ศึกษาความเชื่อเรื่องเปรตที่ปรากฏในประเพณีแซนโฎนตาของจังหวัดบุรีรัมย์

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to study 1) Peta in Buddhist scripture, 2) the Saendonta tradition in Buriram Province, and 3) the belief of Peta in Saedonta tradition in Buriram province. The findings indicated that:

               The Peta (the hungry ghost) in Buddhist scripture consisted of two meanings; the first meaning was the dead person that might appear in the world of Yakkha (giant), Mara (demon), Brahma, Deva (deity), or devil; the second meaning was the passing away from one birth to the other birth. But the definition in this study was the dead who appeared to be Peta and were severely tortured according to what they had committed in the previous deeds. To the scholarts’ views, Peta meant the person who passed away to the next birth according to their previous bodily, verbal, and mental deeds in the human being times.

               Saendonta (merit making in dedication to the passed away ancestors) tradition in Buriram province was significance and continuously practiced to the present time. It showed gratefulness, loving kindness, compassion, and attachment of the family. the tradition would be celebrated on the full moon day of the tenth lunar month of each year. the relatives who were working in the different places would come back to their hometown for celebrating Saendonta ceremony. It was a stratagem to urge the Buddhists make merit, to reduce stinginess. Buriram people believed that the ancestor ghosts (Donta) were able to give good and bad lucks to the living beings. If anyone did not conform to Saendonta, he or she would be condemned as the ungrateful, disappeared in life, and lacked of happiness. The ceremony of Saendonta was practiced by pleasing the passed away ancestors with offerings so that they would bless and protect their living relatives. The ancestor ghosts could also destine the raining for their relatives for agricultural stinginess. Therefore, the belief in Saendonta was the tool for making Buriram people to be good, disciplined, virtuous, and harmonious. 

               The belief in Peta appeared in Saendonta tradition in Buriram province was dedicated to merit making in the dedication of the passed away relatives. This belief was linked to Buddhist principles in the aspects of making a merit to the dead persons, assistance the dead to be born in heaven, and showing kindness in different situations of the living beings.