Bathing Phra That Haripunchai Ceremony during the visit by King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambhai Barni to Wat Phra That Haripunchai Woramahawihan, Lamphun Province, on January 26, 1926.
King Prajadiphok and Queen Rambhai Barni Visiting the Northern Provinces in 1926
King Prajdadiphok, Rama VII, had the book Chotmai hetkan sadet phratchadamnoenliap monthonphayap phuthasakarat 2469 phuea praratchathan naiwarokat wankhuenpimai phor sor 2474 (Royal visit to Northern provinces in 1926) published for the New Year of 1931. The book mentioned the events that took place on January 6, 1926, the first day of the royal visit to the North as follows:
In the morning, the officers set up the gold altar table set at Chitralada Villa and brought out the Buddha image (phrachaiwat), prescribed for his reign, along with the sacrifice offering as well as set up the seats for ten monks invited who were led by Somdej Phrawanarat of Wat Benjamabophit. At the auspicious time of 8.00 a.m. the king in an army uniform adorned with the royal decorations rode in the royal automobile with the queen from Dusit palace to Chitralada train station. After paying respect to Phrachaiwat and granting a short address to the members of the royal family as well as the government officials who came to see him off. At 8.10 a.m. Their Majesties and their entourage got on the train while the monks chanted a victory stanza and the Royal Guard paid respect and the musical band played the royal anthem.
The following is the speech addressed to the king and queen and the royal speech addressed to the officers, businessmen and the people in different provinces in the upper northern region along the route during the royal visit, pertaining to Lamphun Province in particular.
During the trip, Their Majesties means of travel were train, car, elephant and palanquin, sometimes being carried by 2-4 men in some rugged places where no roads has yet reached. This showed the Kings effort and determination to visit those places.
It was King Prajadhipooks initiative when he thought of the northern province being an ancient precinct. Some of the towns were the old capitals having many famous scholars and knowledgeable people who were well versed in all sorts of art and subjects as evidenced by several ancient objects of intricate craftsmanship from the olden times. And many more of them had been discovered. Moreover, several of the major northern towns had never been visited by any of the Rattanakosin kings. Even though King Rama I and Rama VI had visited them, that was before they had ascended to the throne. Thus, His Majesty would be considered the first king of Rattanakosin to travel to the province.
In addition, traveling to the big and small provinces would give him a chance to see the topography and features of the towns as well as learn about the peoples wellbeing and way of life. This would give His Majesty some ideas about what should be conserved and what should be improved. In this way, he could deserve to be the head of the nation following in the footsteps of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), his father, and King Vajirawudh (Rama VI), his brother. This would also be a way to pay respect to both of the kings.
By His own initiative, King Rama VII picked January 6, 1926 as a good day to start his journey to the northern provinces by train. The trip was set for a little more than one month.
The following are the messages of welcoming and well wishes addressed to His Majesty by Chao Chakkhamkhachonsak of Lamphun.
On behalf of Your Majestys subjects in all areas of the city of Lamphun, I would like to assure Your Majesty of our delight at your visit of the northern provinces by Your Majesty and the Queen. Your effort to come to Lamphun especially for all of us to have a chance to pay respect to you and greet you is considered a gracious kindness granted to us. We are exceedingly rejoicing and grateful to have this opportunity.
This city of Lamphun is one of the oldest capitals in the North. But after the city of Chiang Mai was built in the vicinity, Lamphun has become a twin city of Chiang Mai during the prosperous period of the Lanna Kingdom. And at the period of decline after the city was seized by people of another country, until King Rama I came to rescue the northern provinces, Lamphun was granted its own entity to directly report to Bangkok. King Rama I also granted permission to establish the Na Lamphun family to rule over the city. Thus, Lamphun has become a significant city in the north until now. Any graciousness of the kings of the Chakri Dynasty have kindly given to the people of other cities and towns in the northern province, or any official duties allocated to the northern frontier towns, the people of Lamphun likewise have received. Such an equal opportunity to do some good deeds to serve Your Majesty like other cities makes Lamphun a happy and prosperous city. Accordingly, the people are always steadfastly loyal to Your Majesty. On this most auspicious occasion of your kind traveling here for us to receive at our town, we are all thrilled to assemble here to meet you to express our appreciation and desire to bless you with the power of the Lord Buddha whose relics are kept at the Buddhist monument in the city of Haripunchai together with the power of the Buddhas Dharma and the Sangkha to protect you from all dangers forever. May Your Majesties, the King and Queen, be blessed with happiness, prosperity and long life. May you conquer enemies from all directions and be full of honor as well as power to be the security of us all.
