The Royal Regalia T
he offering of the Royal Regalia to the King as performed in the Royal Coronation Ceremony is a traditional practice from Brahmanism. The chief Brahmin, or Phra Maha Ratcha Khru, gives the address offering the Royal Regalia to the King. The Royal Regalia is considered the most important symbol of the Kingship, and it is essential that it be offered to the King in the Royal
Coronation Ceremony. According to the book of protocol concerning the Royal Coronation Ceremony of the King, it states the ceremonial articles to be used consist of: the Great Crown, the Royal Clothes made of red wool, the Sword, the Tiered Umbrella and the Golden Slippers. Each item holds a symbolic meaning. The Great Crown refers to the high heavenly abode
The Royal Nine-tiered Umbrella of State or the “Nophapadon Maha Saweta Chatra” The nine layers of the tiered umbrella are made of white cloth; each tier hangs into three layers trimmed with gold bands. The umbrella is topped with a finial. King Rama IV ordered the Great Tiered Umbrella to be covered with white cloth, instead of ‘tash’ cloth (silk woven with threads wrapped in gold or silver thread.) It is the most important article of the whole set of Royal Regalia. His Majesty King Rama IX ordered it to be presented while he was at the Atha Disa Udumbara Raja Asana Throne, after the Anointment Ceremony.
The Great Crown of Victory or “Phra Maha Phichai Mongkut” The crown was made by the royal command of King Rama I and ornamented with diamonds set in gold enamel. The whole crown is 66 centimetres high and weighs 7.3 kilograms. King Rama IV later ordered the “Phum Khao Bin” tip of the crown replaced with a large diamond, bought from Kolkata, India. The diamond was named “Phra Maha Wichian Mani.” In previous days, the crown was considered the next most important item in the whole set of Royal Regalia, following the Nine-tiered Umbrella in importance. Upon receiving the crown, the King only placed the crown next to himself. But later, when Siam had more contact with European countries and reviewed their royal procedures, Siam changed the status of the crown. In Europe, the status of Kingship is bestowed when the King puts on the crown. Therefore, when King Rama IV was coronated and presented with the crown, His Majesty placed the crown upon his head and gave an audience to the foreign diplomatic corps while wearing it. From then on, the Great Crown of Victory was reconsidered as the most important article of all the Royal Regalia and every King will wear this crown in the Royal Coronation Ceremony.
The Sword of Victory or “Phra Saeng Khan Chai Sri” This sword was presented to His Majesty King Buddha Yod Fa Chulalok (Rama I) from Chao Phraya Abhai Bhubes (Ban) brought by an official sent from Battambang in 1784. His Majesty King Rama I ordered a cover to be made for it. The hilt and sheath were ornamented in gold enamel and precious gems. It became part of the Royal Regalia in the Royal Coronation Ceremony of 1785. The length of the blade itself is 64.5 centimetres, and 89.8 centimetres when it includes the hilt. It weighs 1.3 kilograms. When enclosed with the sheath, it is 101 centimetres in length and weighs 1.9 kilograms.
of Indra; the Red-wool Cloth represents the Khanthamat Mountain of the Sumerumat Range; the Sword represents the wisdom to cut through misunderstanding; the Sixtiered Umbrella refers to the sixth level of heaven; and the Golden Slippers are a reference of royal support to all subjects living in the royal kingdom, just as the earth is a support to the Sumerumat Mountain.
The Royal Scepter or “Than Phra Kon” The original scepter was made during the reign of His Majesty King Buddha Yod Fa Chulalok (Rama I). Its staff was made of Javanese Cassia wood. The finial was in the form of a trident and was gilded with gold, as was its iron hilt inlaid with gold. It was named “Than Phra Kon,” but originally was named “Than Phra Kon Ratchaphruek,” or “Royal Staff made of Javanese Cassia wood.” In the reign of His Majesty King Mongkut (Rama IV), His Majesty ordered a new scepter to be made of pure gold. The staff was designed to hide a sword within and it had the figure of a deity on its finial. The scepter was called “Phra Saeng Sanao,” and also called “Than Phra Kon Thewarup” or “The Royal Staff with a Deity.” This scepter is more a sword than royal staff, and His Majesty preferred using this new scepter than the old one. However, His Majesty King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), due to his royal admiration of heritage objects, brought back the original scepter for use again in the Royal Coronation Ceremony, and the “Than Phra Kon Thewarup” was not included in the ceremony of that period.
