Beliefs and Roles of the Thao Vessuvan at Wat Pho Yai Phanom Sarakham District Chachoengsao Province

Abstract

This article aims to study about beliefs and roles of the Thao Vessuvan at Wat Pho Yai Phanom Sarakham District, Chachoengsao Province. The data was collected from documents, observations and interviews. The study found that Wat Pho Yai is a buddhist temple located in the Lao Phuan community area in Muang Kao sub-district, Phanom Sarakham District, Chachoengsao Province. On the belief that the Thao Vessuvan can protect the dangers from ghost, a large image of Thao Vessuvan aged 123 years, was originally located in the cemetery behind this temple. As a result, the community recognizes the Thao Vessuvan as a ghost buster. Later, there was the improvement in the use of the temple area, the Thao Vessuvan image was brought to be enshrined in the sanctuary inside the temple. As a result, the belief about the status and roles of the Thao Vessuvan have changed. Most come to worship with the need for safe survival, well being in life. The temple is convenient for worshippers by arranging items consisting of red roses, garland, red fabric and Phan-baisri. In addition, the temple has built sacred objects as small casted sculpture floating in standing and Thao Vessuvan talisman. It is another form of human-related connection with the sacred. It makes the person feeling confident and close to the sacred. The result of belief changing in the Thao Vessuvan is that each day there are many visitors to worship the Thao Vessuvan at Wat Pho Yai. It is one of the factors that make Wat Pho Yai even more developed.