Prayer in Nirat Literature of the Ayutthaya Period: Determination in the “Journey of life” Both Physical and Spiritual Dimensions

การอธิษฐานในวรรณคดีนิราศสมัยอยุธยา: ความมุ่งหวังในวิถีแห่ง “การเดินทางของชีวิต” ทั้งมิติทางกายภาพและจิตวิญญาณ

Authors

  • Thitiphat Jaroonchaikuljaroen Ph.D. Candidate in Philosophy Program (Folklore), Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University.
  • Onusa Suwanpratest Asst. Prof. Dr., Department of Folklore Philosophy and Religion, Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University.

Keywords:

Prayer, Nirat Literature, Thai Literature in Ayutthaya Period, Journey of life, physical and spiritual dimensions

Abstract

This research paper aimed to study and analyze the characteristics of prayer as an important motif that appeared in Nirat Literature of the Ayutthaya Period and to analyze the meaning of  “the Journey of life” reflected in prayer motif through those literary works. In this study, content analysis was employed. The scope of study focused on 9 Nirat Literature which were founded in the same period of Ayutthaya. The results revealed that there were 2 types of prayer’s characteristics: 1) prayer for oneself and one’s beloved and 2) prayer for others. Besides, the prayer motif reflected human determination in the “Journey of life” in 2 related dimensions: 1) Physical dimension was the journeys of this life which were mostly related to complete the assigned missions successfully. In this dimension, the prayer held the keys to recover from their emotional pain and give the hope for safe journey and mission accomplishment. This dimension focused on happiness in secular level. 2) Spiritual dimension was the journeys of the learnt and experienced mind from the outside journeys which resulted in raising one’s spirit to higher mental state. This dimension focused on happiness in religious level.

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Published

2022-12-08

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2022): July - December

Section

บทความวิจัย (Research Article)

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