The Royal Fan and Fly Whisk or “Walawichani” The “Walawichani” made in the reign of His Majesty King Buddha Yod Fa Chulalok (Rama I) was the form of a fan made of a palm leaf, and was so-called a palm-leaf fan. The rim of the fan was trimmed with gold and the rod was made of enamelled gold. Originally it was called “Phatchani Fak Makham” or the “Fan in the shape of a tamarind-pod.” The meaning of its name was reconsidered by His Majesty King Mongkut (Rama IV) who recognised that for the name “Walawichani,” taken from the Pali language, use of a palm leaf fan may not be the correct interpretation. It referred more to a whisk-like item, made from the hair of a yak, as the word “Wala” meant the hair of one type of a cow, an animal that Thais called “Chammari.” Hence, His Majesty King Rama IV ordered a fly whisk to be made with the hair of a yak and to be included in the Royal Regalia. In a later period, yak hair was replaced with the hair from the white elephant’s tail, and the name was changed to the White Elephant Fly Whisk. But as it would be deemed inappropriate not to use the original royal Palm-Leaf Fan, His Majesty ordered the use of both the Palm-Leaf Fan and the “Chammari Fly Whisk,” and together had them called the “Walawichani.”
The Royal Slippers or “Chalong Phrabat Choeng Ngon” King Rama I ordered the making of a pair of gold slippers as a part of the Royal Regalia, following an ancient Indian belief. They were made of colourful enamelled gold and inlaid with diamonds. In the Royal Coronation Ceremony, they are offered by the Chief Brahmin who puts them directly onto the feet of the King.
* All materials for this publication are from ‘The Royal Coronation Ceremony’ published by the Ministry of Culture.
Long Live The King ROYAL CORONATION
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun MAY 4 - 6, 2019 With the greatest respect The Phuket News offers its heartfelt congratulations to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn on the auspicious occasion of his Royal Coronation.
Friday, May 3 – Thursday, May 9, 2019
Since 2011 / Volume IX / No. 18
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Three-Day Royal Coronation Ceremony The most important process of the Royal Coronation Ceremony takes place on 4 May, 2019, marking the Coronation Day of King Rama X.
Governor Phakaphong carries the Kan Tor royal ceramic urn containing the sacred water, which was drawn from the well at Wat Chalong on April 6.
Sacred waters
T
he earliest process in the preparation for the Royal Coronation Ceremony was to collect waters from different important sources and then consecrate and combine them for use in the Royal Purification and Anointment Ceremonies during the Royal Coronation Ceremony. On April 6, 2019, across the nation was the gathering of waters to be blessed and used for the sacred water in the Royal Coronation Ceremony. This process took place in all 76 provinces, with consecration rites for the collected waters held at major temples in respective provinces for the following two days. In Phuket, sacred water was drawn from the well at Wat Chalong, officially called Wat Chaiyathararam, because the temple well was dug during the time when the deeply revered Phra Visutthiwongsajarn Yanmunee (better known as the historical figure Luang Por Chaem) was abbot. Many local people believe that the well is sacred and that its water is able to heal people. This same well was also used for the Royal Coronation ceremony for King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). At 11:52am that day, Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana led the ceremony by drawing water from the well and pouring it into a five-litre golden bowl called a Kan Sakon. The Kan Sakon lid was then closed and covered with a blessed white cloth tied with a white ribbon. The water was then carried by procession to Wat Prathong in Thalang. The water remained at Wat Prathong for two days of blessing ceremonies, until 1pm on April 9. During the ceremonies, the Governor decanted water from the Kan Sakon into a Kan Tor – a royal ceramic urn handmade especially for the Royal Coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn. At 5pm that day, the Governor and his entourage and police escort departed the temple by motorcade, accompanying the water all the way to Royal Palace in Bangkok. Governors in other provinces performed the same rituals and departed their respective revered temples at the same time, though arriving in the capital over the next two days (April 10-11). On April 12, from 1pm to 2:09pm, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration performed a water consecration rite at Ho Sattrakhom in the Grand Palace and transferred the consecrated water to the Ministry of Interior to combine it with waters from the provinces. On April 18 at 5:30pm, the waters from 76 provinces and Bangkok were combined and taken from the Ministry of Interior to be
blessed through another consecration rite at Wat Suthat, one of Bangkok’s oldest and most important temples. On April 19, at 7:30am, the sacred water was taken by procession from Wat Suthat to be kept at the ubosot of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, awaiting its use in the performing of Royal Ablutions The Royal Purification Ceremony is called the “Song Phra Muratha Bhisek”. “Muratha Bhisek” refers to the action of pouring holy water over the head of the King, called Ablution. The whole terminology of “Song Phra Muratha Bhisek” means to offer the sovereignty to a person. According to Brahmanism, before the beginning of any other ritual procedures of the coronation ceremony, the person must be purified through the Ablution. The water used for Ablution is a mixture of many sacred waters. These waters come from the five main rivers in India and also from Thailand, called the “Bencha Suttha Khongkha”, as well as water drawn from four Sacred Ponds, or Sa in Thai: Sa Ket, Sa Kaeo, Sa Khongkha and Sa Yamuna from Suphanburi. The “Bencha Suttha Khongkha” river waters, or the Five Pure Streams of Ganga, are used so as to follow the belief in the use of the sacred water from the five main streams from South Asia or Chomphu Thawip in Thai. The five rivers in Thailand from which water is drawn are the Bang Pakong River in Nakhon Nayok, the Pasak River in Saraburi, the Chao Phraya River, Ratchaburi River in Samut Songkram and the Phetchaburi River. They are combined purified water taken from various sacred places within the Royal Kingdom, including Phuket, for use in the ceremony. Also now used in the Ablution Ceremony is the prepared holy water from the Buddhist Chanting Ceremony of the Phra Paritra Suttas session from the day before the Coronation.
