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142-581: In addition, the water in this river was used in the coronation ceremony of the Thai Kings in each reign. 13°15′57″N 99°56′32″E  /  13.2657°N 99.9423°E  / 13.2657; 99.9423 This article related to a river in Thailand is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Coronation of the Thai monarch The coronation of the monarch of Thailand

284-644: A body of teachings incorporating esoteric tantric techniques, may be viewed as a separate branch or tradition within Mahāyāna. The Theravāda branch has a widespread following in Sri Lanka as well as in Southeast Asia, namely Myanmar , Thailand , Laos , and Cambodia . The Mahāyāna branch—which includes the East Asian traditions of Tiantai , Chan , Pure Land , Zen , Nichiren , and Tendai  

426-534: A coalition government because it wants to focus on the coronation. In April, the government announced that Songkran festivities were to be scaled down in order to avoid clashes with the coronation. The royal regalia of Thailand (เครื่องราชกกุธภัณฑ์แห่งประเทศไทย) are objects accumulated by the kings of Thailand for use during their coronation ceremonies. Most were assembled around 1785 for the second coronation ceremony of King Rama I. The combination of these regal and practical objects, and their symbolism, trace back to

568-481: A coronation ceremony. Nevertheless, the king tried to restore some of the old rites when he invited some Brahmins from Nakhon Si Thammarat to his court. When King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I) established the Rattanakosin Kingdom with Bangkok as the capital in 1782, he performed a provisional coronation ceremony, often referred to in historical records as a Prapdaphisek (ปราบดาภิเษก). This

710-419: A firm date for the coronation and, subsequently, the election. It was not until 1 January 2019 that the government announced an official date for the coronation, which was to take place later that year from 4–6 May; a palace statement said: "His Majesty deems it fit to hold the coronation ceremony per royal traditions for the good fortune of the nation and the kingdom, to be enjoyed by the hopeful people". Over

852-518: A former official of the King of Ayutthaya, a committee of officials and monks created a manual of the royal ceremonies of the court, including the coronation ceremony. At the same time, he ordered the creation of a new set of the royal regalia and utensils. In 1785, after the construction of the Grand Palace was finished, a second full coronation ceremony was completed in accordance with tradition. It

994-510: A gilded golden stem. The umbrellas are usually displayed above an important throne in the royal palace (similar to a baldachin ). The umbrellas themselves are considered sacred objects and receive offerings from the king on the anniversary of his coronation day. There are currently seven such umbrellas, with six distributed at the various throne halls in the Grand Palace , and one in the Dusit Palace . Derived from ancient Hindu beliefs,

1136-618: A hundred. May the Sovereign Guardian of the East, renowned as Dhṛtarāṣṭra , gently protect the King and his realms. Whoever create evil in this eastern quarter may the Sovereign, through his might, triumph over them all in a righteous manner. The eastern pandit will then advance to the foot of the throne and hand a cup of water from the eastern provinces to the king, while reciting the following prayer: The Eastern Pandit: Through

1278-537: A phenomenon known as Greco-Buddhism . An example of this is evidenced in Chinese and Pali Buddhist records, such as Milindapanha and the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhāra . The Milindapanha describes a conversation between a Buddhist monk and the 2nd-century BCE Greek king Menander , after which Menander abdicates and himself goes into monastic life in the pursuit of nirvana. Some scholars have questioned

1420-569: A proclamation signalling the start of the coronation ceremonies. The entire assemblage of monks, following the recitation of the Five Precepts, will chant the Paritta Suttas and lay a protective thread around the buildings to ward off evil spirits. The service concludes with the monks leaving the palace. They will return for the coronation service the next day. Before the end of the day the king will also send offerings of flowers to

1562-547: A year's time. He wanted to invite members of foreign royal families to join him, and to enjoy the festivities without disturbing the customary period of mourning for his father. The second coronation began on 28 November 1911 and continued for thirteen days. Representatives from fourteen different countries attended, including Prince Alexander of Teck of Great Britain, Grand Duke Boris of Russia, Prince Nicholas of Greece, Prince Valdemar of Denmark, Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, and Prince Fushimi-no-miya of Japan. The second event

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1704-409: Is 118 cm (46 in) long, and has a knob at one end and three prongs at the other. The staff or sceptre is a symbol of regal authority in many cultures. The fan and flywhisk (พัดวาลวิชนี และ พระแส้หางจามรี) are items used to comfort and cool, an important accessory for a divine king especially in a tropical country. The Royal Fan (พัดวาลวิชนี) was created by order of King Rama I. The fan

1846-520: Is a ceremony in which they are formally consecrated by anointment and crowning . The ceremony is divided into two main events: the coronation rites and the celebration of the Assumption of the Residence. The coronation rites are a blend of Hindu and Buddhist traditions dating back several centuries. The rites included the purification bath of the king, the anointing of the king (based on

1988-629: Is a separate category of items. The four items are made of gold: the Betel Nut Set (พานพระขันหมาก), the Water Urn (พระมณฑปรัตนกรัณฑ์), the Libation vessel (พระสุพรรณราช), and the Spittoon (พระสุพรรณศรี). By possessing such ordinary items, which were all made from precious materials, the king can show off his wealth and status to his subjects. The utensils are always placed at either side of

2130-964: Is collected from the five principal rivers of the kingdom: the Chao Phraya , the Pa Sak , the Mae Klong (or Rachaburi), the Phetchaburi , and the Bang Pakong . This mirrors the five ancient Indian rivers, the Ganges , the Mahi , the Yamuna , the Sarayu , and the Achiravati . Also included is water from the four ancient ponds of Suphanburi and consecrated water from important Buddhist temples around

2272-455: Is erected specifically for this purpose inside the palace. The images of the three Hindu deities (the Trimurti ) are placed on three altars. Before them is placed a copper stove inscribed with the appropriate yantra , and nine basins of water each containing a small silver coin. After the usual purification rites, the citing of the yantra of worship to the eight directions and to the deities on

2414-422: Is gilded with gold, the handle enamelled in green and red. Traditionally a fan was made by bending a talipot palm 's frond at a right angle; the royal fan mimics this traditional form. The Royal Flywhisk of the yak 's tail (พระแส้หางจามรี) was made in the reign of King Rama IV to augment the five items of the regalia. Evidently associated with the same idea of divine comfort as the fan, it is actually derived from

2556-572: Is mixed in with the water gathered in the Grand Palace beforehand. The king will first sit facing the east, the pandit in charge over that direction will advance and after paying homage (by the act of prostrating in front of the king) will address him in Pali (a spoken form of the ancient Magadhi Prakrit language), and then again in Thai : The Eastern Pandit: May it please your Majesty! May

