Page 179 - รวมเล่มศาสนาในประเทศไทย ภาคภาษาอังกฤษ

Brahmin-Hinduism

After King Rama I established the Kingdom of Rattanakosin, he started
building many royal structures, including the Grand Palace, its pavilions, as well as the palace
temple of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram. To have them properly blessed, he prepared
the groundwork by arranging for a holy Brahmin family from the south to come, and be in
charge of constructing the Giant Swing, in order to follow the traditional Brahmin concept in
the establishment of a kingdom. The nearby Dhevasathan, or Brahmin Shrine, was constructed
near the Giant Swing in 1784, to be a prayer hall for the officiating Brahmin priests. Once all
construction was finished, His Majesty King Rama I presided over the Brahmin ritual ceremony
of Triyampawai-Tripawai and also the Giant Swing Ceremony. Its purpose was to invite all deities
to be present at the ceremony to give their auspicious blessing to the newly established Kingdom.
The Brahmans of the Devasathan are the key ceremonial masters of every auspicious
royal, official and public ritual in Thailand; the custom continues to the present day. Many of
these ceremonies are fundamental to Buddhist practices also, because the two religions have
co-mingled the performance of their rituals in a very harmonious style to further secure blessings
to the nation.

No matter how society changed over time and what kind of political situation
the country may have been in the role of Brahmin traditions of the Dhevasathan never lost its
importance. They had played important role in Thailand since the year of the ancient Absolute
Monarchy until the reign of King Rama VII of Rattanakosin Kingdom.

1 Wat Phra Sri Maha Uma Devi or
Wat Khak Silom Bangkok
2 Mural Painting, depicting the scene
when the Brahman leads the ritual
performance of the Ploughing
Ceremony
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