Saipan Puriwanchana
Ph.D. candidate, Department of Thai,
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
This article aims at examining the images of Phra Kechi Achan, monks with miraculous power, in central Thailand through forms of miracles and sets of miraculous events in their life histories. It is hypothesized that the sets of miraculous events which are “selected” to be in the Phra Kechi Achan’s life histories play the important role in creating the image of “sacred religious person” for each monk. The study reveals that the sets of miraculous events enhance those monks to maintain their status as sacred religious persons in the Thai Buddhists’ eyes. Moreover, the forms of miracles which can be divided into 1) the power to escape from all kinds of danger and 2) the power to create the ultimate compassion, also indicate the Thai Buddhists’ wishes about the security in their life and property. This in turn influence in the people’s expectation of the “miraculous power” that Phra Kechi Achan should have.
(Presented in the 2012 Chulalongkorn-EFEO International Conference on Buddhist Studies : Imagination, Narrative, and Localization, 6-7 January 2012, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, organized by Faculty of Arts and Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University In conjunction with The Buddhist Studies Group, EFEO)