2698-642: Is on this ceremony that all subsequent coronations are modelled. The king also established the Devasathan or the Brahman temple, near Wat Suthat , as a religious centre so the Brahmins could continue to perform and officiate royal ceremonies at the court. The coronations of King Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II) and King Nangklao (Rama III), in 1809 and 1824, followed closely those of Rama I, with no deviation recorded. When King Mongkut (Rama IV) came to

2840-633: Is predominantly practised in Nepal , Bhutan , China , Malaysia , Vietnam , Taiwan , Korea , and Japan . Tibetan Buddhism , a form of Vajrayāna , is practised in the Himalayan states as well as in Mongolia and Russian Kalmykia . Japanese Shingon also preserves the Vajrayana tradition as transmitted to China . Historically, until the early 2nd millennium , Buddhism was widely practiced in

2982-400: Is scholarly disagreement on whether insight was seen as liberating in early Buddhism or whether it was a later addition to the practice of the four jhānas . Scholars such as Bronkhorst also think that the four noble truths may not have been formulated in earliest Buddhism, and did not serve in earliest Buddhism as a description of "liberating insight". According to Vetter, the description of

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3124-640: Is shown by a large increase in epigraphic and manuscript evidence in this period. However, it still remained a minority in comparison to other Buddhist schools. Mahāyāna Buddhist institutions continued to grow in influence during the following centuries, with large monastic university complexes such as Nalanda (established by the 5th-century CE Gupta emperor, Kumaragupta I ) and Vikramashila (established under Dharmapala c.  783 to 820) becoming quite powerful and influential. During this period of Late Mahāyāna, four major types of thought developed: Mādhyamaka, Yogācāra, Buddha-nature ( Tathāgatagarbha ), and

3266-496: Is the next ceremony the king undertakes. While the ceremonial bath is in progress, a fanfare of drums, trumpets and traditional Thai music is played. Elsewhere, ancient artillery fires a 101-gun salute within the precinct of the Grand Palace and at Sanam Luang . A mantra of benediction is recited by eighty monks inside the Chakkraphat Phiman residence. After he has finished receiving the water from high officials,

3408-663: Is the purification bath of the king (พระราชพิธีสรงพระมูรธาภิเษก). On the morning of the coronation day, the king will arrive at the Amarin Winitchai throne hall in the uniform of a field marshal of the Royal Thai Army . He will first light a candle and make a special offering to the Buddha images inside the hall, and then proceed to the Phaisan Thaksin Hall. After performing a brief prayer (repeating

3550-486: Is then invoked by the Brahmin, to fanfare and music. The king will then rise from the throne and proceed to the crowning. Buddhism Buddhism ( / ˈ b ʊ d ɪ z əm / BUUD -ih-zəm , US also / ˈ b uː d -/ BOOD - ), also known as Buddha Dharma , is an Indian religion and philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha , a wandering teacher who lived in

3692-485: Is usually concluded several days or a week before the main ceremony. Usually starting around the same time, but separately, is the ancient Hindu ritual called the homa or sacrifices to fire (พิธีศาสตรปุณยาชุบโหมเพลิง). The ritual is performed by the royal court's Chief Brahmin (พระราชครูวามเทพมุนี), who is also the High Priest of Shiva , and his followers, the court Brahmin (พราหมณ์หลวง). A ceremonial pavilion

3834-474: Is vast, with many different textual collections in different languages (such as Sanskrit , Pali , Tibetan , and Chinese ). Buddhist schools vary in their interpretation of the paths to liberation ( mārga ) as well as the relative importance and "canonicity" assigned to various Buddhist texts , and their specific teachings and practices. Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars: Theravāda ( lit.   ' School of

3976-545: The Chakkraphat Phiman residence . The Amarin Winitchai throne hall is the grand throne room , and has two thrones. This is where the king grants his public audiences, and holds state ceremonies in front of the royal court. The Phaisan Thaksin hall is a much smaller rectangular room directly behind. It was used as a private presence chamber by previous kings. The hall also has two thrones, one at either end of

4118-653: The Chakkraphat Phiman residence . The king begins the ceremony by the lighting of candles. From these candles a taper is lit and given to the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand , who will proceed to the Amarin Winitchai throne hall to light a special candle called the Candle of Victory (เทียนชัย). This candle will stay lit until the end of the coronation ceremony. A senior monk will then read out

4260-838: The Dharmaguptaka school. The Islamic conquest of the Iranian Plateau in the 7th-century, followed by the Muslim conquests of Afghanistan and the later establishment of the Ghaznavid kingdom with Islam as the state religion in Central Asia between the 10th- and 12th-century led to the decline and disappearance of Buddhism from most of these regions. The origins of Mahāyāna ("Great Vehicle") Buddhism are not well understood and there are various competing theories about how and where this movement arose. Theories include

4402-565: The Five Precepts ), and receiving a blessing from the assembled monks inside the hall, at the auspicious time the Chief Brahmin will invite the king to take a ceremonial bath. The king will change into a white robe, symbolic of purity (similar to a monk's Kasaya ). Prior to taking the bath, the king will pause at an altar erected in the courtyard to light candles and make offerings to Hindu deities. The water used in this ceremony

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4544-774: The Initial states of Thailand from three different sources: the Hindu civilisations of Srivijaya from the 8th to 12th centuries; the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the mid-14th century; and the Mon Buddhist Thaton Kingdom from the 3rd century BC to the 11th century. The Sukhothai Kingdom (13th century to 15th century), which seceded from the Khmer Empire in 1238, mentioned the process of anointment ( Abhisheka ) of their first monarchs, explaining that Si Inthrathit (then titled Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao )

4686-695: The Milindapanha version, expressing doubts whether Menander was Buddhist or just favourably disposed to Buddhist monks. The Kushan empire (30–375 CE) came to control the Silk Road trade through Central and South Asia, which brought them to interact with Gandharan Buddhism and the Buddhist institutions of these regions. The Kushans patronised Buddhism throughout their lands, and many Buddhist centres were built or renovated (the Sarvastivada school

4828-419: The Pali canon . The history of Indian Buddhism may be divided into five periods: Early Buddhism (occasionally called pre-sectarian Buddhism ), Nikaya Buddhism or Sectarian Buddhism (the period of the early Buddhist schools), Early Mahayana Buddhism , Late Mahayana, and the era of Vajrayana or the "Tantric Age". According to Lambert Schmithausen Pre-sectarian Buddhism is "the canonical period prior to

4970-574: The President of the National Assembly formally invited Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn to ascend to the throne as king. Later that night Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said in a televised statement that the coronation would "be at [the king's] discretion" and would not take place until after 26 October 2017, when the royal cremation of his father was planned. For most Thai people it was the first coronation in living memory. The date of