Coronation Emblem – the Mark of Royalty THE ROYAL EMBLEM MARKing the Coronation of King Rama X B.E. 2562 (2019) depicts in the centre, in white trimmed with gold, the Royal Cypher of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Each letter of the Cypher is decorated with diamonds which denote the origin from which the royal name “Maha Vajiralongkorn” is derived, whilst the gold trimming of the Cypher represents the colour of Monday, which is the day of birth of His Majesty. The Cypher rests on a background of dark blue, the colour of righteous kingship, contained within a lotus bud frame marked out in gold and green, the mixture of which two colours signifies the power and might of His Majesty’s day of birth. The lotus bud frame begets inspiration from the shape of its foremost predecessor – the frame which enclosed the Great Unalome insignia of the Royal Seal of State of His Majesty King Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the Great (Rama I), founder of the Chakri Dynasty. Surrounding the outer parts of the frame are the Five Royal Regalia, deemed to embody the symbol of Kingship itself. Placed on top of the Royal Cypher is the Great Crown of Victory with the Unalome insignia, which includes within it the sequence number of this reign. The Sword of Victory and the Royal Whisk of the Yak’s Tail lie to the right of the Emblem while on the left of the Royal Emblem are placed the Royal Sceptre and the Royal Fan, and, lastly, below the Royal Cypher rest the Royal Slippers. The Great Crown of Victory represents the great burden bearing down on the person of His Maj-
esty for the sake of his people’s happiness. The Sword of Victory symbolises His Majesty’s responsibility to protect the Kingdom from all harm threatening it. The Royal Sceptre signifies His Majesty’s Royal virtues to bring forth peace and stability to the Kingdom. The Royal Whisk and the Royal Fan symbolise His Majesty’s righteousness as a ruler in relieving the suffering and hardship of His subjects. The Royal Slippers represent His Majesty’s care in fostering the sustenance and welfare throughout the Kingdom. Standing tall behind the Great Crown of Victory is the Great Umbrella of State trimmed with bands of gold. At the top of the Umbrella of State is the lotus bud finial showing Brahma Faces while the lowest tier of the Umbrella is decorated with golden Champa bouquets representing the extension in all directions yonder of His writ and authority. On the lowest part of the Emblem run stretches of green-gold ribbon, trimmed in gold, bearing the words “The Coronation of King Rama X B.E. 2562 (2019)”. At the right tip of the ribbon stands the purple Kojasi holding up a Seven-tiered Umbrella representing the Armed Forces. On the left tip of the ribbon stands the white Ratchasi holding a second Seventiered Umbrella which represents the Civil Service, which left and right together form the two pillars of public service. On the inner side of the shafts of the two Umbrellas, there are golden Naga traceries denoting the year of the dragon, the year of His Majesty’s birth. The golden colour of the Naga traceries signifies the prosperity for the nation and her people.
