AN ANALYSIS OF VALUE AND INFLUENCE OF MAGIC SCRIPTURE AS APPEARED IN LANNA PABSA, THERN DISTRICT, LAMPANG PROVINCE

Abstract

The thesis entitled “An Analysis of Value and Influence of Magic Scripture as Appeared in Lanna Pabsa, Thern District, Lampang Province” consists of 3 objectives as 1) to study the belief in magical scriptures in Lanna society, 2) to explore the content of magical scriptures as appeared in Lanna Pabsa, Thern District, Lampang Province and 3) to analyze the value and influence of magical scriptures as appeared in Lanna Pabsa, Thern District, Lampang Province. From the study, it can be found that:

The belief in the magical scriptures in Lanna society is believed and handed down for many generations, especially in the boundaries between Brahmanism and Buddhism. In that period, the Brahmanism began to decline and Buddhism came to replace. However, it is based on each other between the two religions, especially in the name of the magical scriptures. Later, in the period of Mon, Myanmar and Lanna it can be said that Lanna received Buddhism and cultures of India through the Mon and Myanmar. The people of the land, known as Lanna take the influence of magical scriptures blended. Lanna people particularly Thern District believe in the magical scriptures for a long time along with the most society of Lanna. It is commonly known that the belief in the magical scriptures in Lanna society has permeated throughout all of Lanna.

The content of magical scriptures as appeared in Lanna Pabsa, Thern District, Lampang Province can be found that Pabsa (a set of mulberry paper) with 8 series of each Sub-district is of the magical scriptures: spells towards immortality or Piya Maha Saneh, spells of fortune, spells of avoiding or protection oneself, black magic spells, invincible spells (kham). In 8 series of 8 Sub-districts, there are 6 verse-spells of the spells towards immortality or Piya Maha Saneh, 4 verse-spells of the spells of fortune, 5 verse-spells of the avoiding spells, 5 verse-spells of the black magic spells and 9 verse-spells of the invincible spells (kham). On the 8 series, there are 29 verse-spells of magical scriptures.

The values of magical scriptures can be seen in various aspects: mental value; keeping the mind and taking people to reach Dhamma, language and literature value; maintaining the alphabet of Lanna not to be lost, social value; making a reflection of life, historical value; making aware of the social conditions in ancient times, and economic value; urging people to recreate a living trading. Last, the influence of magical scriptures can be significantly mentioned: influence on the individual; making individuals have confidence in the mind, influence on the family; causing a flourishing career, influence on the society; making ritual activities together, influence on the religion; persuading people to interest in Buddhism more, and influence on the traditional knowledge; applying the magical scriptures to general body of knowledge and Lanna traditional knowledge.