5112-523: The Sword of Victory (พระแสงขรรค์ชัยศรี) was supposedly found by a fisherman in the waters of the Tonlé Sap , Cambodia in 1784, and presented to King Rama I. He had a scabbard and hilt of gold made for the blade. Both are inlaid with diamonds and precious stones. The sword's blade measures 64.5 cm (25 in) long, while the hilt measures 25.4 cm (10 in) long. When placed in its scabbard,

5254-682: The Tarim Basin . The first documented Buddhist texts translated into Chinese are those of the Parthian An Shigao (148–180 CE). The first known Mahāyāna scriptural texts are translations into Chinese by the Kushan monk Lokakṣema in Luoyang , between 178 and 189 CE. From China, Buddhism was introduced into its neighbours Korea (4th century), Japan (6th–7th centuries), and Vietnam ( c.  1st –2nd centuries). During

5396-565: The Theravada tradition had not established any deities, but were epistemologically cautious rather than directly atheist . Later Buddhist traditions were more influenced by the critique of deities within Hinduism and therefore more committed to a strongly atheist stance. These developments were historic and epistemological as documented in verses from Śāntideva 's Bodhicaryāvatāra , and supplemented by reference to suttas and jātakas from

5538-639: The Wat Phra Kaew , or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. On the day of the ceremony itself, a royal scribe engraves the royal styles and titles (Thai kings usually receive a new ceremonial name upon accession) on a thin rectangular gold sheet. Another sheet of gold with the king's horoscope is also engraved. The king's personal seal is also carved by a royal artisan. All of this is done with fanfare from conch trumpets and musical instruments in

5680-594: The divine weapons of Shiva and Vishnu , mentioned in the Shatapatha Brahmana . The current set of weapons were all created during the reign of King Rama I, as reproductions of lost originals. Apart from the sacred weapons, the others are symbolic of the martial exploits of King Naresuan of Ayutthaya . Most of the coronation rituals take place within the enclosure of the Phra Maha Montien (พระมหามณเฑียร) group of buildings, translated as

5822-589: The epistemological tradition of Dignaga and Dharmakirti . According to Dan Lusthaus , Mādhyamaka and Yogācāra have a great deal in common, and the commonality stems from early Buddhism. During the Gupta period (4th–6th centuries) and the empire of Harṣavardana ( c.  590 –647 CE), Buddhism continued to be influential in India, and large Buddhist learning institutions such as Nalanda and Valabahi Universities were at their peak. Buddhism also flourished under

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5964-404: The heir to the last king rule only as a regent and not as a king until he is officially consecrated. An unconsecrated king is not considered qualified to carry out the divine and priestly function of a Devarāja (or God-king). Until the coronation rites are completed the new king must exclude the prefix Phrabat (พระบาท) from his royal title , he cannot enact a royal command , nor sit under

6106-469: The nine-tiered umbrella (he must make do with only seven tiers). As a result, it was customary for a king to go through the coronation ceremonies as soon as he had succeeded to the throne. The earliest forms of coronation in Southeast Asia were derived from those of ancient India . The present Thai coronation ceremony is a blend of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, which were transferred to

6248-400: The regency of Somdet Chaophraya Sri Suriwongse . He was given no political power, but was crowned with a full ceremony on 11 November 1868, only a month after the death of King Rama IV. When he attained majority at the age of 20, the King underwent another coronation ceremony on 16 November 1873. For King Rama V the second coronation was vital in legitimising his reign, not only in the eyes of

6390-577: The revolution of 1932 , the system of government was changed from that of an absolute to a constitutional monarchy . Three years later King Rama VII abdicated after violent disagreement with the new government led by the Khana Ratsadon (the "People's Party"). His nephew, Prince Ananda Mahidol , ascended to the throne as King Rama VIII. In 1935 the King was only eight years old and was considered too young to be crowned. His family moved him to Switzerland to be educated and for his health. The country

6532-701: The treasury . The term Abhisheka itself was first used in the Royal Chronicle in 1480. The ceremony was supposedly held over twenty-one days, excluding a month of theatrical performances, which showed its importance. When the capital city was sacked in 1767 by the Burmese troops of the Konbaung dynasty in the war of 1765 , most of the records about royal ceremonies were destroyed. The successive Thonburi Kingdom (1768–1782) had little time for royal ceremony, and its only monarch, King Taksin , never had

6674-598: The Śramaṇa traditions. New ideas developed both in the Vedic tradition in the form of the Upanishads, and outside of the Vedic tradition through the Śramaṇa movements. The term Śramaṇa refers to several Indian religious movements parallel to but separate from the historical Vedic religion , including Buddhism, Jainism and others such as Ājīvika . Several Śramaṇa movements are known to have existed in India before

6816-641: The "chief residence". The buildings are in the Middle Court of the Grand Palace , the oldest part of the palace, having been built by King Rama I in 1782. The first three kings of the Chakri dynasty used these buildings as their primary place of residence. The building is separated into three sections, from north to south; the Amarin Winitchai throne hall , the Phaisan Thaksin hall , and

6958-401: The 1200s. The Silk Road transmission of Buddhism to China is most commonly thought to have started in the late 2nd or the 1st century CE, though the literary sources are all open to question. The first documented translation efforts by foreign Buddhist monks in China were in the 2nd century CE, probably as a consequence of the expansion of the Kushan Empire into the Chinese territory of

7100-505: The 6th century BCE (pre-Buddha, pre- Mahavira ), and these influenced both the āstika and nāstika traditions of Indian philosophy . According to Martin Wilshire, the Śramaṇa tradition evolved in India over two phases, namely Paccekabuddha and Savaka phases, the former being the tradition of individual ascetic and the latter of disciples, and that Buddhism and Jainism ultimately emerged from these. Brahmanical and non-Brahmanical ascetic groups shared and used several similar ideas, but

7242-432: The 6th or 5th century BCE . It is the world's fourth-largest religion , with over 520 million followers, known as Buddhists , who comprise seven percent of the global population. It arose in the eastern Gangetic plain as a śramaṇa movement in the 5th century BCE, and gradually spread throughout much of Asia. Buddhism has subsequently played a major role in Asian culture and spirituality, eventually spreading to

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7384-501: The Bhairava Vidyapitha tantras. Ronald M. Davidson meanwhile, argues that Sanderson's claims for direct influence from Shaiva Vidyapitha texts are problematic because "the chronology of the Vidyapitha tantras is by no means so well established" and that the Shaiva tradition also appropriated non-Hindu deities, texts and traditions. Thus while "there can be no question that the Buddhist tantras were heavily influenced by Kapalika and other Saiva movements" argues Davidson, "the influence

7526-435: The Buddha advised meditation practices and ethical precepts rooted in non-harming . Widely observed teachings include the Four Noble Truths , the Noble Eightfold Path , and the doctrines of dependent origination , karma , and the three marks of existence . Other commonly observed elements include the Triple Gem , the taking of monastic vows , and the cultivation of perfections ( pāramitā ). The Buddhist canon

