A colleague in Thailand has provided me with a fascinating footnote to the Truth Today rally staged last Saturday by the pro-government and pro-Thaksin red-shirts. According to one report, the rally was opened with a ritual conducted by Brahmin priests. An offering was made to Phr Rahu (พิธีบูชาพระราหู). Rahu is the god of darkness and offerings to him are said to ward off bad luck. This was combined with a ritual to promote the good fortune of the country (ไหว้เสริมดวงเมือง). Interestingly, the ritual was lead by Brahmin Sakraphi Phromachat who, I am advised, is the son Brahmin Jaeng Phromachat who played an important role in the establishment of the jatukam amulet craze.
Brahmin Sakraphi said that the ritual was being conducted because these were turbulent times. He asked Phra Siam Thewathirat to protect the people from danger and calamity (note that General Prem has also previously called on the services of Phra Siam Thewathirat). And he asked that people with ill feeling against the country change their ways and focus on developing the nation. He believed that after this the situation would improve.
I’m no expert on things Brahmin. So perhaps some New Mandala readers may be able to cast some more light on this bold attempt by the red shirts to align themselves with the gods.
9 responses so far ↓
1 chris baker // Nov 4, 2008 at 11:03 am
Both sides are doing it. See the article Naew thang saiyasat nai krabuankan khluenwai kanmueang yuk lokaphiwat (Supernatural tendencies in political movements in the globalization age) in Matichon, 3 November, which mentions the Brahman ceremony at Rajamangala and also points out that a ‘history student from a US university’ (i.e., Sondhi) has been pronouncing incantations on the PAD stage all along, as well as enchanting Jatukam Ramathep amulets and other khlang stuff.
2 Ralph Kramden // Nov 4, 2008 at 11:20 am
While we are asking questions about Brahmins, what of the black magic statements coming from Sonthi Limthongkul regarding the need to perform ceremonies to ward off Cambodian magic. Anyone been watching this or have a perspective?
3 burin buranasin // Nov 4, 2008 at 11:58 am
Dear Walker:
As a Thai, I see nothing unusual about having a Brahmin ceremony at an auspicious event. This Brahmin involvement is part of Thai life when some rite is performed, as it is believed that the Hindu gods can powerfully protect the country and people. Very often a Brahmin ceremony is conducted side by side with a Buddhist one. This is a practice not only among common people but also for royalty. We see that on several important occasions, a ceremony in the grand palace is both Brahmin and Buddhist.
4 HC lau // Nov 4, 2008 at 6:06 pm
hello walker,
Which planet are you from? As an interested observer of Thailand, you are not very observant. Religious ceremonies, both Brahmin and other Buddhist, some Taoist even confucianism have been and will still be part of Thai lives. Everyone and their neighbour practice it. No important occasion / procession / street demonstrations are not preceeded by some sort of religious ceremony. NOTHING strange and no other significance.
BTW, if you go to the “4 face” buddha statue in Silom and do a survey, you will find a percentage of the Thais paying homage there are actually Christians. Going to church and believing in a Christian god is not going to stop them from the need to seek blessings from the ancient cultural ‘need’
5 Pracharat // Nov 4, 2008 at 8:16 pm
It is not unusual to see some sort of Brahmin ritual in an event like this. I would says it does not have significant meaning behind it, just tradition. You can see this kinds of ritual when Thais move into new house, wedding (usually in the morning of wedding day), moving to new office, before concert – sports(Thai soccer team do a ritual like this before compete in World cup preliminary).
6 AA // Nov 5, 2008 at 6:28 am
This is a very interesting topic. Paul Handley seemed especially curious about it and about royal sacrality. Although he was sure on political events, I think this topic in itself is worth delving into. Certainly we can see different cliches of magicmen that both sides utilize, but it would take a sociologist who understands Thai religious beliefs, symbolism, rituals and their importance(combined with knowledge of Thailand’s social networks) to be able to study this phenomenon fully.
Any New Mandala academics up for it? I would like to pre-order your book.
7 rookie // Nov 6, 2008 at 9:59 pm
If these ceremonies seem weird to some of you, I would say the weirdest is the latest one performed by Sonthi L who offered ladies’ sanitary napkins (used already) to a highly respected statue so as to ward off evil influence ready to affect the PAD at Govt House. Ask your Thai friends about this.
Btw, the four-faced Buddha statue is in fact Phra Phrom and located in the Raj-prasong intersection, not Silom.
8 bystander // Nov 7, 2008 at 12:59 pm
If it’s good for the morale of your foot soldiers, it doesn’t hurt to do it.
In times of risk and uncertainty, humans always look up to higher power to steady their resolve. More sophisticated post-modern humans may have some more abstract concept as their guiding principles…but all the same, it’s just how one is conditioned.
9 Senthil // Jul 11, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Phr Rahu (พิธีบูชาพระราหู).
Phr Rahu temple is in Thirunakeswaram about 5 km from Kumbakonam.
This is a town in “Tamilnadu” State of India.
One have to fly to “Chennai” airport and then by Train or Bus or Car can reach Kumbakonam which is 375 Kms from Chennai.
Bangkok is connected with Chennai thru lot of flights.
Another way is to fly to “Thirchy” using AIRASIA from Kualalumpur.
Tirchy city is just 60kms from Kumbakonam town.
http://www.kumbakonam.com/howtogetthere/road.htm
Thanks
Phr Rahu (พิธีบูชาพระราหู).
Phr Rahu วัดที่อยู่ใน Thirunakeswaram ประมาณ 5 กิโลเมตรจากตัวเมือง Kumbakonam.
นี่คือเมืองใน “Tamilnadu” รัฐของอินเดีย.
หนึ่งต้องบินไปที่ “เจนไน” สนามบินแล้วโดยรถไฟหรือรถบัสรถหรือสามารถเข้าถึง Kumbakonam ที่ 375 กิโลเมตรจากเจนไน.
กรุงเทพฯกับเจนไนผ่านจำนวนมากเที่ยวบิน.
อีกวิธีหนึ่งคือการบินไปที่ “Thirchy” ใช้ AIRASIA จาก Kualalumpur.
Tirchy เมืองเพียง 60kms จาก Kumbakonam เมือง.
http://www.kumbakonam.com/howtogetthere/road.htm
ขอบคุณ
นอกจากนี้ยังมีวัดสำหรับอาทิตย์ดวงจันทร์, เมอร์คิวรี, ศุกร์, Jupitor พระเจ้า
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