The Legend of Buddha’s Relics of Communities along the Mekong River from the Urungga Dhatu Myth

Abstract

The purpose of this article aims at studying the historical development of the Urungga Dhatu legend in the community of both banksof the Mekong River by using the contextual concept that links to the network of the social relationship and culture of the communities on both sides of Mekong River from the Urungga Dhatu legend as the framework in an analysis. The results of the research are found that the chronicles refer to the Buddha’s prediction about the land at the boundary of Lao Lanchang, the Lao Kingdom, a place locating the Buddha’s relics that link to the Buddhist monastic orders to the Kingdom. The influences of the beliefs as mentioned have been spread out to the communities on both sides of Mekong River in the areas of Nakonpanom, Nongkhai, Vientiane City, in which are the locations of Phra Dhatpanom, Phra Dhatu Muang La or Phra Dhatu La-Nong, Phra Dhatu Bung Paun, Phra Dhatu Ponjikvieng-Ngue, Phra Dhatu Hor pha Hor phae, Muang Hartsaifong, Vientien City. So the chronicles of Urungga Dhatu result from the beliefsin the Buddha’ relics of the Lanchang people linking to the Buddhist placesthat have the trace of Buddhist beliefs coming from the Tavaravada period,approximately Buddhist Era 13-14.In the aspect of beliefs and rituals of communities on the banks of Mekong River in the areas of Thailand that concern the Buddha’s relics, the community expresses in the forms of the centers of magic places, faith and rituals as the symbols of the political power and the center of community, commercial centers, traveling, and tourism. While the places for research in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, even though they know the Buddha’s relics as the chronicles, still believe the Buddha’s relics confdently. It may noticed that there are many people participating in various traditional festivals in Vientien City, including the traditional management for worshiping Phra Dhatu in their own locations showing the social network of individuals who have the power in their ways of life in the community on both sides of the Mekong River at the present.