7668-484: The Buddhist path may initially have been as simple as the term "the middle way". In time, this short description was elaborated, resulting in the description of the eightfold path. According to numerous Buddhist scriptures, soon after the parinirvāṇa (from Sanskrit: "highest extinguishment") of Gautama Buddha, the first Buddhist council was held to collectively recite the teachings to ensure that no errors occurred in oral transmission. Many modern scholars question

7810-403: The Chinese Tang dynasty (618–907), Chinese Esoteric Buddhism was introduced from India and Chan Buddhism (Zen) became a major religion. Chan continued to grow in the Song dynasty (960–1279) and it was during this era that it strongly influenced Korean Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism. Pure Land Buddhism also became popular during this period and was often practised together with Chan. It

7952-412: The East and all beings that dwell therein. I shall remain on earth further protecting this kingdom, and her Buddhist religion and her people. The Eastern Pandit: Good, my Lord. The king then turns to the southeast, where the same Pali and Thai language dialogues will be repeated with changes to the name of the direction and of the corresponding celestial guardian of that direction. The eight guardians of

8094-495: The Elders ' ) and Mahāyāna ( lit.   ' Great Vehicle ' ). The Theravada tradition emphasizes the attainment of nirvāṇa ( lit.   ' extinguishing ' ) as a means of transcending the individual self and ending the cycle of death and rebirth ( saṃsāra ), while the Mahayana tradition emphasizes the Bodhisattva ideal , in which one works for the liberation of all sentient beings. Additionally, Vajrayāna ( lit.   ' Indestructible Vehicle ' ),

8236-421: The Hindu deities in the Brahman temple, to the sacred white royal nine-tiered umbrellas (five dotted around the various palaces ), and to the images of the guardian spirits of the capital city at the city shrine . On the same day the covered tablets of the royal seal, titles and horoscope are officially transferred from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to the Phaisan Thaksin hall. The first coronation rite

8378-502: The Indian subcontinent before declining there ; it also had a foothold to some extent elsewhere in Asia, namely Afghanistan , Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , and Tajikistan . The names Buddha Dharma and Bauddha Dharma come from Sanskrit : बुद्ध धर्म and बौद्ध धर्म respectively ("doctrine of the Enlightened One" and "doctrine of Buddhists"). The term Dharmavinaya comes from Sanskrit: धर्मविनय , literally meaning "doctrines [and] disciplines". The Buddha ("the Awakened One")

8520-433: The Long-handled sword (พระแสงดาบเชลย), the Trident (พระแสงตรี), the Chakra (พระแสงจักร), the Short sword with Buckler (พระแสงเขนมีดาบ), the Bow (พระแสงธนู), the Elephant goad spear (พระแสงของ้าวพลพ่าย), and the Gun of Satong (พระแสงปืนคาบชุดแม่น้ำสโตง). Some of the oldest items of regalia in ancient India are weapons, the main four being the bow, the spear, the trident, and the chakra. The weapons are symbolic of

8662-419: The Octagonal Throne, at the east end of the Phaisan Thaksin hall, led by royal pandits and Brahmins in a specific order. The Octagonal Throne (พระที่นั่งอัฐทิศอุทุมพรราชอาสน์) was made of Indian fig wood or udumbara (the Ficus racemosa ) in the shape of an octagonal prism and covered in gold. This unusually shaped throne was placed here by the orders of King Rama I specifically for use in this part of

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8804-476: The Sovereign here give me leave to pronounce his victory. May the Sovereign, turning now towards the East, seated upon his royal throne, extend his protection and exercise his royal authority over all those realms situated to (the east) and all beings that therein dwell. May he remain on earth further protecting this kingdom, as well as her Buddhist religion and her people. May he remain long in sovereignty , without ills, accomplishing success, and may his years number

8946-416: The Theravada Majjhima Nikaya and Sarvastivada Madhyama Agama contain mostly the same major doctrines. Richard Salomon , in his study of the Gandharan texts (which are the earliest manuscripts containing early discourses), has confirmed that their teachings are "consistent with non-Mahayana Buddhism, which survives today in the Theravada school of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, but which in ancient times

9088-422: The Vinaya (monastic rule), and this caused a split with the conservatives who rejected this change, they were called Mahāsāṃghikas . While most scholars accept that this happened at some point, there is no agreement on the dating, especially if it dates to before or after the reign of Ashoka. Buddhism may have spread only slowly throughout India until the time of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (304–232 BCE), who

9230-404: The West in the 20th century. According to tradition, the Buddha instructed his followers in a path of development which leads to awakening and full liberation from dukkha ( lit.   ' suffering or unease ' ). He regarded this path as a Middle Way between extremes such as asceticism or sensual indulgence. Teaching that dukkha arises alongside attachment or clinging ,

9372-469: The West, takes the form of a tall conical tapering spire with ear pieces that hang to the sides. Made on the orders of King Rama I, the crown is over 66 cm (26 in) in height and weighs over 7.3 kg (16 lb). Made of gold, enamelled and studded with diamonds and other precious stones, the crown is topped by a brilliant white diamond called the Phra Maha Wichian Mani (พระมหาวิเชียรมณี), bought and added later by King Rama IV. The blade of

9514-406: The age of 80 in Kushinagar , India. The Buddha's teachings were propagated by his followers, which in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BCE became various Buddhist schools of thought , each with its own basket of texts containing different interpretations and authentic teachings of the Buddha; these over time evolved into many traditions of which the more well known and widespread in

9656-457: The altar, the Brahmin will, with great ceremony, dip the leaves of certain trees, such as the Aegle marmelos , that were esteemed in ancient times for their supposed medicinal and purifying values, into the water. The leaves are offered to the king during the imminent service of benediction. The king will then brush himself on the head and hair to symbolise purification and give them back to the Chief Brahmin, who will then ceremonially burn each of

9798-436: The ancient chāmara of India. According to tradition, the fly-whisk was used by the king to repel any maleficent forces that might bring discomfort to his subjects. The hair on the royal fly-whisk has since been replaced by those of a white elephant . The Royal Slippers (ฉลองพระบาทเชิงงอน) take the form of an open-heeled slipper with the front curling upwards into a point. The exterior is decorated with diamonds and jewels,

9940-485: The ancient Indian subcontinent and are replicated by many monarchies within the Greater Indian cultural sphere. The Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella (นพปฎลมหาเศวตฉัตร) is considered the most sacred and ancient of the royal regalia. The umbrella (also called a chatra ) consists of many tiers, five for the crown prince (or the viceroy ), seven for an unconsecrated king, and nine for a fully sovereign king. The shades are made of white silk trimmed with gold, attached to