And the following is the Kings speech to the people of Lamphun at the grand wihan, Wat Phra That Haripunchai on January 26, 1926.
May all of you accept thanks from the Queen and me for your assembling here to greet and bless us with loyalty on our visit to Lamphun today. We are very glad to have a chance to come and see Lamphun and all of you, the people of Lamphun of all ranks.
Lamphun should be considered an important city as it has been the capital of the Haripunchai area long before any other city and town. This province has the grand Phra That Haripunchai as the legendary monument of the growth of Buddhism in Siam in the olden times. The Thai people of this province deserve to be praised for their faith and excellent skills in all sorts of art be it the building of Buddhist chedis, the endurance in learning the Pali language to the point of being able to write a text to explain the Buddhas words, which has been beneficial until today. But when Lanna came to disaster, Buddhism also turned sad and the monasteries became disturbed for a long time.
After Lanna was united with Siam, the revival of Buddhism in Monthon Phayap (northern province) was yet delayed for a while because the former kings of Siam were busy defending the country from other enemies as well as organizing the administrative structure. Moreover, the means of communication remained very difficult and inconvenient. Until the time of our beloved king, King Rama V, my father, was Buddhism in this northern Monthon revived. The king initiated the idea of granting the Buddhist religion and the kingdom prospered to fit the time. For example, the government is responsible for the peoples education on worldly matters. This is the way to cooperate and work together for the peoples benefit, which my brother (King Rama VI) was doing.
My trip to Monthon Phayap makes me happy to see the progress of the city and town and the people in many ways as I have mentioned in other provinces. I would like to add on the part that I have observed which increases my joy about the growth of religion and education in the region. For instance, many monks in the region have been full of Dharma being well respected and revered as well as receiving special recognition of being appointed to a high rank in the Royal Chapter of Monks from Phra Khru to Phra Racha Khana of the provinces. Some have studied hard in Buddhism and have become Dharma scholars. Even the common monks in various monasteries are well reserved and disciplined while strictly observing the Dharma principles. It is obvious that Buddhism has proliferated more and more. On the other hand, when I observe that many schools and students have sprung up all over the provinces, I feel happy for I believe it will be greatly beneficial to the people in the future. Whereas, I believe that the northern people are teachable and can be trained to be good citizens. The Boy Scouts, soldiers and provincial police are smart and active. So, I am glad for the educational progress on the region and hope that it will continue to be so and that it will be better in the long run.
"This is our first time in Lamphun as we recognize that it is one of the most important towns. Therefore, I have given the royal sword made in my fathers reign to honor the city of Lamphun for it to be the heart and used in making the holy water for the ceremony of making the oath of allegiance and for the people to pay respect to my father and myself for good fortune. Please accept the sword, Phra Saeng Ratchasatra. May the Three Gems and the guardian deities provide protection to Phra Maha That Haripunchai and always grant to the people of Lamphun the four blessings of long life, beauty, happiness and health and the province of Lampnun to be rich and happy."
Chiang Mai University, Funder
Naren Panyaphu, Advisor and expert
image/jpeg(.jpeg .jpe .jpg)
1 photo; black & white; 5x7 inch.
HLP-LP-RL006
Chiang Mai University Library
Saving or printing of all photos or contents are allowed only for research or study purposes. For other purposes, contact the Chiang Mai University Library for permission.
Return to picture archives page
)
Click on picture to enlarge
