THE ROLE AND REGIONAL CONNECTION OF KRUBA SRIVICHAI

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to study the ideas and identities of Kruba Srivichai, 2) to study the role of religious connection of Kruba Srivichai and 3) to analyze the relative impacts and works towards the dissemination and cultural networks building on Buddhism of Kruba Srivichai. This work was a qualitative research by study both document and interviews.

The results of research were found that: 1. Kruba Srivichai Srivichayo had the important role in Buddhist monk. He also followed the way of Buddha for example he observed the Buddhist precepts in order to be admirable. This was considered to be one of the special Buddhist identities of Kruba Srivichai. He was also admirable by many people. 2. The pilgrimage of Kruba Srivichai Srivichayo in Buddhist temple restoration was considered to be the cultural connection of Kruba Srivichai. He was the president of Buddhist temple restoration. Therefore, he was praised to be Lanna holyman. He was considered to be the Buddhist center of many Thai and Lanna people who came to visit him in order to make merit. The majority of Lanna people believed that if they made the merit with Buddhist holyman, they would get more merit. 3. It was the first time in Lanna kingdom that the person who renovated the Buddhist temple was the holyman, praised by many people, not the governor. The result shown that Lanna people praised Kruba Srivichai, considered to be monk who observed Buddhist precepts seriously. It influenced Lanna people to admire Kruba Srivichai who seriously observed Buddhist precepts, more than the supernatural power.

The memorandums of Kruba Srivichai were his relic’s pagoda, his moral principle and several Buddhist temples renovated by Kruba Srivichai. These things were clearly evident of Lanna people who had faith toward Kruba Srivichai.