10082-690: The ancient religion Jainism , is also claimed to be ksatriya by his early followers. ) According to early texts such as the Pali Ariyapariyesanā-sutta ("The discourse on the noble quest", MN 26) and its Chinese parallel at MĀ 204, Gautama was moved by the suffering ( dukkha ) of life and death, and its endless repetition due to rebirth . He thus set out on a quest to find liberation from suffering (also known as " nirvana "). Early texts and biographies state that Gautama first studied under two teachers of meditation, namely Āḷāra Kālāma (Sanskrit: Arada Kalama) and Uddaka Ramaputta (Sanskrit: Udraka Ramaputra), learning meditation and philosophy, particularly

10224-413: The ancient ritual of Abhiseka ), the crowning of the king, and the investiture of the royal regalia, the royal utensils, and the royal weapons of sovereignty. The Assumption of the Residence is a private housewarming celebration by members of the royal family at the Grand Palace . Historically, the coronation usually took place as soon as possible after the death of the previous monarch. This followed

10366-415: The anointment, where the god Indra was invited to manifest into the person of the king. This ceremony was undoubtedly Hindu and was performed by the court Brahmins. The ceremony also included elements of a Rajasuya . After the anointment, the chief nobles would then present the king with the different elements of his realm, namely the people, the capital city, the troops, the boats, the paddy fields and

10508-417: The chaotic political situation and post-war malaise. On 9 June 1946 the King was found dead by a bullet wound to the forehead. His younger brother Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej was later proclaimed king as Rama IX. As he was only 19 years old, a regency council was to rule in his stead. King Rama VIII was never formally crowned, so only a seven-tiered umbrella was hung above his funerary urn. However, on 13 August,

10650-405: The coronation ceremony was supposed to take place. However, some voiced doubts over this timeline and others were highly critical of the government's use of the coronation as a tool to delay the election, which was initially supposed to happen in 2016. Throughout 2018 several anti-government protests were held by various groups demanding an election as soon as possible, as the government had not set

10792-438: The coronation ceremony. Before the ceremony is completed, the throne is topped with the seven-tiered white umbrella, the symbol of an unconsecrated king. Opposite the eight sides of the throne are eight small tables on which the sacred images of various guardians are placed, with space for the anointment water vessels and conch shells . The anointment water used for this ceremony is taken from eighteen shrines and temples around

10934-407: The coronation is Rachaphisek (ราชาภิเษก) or Rajyabhisheka (राज्याभिषेक), a Vedic term for an anointment (see Abhisheka ) of a monarch. The term preserves the fact that the anointment was once the most essential component of the ceremony. Today, however, the Thai coronation ceremony incorporates many rites including the anointment , the enthronement , the crowning , and the investiture of

11076-401: The coronation preparation first". Despite promising not to delay the election date further, the planned election date was postponed from 29 February to 24 March. After the highly contentious general election was finally held, with the unofficial results showing no clear winner, the pro-military Palang Pracharat Party announced that it would not seek to negotiate with other parties to forge

11218-470: The country, as divided into eight quadrants in accordance with the eight cardinal directions of the compass, with Bangkok being at the centre. These temples were selected based on their significance, either for being located at a surviving centre of an ancient civilisation, or near a modern centre of administration. The consecrated water is conveyed by urns to arrive in Bangkok several days before, and some

11360-402: The custom that an unconsecrated king cannot bear certain regalia nor carry out any religious functions. However, in the last century this tradition has been replaced by a mourning period of about a year after the succession as their powers and legitimacy are already guaranteed by the constitution. The most recent coronation of Vajiralongkorn was held on 4 May 2019. The Thai language term for

11502-467: The development of different schools with their different positions". The early Buddhist Texts include the four principal Pali Nikāyas (and their parallel Agamas found in the Chinese canon) together with the main body of monastic rules, which survive in the various versions of the patimokkha . However, these texts were revised over time, and it is unclear what constitutes the earliest layer of Buddhist teachings. One method to obtain information on

11644-417: The dialogue and anointment, eight times overall, until finally returning to the east. The pandit of the east will then sum up the anointment with a similar speech as above, with appropriate replies from the king. The Chief Brahmin will then approach the king and hand him the great royal nine-tiered white umbrella, the symbol of a consecrated king. The king will accept it and hand it over to a royal page. A mantra

11786-399: The directions are derived from the traditional Buddhist idea of Hindu mythology , including the four heavenly kings : Dhṛtarāṣṭra (east), Virūḍhaka (south), Virūpākṣa (west) and Vaiśravaṇa (north), also known as Kubera ; and the four subsidiary beings: Bhuta (southeast), Deva (southwest), Nāga (northwest) and Yaksha (northeast). The king then continues clockwise, repeating

11928-625: The earliest Mahāyāna sūtras to include the first versions of the Prajnaparamita series, along with texts concerning Akṣobhya , which were probably composed in the 1st century BCE in the south of India. There is no evidence that Mahāyāna ever referred to a separate formal school or sect of Buddhism, with a separate monastic code (Vinaya), but rather that it existed as a certain set of ideals, and later doctrines, for bodhisattvas. Records written by Chinese monks visiting India indicate that both Mahāyāna and non-Mahāyāna monks could be found in

12070-738: The early texts, which has led most scholars to conclude that Gautama Buddha must have taught something similar to the Four Noble Truths , the Noble Eightfold Path , Nirvana , the three marks of existence , the five aggregates , dependent origination , karma and rebirth . According to N. Ross Reat, all of these doctrines are shared by the Theravada Pali texts and the Mahasamghika school's Śālistamba Sūtra . A recent study by Bhikkhu Analayo concludes that

12212-558: The ending of the mental defilements ( asavas ), the ending of suffering, and the end of rebirth in saṃsāra . This event also brought certainty about the Middle Way as the right path of spiritual practice to end suffering. As a fully enlightened Buddha , he attracted followers and founded a Sangha (monastic order). He spent the rest of his life teaching the Dharma he had discovered, and then died, achieving " final nirvana ", at

12354-445: The festivities were judged a success and were lauded by the foreign press. King Prajadhipok (Rama VII)'s coronation ceremony was scheduled for 25 February 1926. Unlike his predecessors, he wanted to wait until after the royal funeral and mourning period of the previous king (his brother had died on 26 November 1925) had come to an end. The coronation ceremony took three days, the state progress on land then took place on 1 March and

12496-418: The government declared that the nine-tiered umbrella and other regalia should be presented to his remains and his regnal title changed posthumously by adding the prefix Phrabat , making him a fully consecrated king. In late 1946 King Rama IX left Thailand and returned to Switzerland, not to return until 1950. During his absence, political crises gripped the country, precipitating a coup d'état in 1947 , when

