Dr Athiratch Nunkantee
Faculty of Education, Nakhon Phanom University
This article aims at studying the inscriptions of Wat Phra That Phanom regarding their essence and importance in the history of the Lan Xang Kingdom. There are 25 inscriptions including five stone inscriptions, 15 Buddha image base inscriptions, two metal inscriptions and three brick inscriptions.
The findings indicate that the inscriptions of Wat Phra That Phanom were made between 2046-2466 BE. They were written in Isan Dhamma and Thainoi script. The essence of the inscriptions of Wat Phra That Phanom is the restoration of Wat Phra That Phanom Pagoda, the dedication of the khaokasa, those slave dedicated to Phra That Phanom as minders to take care of this pagoda, and religious activities. Makers of the inscriptions were the Lan Xang king, a ruler of Sri Kotaboon, a ruler of Nakhon Phanom, a ruler of Mookdaharn, monks, noble lords and townsfolk. The purposes of making the inscriptions were to dedicate merit to the dead, preserve Buddhism, exorcise-remove one's bad luck with a ceremony and narrate stories.
Phra That Phanom Pagoda was important in the history of Lan Xang Kingdom. Initially, King Phodhisalaratch of Lan Xang (2063-2093 BE) restored Phra That Phanom and built the Buddha image. In 2157 BE, Phraya Nakhon Pichitthani, the ruler of Sri Kotaboon dedicated the khaokasas. Pra Kru Ponsamek (2233-2335 BE) then restored Phra That Phanom Pagoda. King Anouvong, the monarch of Kingdom of Vientiane, Phraboromaracha (Sutta), the ruler of Nakhon Phanom, and Phraya Chanta Suriyawongsa (King), the ruler of Mookdahan cooperated to build a road in front of the pagoda. They also built the ubosot (the main chapel). Nowadays, the people of That Phanom District believe they are descendants of these khaokasas. They strictly follow the Isan tradition (heet kong). Every year, they will give Khao Phichaphagaya (agricultural crops including rice, corn, bananas and sugar cane harvested from the monastery land) and perform the Sia Kha Hua ritual (donations for maintaining the monastery) under the protection of Chao Huen Sam (three guardian spirits) as a social controller.
(เสนอในการประชุมวิชาการระดับชาติ "โลกกับธรรม : ภูมิปัญญาความรู้ในงานพุทธศิลป์อีสาน" ระหว่างวันที่ 22-23 กุมภาพันธ์ 2561 ณ โรงแรมพูลแมน ขอนแก่น ราชาออคิด จังหวัดขอนแก่น จัดโดย โครงการวิวัฒน์ไทยศึกษานานาชาติเพื่อการพัฒนาสังคมไทย (ENITS) สถาบันไทยศึกษา จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย, สาขาวิชาภาษาและวรรณคดีตะวันออก คณะศิลปศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยอุบลราชธานี และ สาขาวิชาภาษาไทย คณะมนุษยศาสตร์และสังคมศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น)