A study of funeral patterns in Buddhist scripture

Abstract

This study was a documentary research. The purposes were 1) to study the funeral patterns in Theravada Buddhist scripture, and 2) to analyse the funeral patterns in Theravada Buddhist scripture. The results showed that the funerals in Buddhist scripture of Suddhodana, Phra Saributr, Phra Mokallana, Sirima and Sutatti were simple with no specific patterns. There were three types of funerals; cremation, corpse burial and exposure of the corpse. The most popular pattern was cremation. The least popular pattern was corpse burial. Exposure of the corpse was Indian culture in Buddhist era especially among the lower caste since no money was needed during the ceremony. Buddha used the corpse to teach the four Buddhist company such as Sirima’s corpse. Therefore, the funeral patterns in Buddhist scripture were simple and used to teach Buddhist principles.