Deity Phenomena in Thai Buddhist Culture
Formation of Sacredness and Modern Pilgrimage
Keywords:
Theravada Buddhism, modern pilgrimage, Thailand Buddhism, deity symbols of Buddhism, deitiesAbstract
This study explores the presence of deity sculptures within Buddhist temples that have become popular destinations for pilgrimage tourism. It further analysis the social phenomena associated with contemporary worship practices of sacred sculptures in Thai society. The research employs fieldwork methodology conducted across ten temples in four provinces in Central Thailand. These temples, though originally small and relatively unknown, have gained widespread recognition and popularity following the installation of deity sculptures. All selected sites are accessible within a one-day round trip from Bangkok, which facilitated practical field study. This research applied pilgrimage framework Turner, V. and Turner, E. (1978) and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943) framework. Furthermore, this study focuses on three key points: (1) the formation of sacred deity definitions in Thai society, (2) the dynamics of sacred deities in modern Thai Buddhist temples, and (3) modern pilgrimage presentation strategies. By combining Buddhist beliefs and attracting the general public to visit Buddhist temples, small temples can still exist as centers of faith, tradition, culture, and Buddhist learning and trading sites for Thai people.
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