Folk Beliefs and Worship of Chao Pho Hanuman in Thai Society

คติความเชื่อและพิธีกรรมการนับถือ "เจ้าพ่อหนุมาน" ในสังคมไทย

Authors

  • Rattanaphon Chuenka D.A. Student, Doctor of Arts Program in Thai Language, Faculty of Humanities, Srinakharinwirot University
  • Panupong Udomsilp Asst. Prof., Thai Language Program, Faculty of Humanities, Srinakharinwirot University
  • Sukanya Sujachaya Prof. Emeritus, the Associate member of Fine Arts Institute in Folk Literature field, The Royal Society

Keywords:

Ramakien, Hunuman, guardian spirit, guardian-spirit belief and worship

Abstract

This research paper aimed to examine folk beliefs and worship of Chao Pho Hanuman in Thai society. The data were collected from field studies during 2019-2021, which had been analyzed and interpreted according to folklore methodologies. It was found that there were eight Hanuman shrines today, namely, 1) Chao Pho Kamhaeng Hanuman Shrine in Taling Chan District, Bangkok, 2) Chao Pho Hanuman Shrine in Chomthong District, Bangkok, 3) Luang Pho Hanuman Shrine, Samut Songkhram Province, 4) Somdet Phra-ong Than Hanuman Shrine, Kanchanaburi Province, 5) Chao Hanuman Shrine, Phetchaburi Province, 6) Chao Pho Hanuman Shrine, Prachuap Khirikhan Province, 7) Chao Pho Hanuman Shrine (Hanuman’s swamp), Prachinburi Province, and 8) Chao Pho Hanuman Shrine (Hanuman’s tributary), Prachinburi Province. All reflect that folk beliefs and worship of Chao Pho Hanuman has been originally derived from Ramakien, Siamese-versioned Ramayana. Then this divine monkey is worshipped as a sacred spirit amongst the Central Thai. In addition, it was also found that the beliefs can be categorized into six aspects: 1) Hanuman (along with natural monkeys) as a guardian spirit, 2) Hanuman Placenames, 3) sacred floating sculpture of Hanuman, 4) sculpture of Hanuman, 5) Hanuman’s spirit mediums, and 6) the belief of Phra Ram and Phra Lak’s monkey soldier. Worship of Chao Pho Hanuman, herein, can be assumingly traced back to “guarding spirit worship” based on indigenous belief, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Chinese belief.

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Published

2022-06-01

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2022): January - June

Section

บทความวิจัย (Research Article)

License

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