Hodsong: A Monastery Ritual for a Local Wisdom Ceremony for the Monk Ranking

Abstract

The ranking order of monk in Isan, Thailand was influenced mostly from Buddhist believe and practices starting from Lanchang period and this religious believe become the common practices and the tool for local community in strengthening harmony and unity. One of the important religious ceremony calls Hodsong ceremony. The research area covered Maha Sarakham, Roi Et and Kalasin provinces which there are many Monk’s hierarchy ceremony. The research procedure used the qualitative research methodology. Data were collected from related literature and field studies using interviews and focus group discussion from a group of totally 66 informants. The findings were presented by means of a descriptive analysis. This research finds; Hodsong ceremony of Isan people was evidentially found since Dvaravati period, Sukhothai (Lanna), Lan Chang, Ayuthaya, Thonburi and Rattanakosin period. It was approved from different archeological sites such as Prathat Yakhu, Um Yakhu and the other kind of evident as has been recognized as a position or ranking such as Ratchakhru and Lakkham for instance. In addition, there were some equipment that was involved within this ceremony such as the water tube or Honghod were found at Wat Wichunrat and Wat Chiangthong, including different temple in Isan. The Laab or Supannabat (a golden plate used for in scripted manuscript) was rarely found,and most of remains were reproduced. Hodsong ceremony is a religious tradition of Isan people that combined the ritual and believe together. Currently, Local Isan people still practice this ceremony in some communities with the 8 steps of preparation of instruments, Hodsong ornaments the itinerary order of the ceremony the ceremonial location the establishing ritual Baisri setting Sootkhwanbaisri or morale setting consoling and tied arms tradition. In addition, this ceremony involved with believers of direction and occasion from traditional beliefs. Despite, there were some problems such as unqualified monks, insufficient equipment and the ornaments, as well as the unreadiness from the community to continue this practice. The appropriate approach in order to preserve and develop this practice has to deal with the dynamics of community through 8 approaches as follows the benefits to the community the catchment remaining or repairing restoring explicate or develop protection preservation and demarcation and classification or setting rules or regulations for preservation. Therefore, the public administration or government, private sector and community need to have an awareness and conservation to work together urgently. The Hodsong ceremony has a long history and been practiced since Dvaravati period. The contemporary Hodsong ceremony was made into an illegal or alienated tradition of Thai state which effects to the remaining practice of community. Otherwises, the Hodsong ceremony to meet the needs of the harmony and unity of community.