12638-477: The hall, and these are used only during the coronation ceremony. The last section is the Chakkraphat Phiman residence—not one but a series of connected buildings forming the king's personal apartments. The residence contains the state bedroom and the canopy bed of King Rama I, as well as other tables and couches for royal use. The back of the residence opens into the Inner Court of the palace, formerly

12780-497: The historicity of this event. However, Richard Gombrich states that the monastic assembly recitations of the Buddha's teaching likely began during Buddha's lifetime, and they served a similar role of codifying the teachings. The so called Second Buddhist council resulted in the first schism in the Sangha . Modern scholars believe that this was probably caused when a group of reformists called Sthaviras ("elders") sought to modify

12922-434: The idea that it began as various groups venerating certain texts or that it arose as a strict forest ascetic movement. The first Mahāyāna works were written sometime between the 1st century BCE and the 2nd century CE. Much of the early extant evidence for the origins of Mahāyāna comes from early Chinese translations of Mahāyāna texts, mainly those of Lokakṣema . (2nd century CE). Some scholars have traditionally considered

13064-430: The insoles are lined with red velvet, and the soles are made of pure sheet gold. Wearing footwear was rare in ancient Southeast Asia and was probably reserved only for royalty. The importance of royal footwear can be traced back to the epic Ramayana , when a pair of Rama 's sandals was chosen by Bharata to govern the kingdom in his stead, after the former was forced into exile. The Royal Utensils (เครื่องราชูปโภค)

13206-512: The king will return to his private apartments in the Chakkraphat Phiman residence before reappearing in full regal vestments in the Phaisan Thaksin Hall for the anointing ceremony. The royal anointing ceremony (พระราชพิธีถวายน้ำอภิเษก) begins after the king is changed into his regal vestments. This elaborate and highly decorated traditional Thai costume is composed of a golden embroidered jacket , traditional silk shirt and pha nung lower garment. The king proceeds from his private apartments to

13348-412: The king's coronation was widely expected to signal the resumption of politics following a year-long mourning period for King Rama IX, with an election to follow soon after. The date for a general election, in which the ruling junta , National Council for Peace and Order (who took power through a coup d'état in 2014 ), promised in a "road map" to civilian rule was to be postponed indefinitely until after

13490-455: The king's throne during royal ceremonies. These items are of a personal nature, and are regarded as insignia of rank, not just for the king, but for his officials as well. Once an individual is given high rank by the king, a replica set of these items would be given to him on the occasion of his promotion. The eight weapons of sovereignty (พระแสงอัษฎาวุธ) are: the Long spear (พระแสงหอกเพชรรัตน์),

13632-492: The kingdom. A specially constructed pavilion is erected on a courtyard between the Phaisan Thaksin and Chakkraphat Phiman Halls. Once the king is seated inside the pavilion, some of the water will be given to him in a small golden bowl. The king will dip his hand into this water and rub the top of his head with it. A rope will then be pulled, which releases a shower of water from a canopy above. The king will be offered

13774-568: The leaves. Before the coronation day, a service of benediction (เจริญพระพุทธมนต์) will take place in all three sections of the Phra Maha Montien group of buildings. Depending on the king, the benediction service could be longer and can last over three days. The king will preside over these ceremonies himself from inside the Phaisan Thaksin hall . With the king is a chapter of thirty monks, with another forty-five monks inside

13916-621: The maintenance of a political state during succession and wars to resist invasion. During the Middle Ages, Buddhism slowly declined in India, while it vanished from Persia and Central Asia as Islam became the state religion. The Theravada school arrived in Sri Lanka sometime in the 3rd century BCE. Sri Lanka became a base for its later spread to Southeast Asia after the 5th century CE ( Myanmar , Malaysia , Indonesia , Thailand , Cambodia and coastal Vietnam ). Theravada Buddhism

14058-412: The meditative attainment of "the sphere of nothingness" from the former, and "the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception" from the latter. Finding these teachings to be insufficient to attain his goal, he turned to the practice of severe asceticism , which included a strict fasting regime and various forms of breath control . This too fell short of attaining his goal, and then he turned to

14200-587: The meditative practice of dhyana . He famously sat in meditation under a Ficus religiosa tree—now called the Bodhi Tree —in the town of Bodh Gaya and attained "Awakening" ( Bodhi ). According to various early texts like the Mahāsaccaka-sutta, and the Samaññaphala Sutta , on awakening, the Buddha gained insight into the workings of karma and his former lives, as well as achieving

14342-413: The military seized power from the civilian government. Despite entreaties for the King to return to Bangkok, he refused several times. In October 1948 the King was seriously injured in a car accident near Lausanne . In early 1950 he eventually returned for the cremation ceremony of his brother, King Rama VIII. Afterwards, the King celebrated his wedding to Sirikit Kitiyakara , and the date of his coronation

14484-484: The modern era are Theravada , Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Historically, the roots of Buddhism lie in the religious thought of Iron Age India around the middle of the first millennium BCE. This was a period of great intellectual ferment and socio-cultural change known as the "Second urbanisation" , marked by the growth of towns and trade, the composition of the Upanishads and the historical emergence of

14626-452: The monarch. The succession of a Thai king is not automatic, and was not formally codified until the 1924 Palace Law of Succession . Prior to this, the right of succession was based on many factors and was not always natural. Usurpation and violence was commonly employed to obtain the throne. As a result, the rite of coronation is important in legalising and legitimising the claimant's accession to kingship. Ancient custom dictates that

14768-538: The occasion." Nevertheless, envoys from forty-seven different countries attended, and the ceremonies were completed in full. For the first time a book and several photographs of the ceremony were published by the Royal Household . An 11 minutes and 8 second silent film of the coronation ceremonies was made by the Royal State Railways of Siam with intertitles in both Thai and English. After

14910-596: The oldest core of Buddhism is to compare the oldest extant versions of the Theravadin Pāli Canon and other texts. The reliability of the early sources, and the possibility to draw out a core of oldest teachings, is a matter of dispute. According to Vetter, inconsistencies remain, and other methods must be applied to resolve those inconsistencies. According to Schmithausen, three positions held by scholars of Buddhism can be distinguished: According to Mitchell, certain basic teachings appear in many places throughout

15052-627: The origins of early Vajrayana has been taken up by various scholars. David Seyfort Ruegg has suggested that Buddhist tantra employed various elements of a "pan-Indian religious substrate" which is not specifically Buddhist, Shaiva or Vaishnava. According to Indologist Alexis Sanderson , various classes of Vajrayana literature developed as a result of royal courts sponsoring both Buddhism and Saivism . Sanderson has argued that Buddhist tantras can be shown to have borrowed practices, terms, rituals and more form Shaiva tantras. He argues that Buddhist texts even directly copied various Shaiva tantras, especially

