An Analytical Study of Beliefs and Rituals in Worshipping The Buddha’s Relics of Buddhists in Lanna

Abstract

The purposes of research are to study the relic and its method of veneration, to investigate the Lanna Buddhist people towards the belief and ritual for the veneration of relics and to analyze the belief and ritual of Lanna Buddhist people towards the relics venerating.  The research was conducted by the qualitative research methods that involved with documents and the data of the field study was achieved by the participatory observation and the in-depth interview from people of three provinces such as in Lamphun, Chaing Rai and Chiang Mai.

              The results revealed that the relic or Phrathat is a very important object in Buddhism. It epitomizes an object of worship as concrete as possible with relate to the Lord Buddha. There is not an evidence of the relic veneration in the Buddha’s time. The veneration depends on the determination of worshiper, that is to say, if a person makes his or her veneration with a strong faith then the fruition would be definitely achieved. According to the relic veneration in Lanna region, the relics are venerated as the national treasure as their ancestors have already followed for generations. In addition, the relic is venerated as the priceless in Buddhism or as it is a representation of the Buddha. The Traditional Bathing on the Buddha’s Relic is regarded as the most sacred ceremony for the Buddhist that has long been practiced, which has held as the glorious tradition in each area every year.

              The relic or Phrathat plays the important roles toward an individual, communities and Buddhism in various aspects as the religious symbol that creating faith for the Buddhist people. In addition, the relics are also the stratagem of practicing in accord with the Dhamma and as socialization including a successor to the age of Buddhism as well.