflected by the ritual of Rahu expulsion that was performed during a solar eclipse and the curse-dispelling ritual that was performed during Rahu’s malefic intervention or maturity according to the principles of astronomy. Nonetheless, at present, Rahu has been re-signified to symbolize fertility, abundance, fortune, and life transitions towards prosperity and happiness. Such resignification is accounted for by Thai society’s pursuit of a mental anchor, specifically, an immediate remedy for life crises. The rational behind this is that since Rahu is considered to be the cause of life suffering, the worship of Rahu serves as a means of propitiating him so that he forebears inflicting misfortune, punishment, and woe upon humans and instead bestows happiness and fulfillment. Such reasoning was a factor contributing to the construction of large Rahu sculptures of various forms in response to the needs of Rahu worshippers. At the same time, creators of Rahu images have also redefined the Rahu symbol by identifying him as the god who bestows happiness and prosperity on humans rather than misfortune and maleficence.