4 May 2019
10:09AM-MIDDAY The Royal Purification, or the “Song Muratha Bhisek” Ceremony, takes place at Chakrabat Biman Royal Residence. “Muratha Bhisek” refers to the action of pouring holy water over the head of the King, also known as Ablution. It is followed by the Anointment Ceremony at Baisal Daksin Throne Hall. In the ancient times, the most important part of the whole ceremony was considered to be the Anointment Ceremony. It denoted accession to power throughout the eight cardinal directions of the compass and, by extension, to reign over all regions of the land. The chief Brahmin presents him with eight vessels of the Brahmin holy water from each of the eight cardinal directions of the compass. As he is presented with each vessel, the King turns to its corresponding direction, and ends sitting in the direction facing east once again. At present, the Crowning is accepted as the highest ceremony, according to the example set in the reign of His Majesty King Mongkut (Rama IV). Throughout the process of the Crowning, all monks are chanting prayers of benediction, the official ensemble are blowing conch shells, beating drums, gongs and other instruments and every temple bell in the area is ringing loudly. The guards of honour stand in salutation and a brass band plays the royal anthem of Thailand. Artillerymen fire cannons for an auspicious victory to honour His Majesty the King. Then His Majesty the King proceeds to the Bhadrapitha Throne and sits under the Royal Nine-tiered Umbrella, where the Chief Brahmin presents him with the
Royal Golden Plaque of His Majesty’s official title, the Royal Regalia, the Ancient and Auspicious Orders, and the Weapons of Sovereignty. After the Crowning and Investiture Ceremony, His Majesty presents the First Royal Command. After the Crowning and Investiture Ceremony at the Bhadrapitha Throne, the Brahmins offers blessings to His Majesty the King, and the newly crowned King presents the First Royal Command in the Thai language. 2:00PM His Majesty the King grants a grand audience to members of the Royal Family, the Privy Council and the Cabinet, as well as senior officials, gathered to offer their best wishes to His Majesty at Amarindra Vinicchaya Throne Hall. 4:00PM His Majesty proceeds to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to proclaim himself the Royal Patron of Buddhism. 1:19-8:30PM The ceremony of Assumption of the Royal Residence takes place at Chakrabat Biman Royal Residence. The purpose of the ceremony is to symbolically take up the royal residence and perform housewarming.
5 May 2019
9:00AM The ceremony to bestow His Majesty’s Royal Cypher and Royal Title and to grant the royal ranks to members of royalty takes place at Amarindra Vinicchaya Throne Hall.
4:30PM His Majesty the King rides in the Royal Palanquin in the Royal Procession on Land to encircle the city, affording people the opportunity to attend and pay homage to their new King. ROUTES OF THE ROYAL LAND PROCESSION • From the Grand Palace, the procession comes out from Abhorn Bimok Pavilion through Vises Jayasri Gate. It turns right to Na Phra Lan Road, turns left to Ratchadamnoen Nai Road, turns right to Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and then turns left to Tanao Road before moving toward Wat Bovoranives. The Royal Palanquin stops
in front of Wat Bovoranives, where His Majesty the King enters to pay homage to the main Buddha image in the ubosot. • The procession continues to move along Phra Sumen Road and turns right to Ratchadamnoen Road, passing through the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall. Then it turns left to Atsadang Road and Bamrung Mueang Road. The Royal Palanquin stops in front of Wat Rajabopidh, where His Majesty enters to pay homage to the main Buddha image in the ubosot. • The procession leaves Wat Rajabopidh, passing through Fueang Nakhon Road, and then turns right to Charoen Krung Road. The Royal Palanquin stops in front of Wat Phra Chetuphon, where His Majesty enters to pay homage to the main Buddha image in the ubosot. • The procession with His Majesty riding in the Royal Palanquin leaves Wat Phra Chetuphon along Thai Wang Road, moving back to the Grand Palace. It enters Vises Jayasri Gate to Abhorn Bimok Pavilion.
6 May 2019 4:30PM His Majesty the King grants a public audience on a balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace to receive his well wishes from the people. 5:30PM His Majesty grants an audience to members of the international diplomatic corps, who offer their felicitations on this special occasion at Chakri Maha Prasad Throne Hall.
ROYAL BARGE PROCESSION OCTOBER 2019 The final procedure of the Coronation of King Rama X is the Royal Barge Procession, to be held in October 2019. The procession begins at the Wasukri pier at 4:00pm, when His Majesty the King travels along the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) on the occasion of presenting robes to Buddhist monks (Royal Kathin Ceremony). About 2,300 oarsmen will be prepared to row over 50 barges to be arranged into five groupings, from the Wasukri pier to Wat Arun, with a total length of four kilometres. Rhythmic barge-rowing songs are part of this ceremonial water-borne procession, which is a rare spectacle, arranged on special occasions only.