When somebody mentions the 'Thai nation', religion comes to mind because it plays such important role in Thai life. Although there is complete freedom of worship in Thailand, with almost all religions propagating their faith here, Buddhism casts a strong influence over the Thai people. It is not surprising, therefore, that Buddhist merit-making ceremonies prevail in all parts of the country, from north to south.
Lamphun, a small province in the upper north, hides on the Ping River basin, and traces of strong Buddhist faith have surfaced in this area since ancient times. The province was formerly known as Hariphunchai City, and boasted a flourishing civilization at the center of the northern region for more than 600 years, even before Chiang Mai.
Legend has it that a hermit named Watsuthep built a new city on the banks of the Ping River and invited Chammathewi, a daughter of the King of Lawo, to rule the city as the first queen of the Kingdom of Hariphunchai. Subsequently, Queen Chammathewi introduced Buddhism into the city of Hariphunchai, Hitherto, the people ion this area remain deeply related to Buddhism.
A facet of Lamphun's cultural life is the colorful merit-making ceremonies supporting Buddhist beliefs. Perhaps the largest cultural event in this province is the 'Merit-Making Ceremony in Celebration of Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai Pagoda,' held annually on the full-moon day in June. The highlight of this event is the sprinkling of water over the Lord Buddha's relics – or Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai – enshrined within the pagoda of the same name.
This pagoda is located in the heart of Lamphun within the compound of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, the most revered temple of Lamphun and the northern region. Inside the pagoda is a golden urn containing the holy relics. The pagoda is forty-six meters high and recognized as the symbol of Lamphun. Built in the 11th century by King Athittayarat, the 33rd monarch of Hariphunchai, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai underwent restoration several times with the ultimate disappearance of its original state.
According to legend, King Athittayarat performed a ceremony calling for the emergence of Lord Buddha's relics. Soon after, the holy relics emerged from the ground and floated into the air along with the golden urn. Thereafter a halo from the relics spread throughout Hariphunchai City. This miraculous event prevailed for seven days before the relics returned to be enshrined in their place underground.
King Atittayarat had the area excavated to remove the urn, but the more excavation that occurred, the deeper the urn descended into the ground. The King then called for the reemergence of the holy relics. Suddenly, both the relics and the urn emerged from the ground to a height of almost one-meter. The king organized a celebration of the holy relics for seven days and seven nights and had a goldsmith make a golden urn to cover the urn containing the relics. He also commanded a builder to construct a castle three-meter's high to cover the golden urn. This was how the holy relics or Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai, made their first appearance.
Hariphunchai City underwent political changes over a long period. Several dynasties and kings ruled the city, which was an independent principality, until King Mengrai of the Lanna Kingdom conquered it in 1282. Even so, Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai, which represented the glory of Buddhism in the upper north in its early days, remained significantly important. Subsequent Lanna kings continued to attach great importance to Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai Pagoda.
Centuries of strong faith in the pagoda has been shown at the 'Merit-Making in Celebration of Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai Pagoda', a major cultural event organized by Lamphun residents on the full-moon day of June. During each year's event, people from all directions gather in the heart of Lamphun to sprinkle water onto the holy relics of the Lord Buddha. Older persons, male and female alike, dressed in white attire, take with them mats, pillows and mosquito nets to stay around Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai Pagoda before the day of the celebrations.
The belief among northern residents is that the change to sprinkle water onto Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai will bring happiness and peace to their families. Therefore, they bring scented water, mixed with Jasmine, Rose, or Acacia, known as 'Som Poi' in Thai, for the ceremony. This scented water is similar to that used to sprinkle onto monks, or Buddha images, during Songkran, traditional Thai New Year, and comes from a pond almost 20 kilometers to the east of the town. Holy water used at the ceremonial bathing rites of purification in major royal ceremonies also comes from this pond.
His Majesty the King is present each year for the merit-making ceremony with Lampun lustral water, together with incense sticks, candles, silver and gold flowers and a cloth to cover Phra Borommathat. The lustral water, in silver and golden pots, presented by His Majesty the King is carried in a procession from the town hall to the Phra That Hariphunchai Temple. Numerous people come from near and far to sprinkle water onto Phra Borommathat in an atmosphere of peace. When the sun begins to sink, devout Buddhists begin to return home, leaving the beauty of the Phra Borommathat Hariphunchai Pagoda behind – until the next year of the full-moon day of the sixth lunar month.
