The Interpretation of Buddhist Teachings in the Tradition for Construction of Prasat Phueng (candle castle) for the Isan People

Abstract

           The objectives of this research were: 1. Study the history of the development of Prasat Phueng construction of the Isan people. 2. Study theories about interpretation and 3. Study the interpretation of Buddhist teachings in the tradition of building Prasat Phueng of the Isan people. Is a documentary research by studying information from the Tripitaka, Buddhist academic books and related research, is analyzed data using reason and reasoning, then the research results are presented using descriptive analysis.
           The results of the study found that
           Prasat Phueng (candle castle) is made of candle flower trees offered as offerings to Buddha by boiling candle wax until it dissolves into water and uses a papaya to carve a pattern into a mold and then dip it in hot wax. Then there is soaking it in cold water and the wax will fall out of the mold and form a beautiful candle flower. Inside the Prasat Phueng, there are flowers, incense sticks, candles and various offerings, then paraded to offer as an offering to Buddha. It is popularly done on the 15th  day of the waxing moon of the 11th  lunar month. Building Prasat Phueng is considered a tradition of the Isan people to make for worship the Lord Buddha which he will descend from the Tavatingsa heaven after peaching the animals. There are 3 theories used in interpreting teachings: linguistic theory, religious theory and philosophical theories.
           Interpreting Buddhist teachings found that the Prasat Phueng is like a body because it is similar to the human skeleton which is made up of 4 elements, The 5 aggregates include the 5 divisions of concrete and abstract elements, which are called animals, persons, self, we, they. Candles represent the light from the Dhamma. The 2 candles therefore symbolize the Dhamma and Vinaya. On the other hand, this candle has compared by the philosophers of being similar to a mother and father giving birth to a child, a parade representing a monks, because monks come from diverse families. But once they become a monk, they will have the Dhamma and Vinaya as a beautiful piece.