15194-553: The populace and the nobility, but also to those of the Western colonial powers. The King took the opportunity of the general audience at the end of his second coronation to make a remarkable announcement, as recalled by Sir Andrew Clarke , the governor of the Straits Settlements : "The King delivered an address and at the end of it announced the abolition of the practice at his Court of kowtowing and lying down in

15336-599: The power of the Triple Gems (the Buddha , the Dharma and the Sangha ), and through this water poured down upon him may the King be awarded success in the way heretofore invoked. The king then dips his fingers into the cup and wipes his face with the water, he replies: The King: Your auspicious speech, going right to the heart of kings, I fain accept. May it come to pass as you have said. I shall extend my protection and exercise my royal authority over all those realms to

15478-656: The precise dates are uncertain, although the 5th century BCE seems to be the best estimate. Early texts have the Buddha's family name as "Gautama" (Pali: Gotama), while some texts give Siddhartha as his surname. He was born in Lumbini , present-day Nepal and grew up in Kapilavastu , a town in the Ganges Plain , near the modern Nepal–India border, and he spent his life in what is now modern Bihar and Uttar Pradesh . Some hagiographic legends state that his father

15620-492: The presence of the monks who had officiated the previous day, and in the presence of a representative of the king (usually a senior member of the royal household). Both tablets are then wrapped in red silk, tied with several colourful cords, and finally placed inside a box, which is placed on a golden tray , which is then placed upon the altar of the Emerald Buddha together with the other items of royal regalia. This rite

15762-478: The ranks of the nobility, were to be replaced by members of the House of Representatives , representing the provinces of the kingdom. The coronation took place over three days. The state progressions on land and water were delayed until 1963. In 2016, King Bhumibol celebrated his Platinum Jubilee , seventy years on the throne, the longest in Thai history. He died later the same year on 13 October. On 1 December 2016

15904-404: The recitation of the Paritta Suttas into the hitherto Hindu ceremony. Of note was a letter to the editor of The Straits Times written by Dan Beach Bradley , an American missionary living in Bangkok, that in 1851, before his coronation, the King, "...styles himself now the President or acting king of Siam". King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) ascended to the throne at the age of 15, under

16046-417: The residence of the king's polygamous household. Several preliminary ceremonies are held before coronation day. The first introductory rite of the coronation is the inscribing of the new king's full ceremonial styles and titles on a golden tablet called a Phrasupphanabat (พระสุพรรณบัฏ). One day before the actual inscription ceremony, a benediction is performed by several Buddhist monks in the main chapel of

16188-443: The royal presence. As the words passed his lips the recumbent figures rose, and the effect was described by those present as most impressive." King Rama V died on 23 October 1910. On 11 November, his son King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) decided to have a solemn ceremony, stripped to its bare essentials, with the anointment and the crowning at the apex of the coronation. The King had decided beforehand to host another coronation ceremony in

16330-402: The same monasteries, with the difference that Mahāyāna monks worshipped figures of Bodhisattvas, while non-Mahayana monks did not. Mahāyāna initially seems to have remained a small minority movement that was in tension with other Buddhist groups, struggling for wider acceptance. However, during the fifth and sixth centuries CE, there seems to have been a rapid growth of Mahāyāna Buddhism, which

16472-603: The schisms, each Saṅgha started to accumulate their own version of Tripiṭaka (triple basket of texts). In their Tripiṭaka, each school included the Suttas of the Buddha, a Vinaya basket (disciplinary code) and some schools also added an Abhidharma basket which were texts on detailed scholastic classification, summary and interpretation of the Suttas. The doctrine details in the Abhidharmas of various Buddhist schools differ significantly, and these were composed starting about

16614-467: The society he grew up in may have been invented and interpolated at a later time into the Buddhist texts. Various details about the Buddha's background are contested in modern scholarship. For example, Buddhist texts assert that Buddha described himself as a kshatriya (warrior class), but Gombrich writes that little is known about his father and there is no proof that his father even knew the term kshatriya . ( Mahavira , whose teachings helped establish

16756-465: The state progress on water on 3 March. Prince Devawongse Varopakarn wrote to the Japanese ambassador that King Rama VII's coronation ceremony: "Will only be one ceremony, for reasons of economy, and it will be on a simpler scale than hitherto. Special envoys from foreign countries have not been invited, but there will be no objection to the foreign envoys already in this country being so appointed for

16898-651: The support of the Pāla Empire (8th–12th centuries). Under the Guptas and Palas, Tantric Buddhism or Vajrayana developed and rose to prominence. It promoted new practices such as the use of mantras , dharanis , mudras , mandalas and the visualization of deities and Buddhas and developed a new class of literature, the Buddhist Tantras . This new esoteric form of Buddhism can be traced back to groups of wandering yogi magicians called mahasiddhas . The question of

17040-455: The sword is 101 cm (40 in) long and weighs 1.9 kg (4 lb). The sword is an ancient symbol of sovereignty and military power. The king's sword thus symbolises his role as a warrior with a duty to defend his kingdom. This harkens back to ancient times, when the king was not merely a titular, but the actual warrior-in-chief of his subjects. The Royal Staff (ธารพระกร) is made of cassia wood covered with gold gilt . The staff

17182-692: The third century BCE and through the 1st millennium CE. According to the edicts of Aśoka , the Mauryan emperor sent emissaries to various countries west of India to spread "Dharma", particularly in eastern provinces of the neighbouring Seleucid Empire , and even farther to Hellenistic kingdoms of the Mediterranean. It is a matter of disagreement among scholars whether or not these emissaries were accompanied by Buddhist missionaries. In central and west Asia, Buddhist influence grew, through Greek-speaking Buddhist monarchs and ancient Asian trade routes,

17324-518: The three Vedic sacrificial fires, reinterpreting and explaining them as ethical conduct. The Śramaṇa religions challenged and broke with the Brahmanic tradition on core assumptions such as Atman (soul, self), Brahman , the nature of afterlife, and they rejected the authority of the Vedas and Upanishads . Buddhism was one among several Indian religions that did so. Early Buddhist positions in

17466-450: The three-day coronation, on 4 May, the king was to be anointed and crowned; on 5 May a royal procession takes place; and on 6 May the king grants an audience for the public and foreign dignitaries. This announcement and the subsequent delay in the election prompted more protests. "There will be an election before coronation," Prime Minister Chan-ocha assured reporters by saying "We have to organize both things together, but we must give time to

17608-482: The throne in 1851, new elements were included in the coronation ceremony. Since ancient times the anointment ceremony alone was considered the supreme event of the coronation. Under King Rama IV, the crowning of the monarch became its equal, if not more important. This was due to the influence of European coronations . The King also increased the role of the Buddhist Sangha within the ceremony by incorporating

