The History of Buddhism that appears in the Chamadeviwong scriptures

Abstract

This article aims to study the history of Buddhism that appears in the
Chamadeviwong scriptures. The Chamadeviwong scriptures are classified as Buddhist
scriptures as historical documents. The chronicle genre is the combination of
historical and Buddhist narratives.It narrates that Queen Chamadevi had traveled
from Lavo (the ancient kingdom in the central Thai. nowsday Lopburi) to establish
the Hariphunchai kingdom. This event caused the history of Buddhism. namely. 1.
There was the propagation of Theravada Buddhism into the north when Queen
Chamadevi brought the Tripitaka (the Buddhist scripture) and 500 monks from Lavo
to propagate Buddhism in Haripunchai realm. And she also had built important
monasteries in all 4 directions of the city called “Chaturaphut Prakan” as follows: 1)
Apatthārām (Wat Phra Khong) is the fortress temple located in the north.2) Maha
Sattārām (Wat Pratu Li) is a is the is the fortress temple located in the south.3)
Aranyikarāmkārām (Wat Don Kaeo) is the fortress temple located in the east. and
now is an abandoned temple. 4) Mahawanārām (Wat Mahawan) is a fortress temple
located in thewest of the city. and there is another one Wat Maluwārām (Wat San
Pa Yang) located in the northeast of Nakhon Haripunchai City. and other temples
such as Wat Phra Yuen located at Ban Phra Yuen. Wiang Yong Subdistrict. Mueang
District. Lamphun Province. All these historical sites caused the historical
establishment of Buddhism in the Haripunchai Kingdom to the present.