17750-425: The umbrella symbolises the spiritual and physical protection the king can give to his subjects. The multiple tiers symbolise the accumulation of honour and merit the king may possess. The Great Crown of Victory (พระมหาพิชัยมงกุฏ) is the principal item of the five traditional royal regalia of Thailand (เบญจราชกกุธภัณฑ์). The crown is of a distinctive Thai design called mongkut . This royal crown , unlike those in

17892-404: The water in small bowls by members of the Buddhist clergy, the royal family, government ministers, and other officials as an act of blessing. This rite is the equivalent of many Hindu and particularly Brahmanic traditions, whereby before an important religious ceremony is to occur, one must ritually purify oneself through ablution. This is not to be confused with the rite of anointment , which

18034-569: The Śramaṇa traditions also drew upon already established Brahmanical concepts and philosophical roots, states Wiltshire, to formulate their own doctrines. Brahmanical motifs can be found in the oldest Buddhist texts, using them to introduce and explain Buddhist ideas. For example, prior to Buddhist developments, the Brahmanical tradition internalised and variously reinterpreted the three Vedic sacrificial fires as concepts such as Truth, Rite, Tranquility or Restraint. Buddhist texts also refer to

18176-658: Was a Śramaṇa who lived in South Asia c. 6th or 5th century BCE. Followers of Buddhism, called Buddhists in English, referred to themselves as Sakyan -s or Sakyabhiksu in ancient India. Buddhist scholar Donald S. Lopez asserts they also used the term Bauddha , although scholar Richard Cohen asserts that that term was used only by outsiders to describe Buddhists. Details of the Buddha's life are mentioned in many Early Buddhist Texts but are inconsistent. His social background and life details are difficult to prove, and

18318-472: Was a king named Suddhodana , his mother was Queen Maya. Scholars such as Richard Gombrich consider this a dubious claim because a combination of evidence suggests he was born in the Shakya community, which was governed by a small oligarchy or republic-like council where there were no ranks but where seniority mattered instead. Some of the stories about the Buddha, his life, his teachings, and claims about

18460-490: Was a much more elaborate affair, including the state progress by land and water, banquets for foreign guests, and parades and fairs for the public. The event cost the state ฿ 4,884,676 (originally budgeted at only ฿ 500,000), while the first coronation cost only ฿ 100,000. The colossal sum spent was double the cost of the coronation of King George V of the United Kingdom , held earlier the same year. Despite this,

18602-635: Was a public supporter of the religion. The support of Aśoka and his descendants led to the construction of more stūpas (such as at Sanchi and Bharhut ), temples (such as the Mahabodhi Temple ) and to its spread throughout the Maurya Empire and into neighbouring lands such as Central Asia and to the island of Sri Lanka . During and after the Mauryan period (322–180 BCE), the Sthavira community gave rise to several schools, one of which

18744-548: Was also during the Song that the entire Chinese canon was printed using over 130,000 wooden printing blocks. During the Indian period of Esoteric Buddhism (from the 8th century onwards), Buddhism spread from India to Tibet and Mongolia . Johannes Bronkhorst states that the esoteric form was attractive because it allowed both a secluded monastic community as well as the social rites and rituals important to laypersons and to kings for

18886-537: Was anointed by Pha Mueang , who had himself had been anointed earlier by Indravarman II , the Khmer king . Despite the growth of Buddhism as the main religion of the Thai kingdoms, the existence of Hinduism and the exalted role of the Brahmin caste was not diminished. Although the kings were Buddhists they surrounded themselves with the accoutrements of Khmer royalty, including the services of court Brahmins. Buddhism

19028-937: Was apparently mutual". Already during this later era, Buddhism was losing state support in other regions of India, including the lands of the Karkotas , the Pratiharas , the Rashtrakutas , the Pandyas and the Pallavas . This loss of support in favor of Hindu faiths like Vaishnavism and Shaivism , is the beginning of the long and complex period of the Decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent . The Islamic invasions and conquest of India (10th to 12th century), further damaged and destroyed many Buddhist institutions, leading to its eventual near disappearance from India by

19170-481: Was considered the religion of the people, while Hinduism (in particular Shaivism ) was suitable only for royalty. However, the king must defend both. The Sukhothai state was absorbed into the Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th century to 1767) around the 15th century. During this period the coronation of the kings of Ayutthaya was sometimes termed an Indraphisek (อินทราภิเษก) to emphasize the religious aspects of

19312-524: Was described as the anointment of someone who had obtained power successfully by force. The King was intent on recovering the lost royal traditions of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. A royal decree about royal ceremonies in 1782 laid out how the King wished things to be done: "His Majesty wishes that things be carried out as in [the time of] King Borommakot , and not like Phraya Taksin." Under the stewardship of Chao Phraya Bibidhabijai (เจ้าพระยาเพชรพิชัย),

19454-488: Was particularly favored), especially by Emperor Kanishka (128–151 CE). Kushan support helped Buddhism to expand into a world religion through their trade routes. Buddhism spread to Khotan , the Tarim Basin , and China, eventually to other parts of the far east. Some of the earliest written documents of the Buddhist faith are the Gandharan Buddhist texts , dating from about the 1st century CE, and connected to

19596-478: Was represented by eighteen separate schools." However, some scholars argue that critical analysis reveals discrepancies among the various doctrines found in these early texts, which point to alternative possibilities for early Buddhism. The authenticity of certain teachings and doctrines have been questioned. For example, some scholars think that karma was not central to the teaching of the historical Buddha, while other disagree with this position. Likewise, there

19738-400: Was set for 5 May 1950. As the first Thai monarch to be crowned under a constitutional system, albeit under military control, several new innovations were added to his coronation ceremony. Due to the King's poor health, the customary three days of benediction before the coronation was shortened to just one day. The royal pandits who were to hand the King the anointment water, formerly drawn from

19880-584: Was the Theravada school which tended to congregate in the south and another which was the Sarvāstivāda school, which was mainly in north India. Likewise, the Mahāsāṃghika groups also eventually split into different Sanghas. Originally, these schisms were caused by disputes over monastic disciplinary codes of various fraternities, but eventually, by about 100 CE if not earlier, schisms were being caused by doctrinal disagreements too. Following (or leading up to)

20022-605: Was the dominant religion in Burma during the Mon Hanthawaddy Kingdom (1287–1552). It also became dominant in the Khmer Empire during the 13th and 14th centuries and in the Thai Sukhothai Kingdom during the reign of Ram Khamhaeng (1237/1247–1298). The term "Buddhism" is an occidental neologism, commonly (and "rather roughly" according to Donald S. Lopez Jr. ) used as a translation for

20164-467: Was undergoing a massive transformation and was considered unsafe for the young King. By 1938 the government decided to invite the King to return to Bangkok. No coronation ceremony was to take place during his short visit. It was not until December 1945, after the end of the Second World War , that the King, now aged 20, was able to return permanently. A coronation was tentatively planned, despite

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