A STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF BELIEF IN RITUAL TREATMENT (JOL MA-MUAT) OF THAI-KHMER BUDDHISTS DESCENT, PRASAT DISTRICT,

Abstract

The three objectives of this research are: 1) to study the context of Prasat district, Surin province, 2) to study the diseases that use ritual (Jol Ma-muat) treatment methods of Thai-Khmer Buddhist’s descent, Prasat District, Surin province, and 3) to study the influence of belief in ritual treatment (Jol Ma-muat) of Thai-Khmer Buddhist’s descent, Prasat district, Surin province. This research is documentary research. The data were studies from academic works and indebted interviews—finally, descriptive data analysis.

            The results of this research were found:

            In the context of Prasat district, Surin province found this district is economic prosperity after Mueang Surin District. There are 18 administrative regions, 241 population villages in Prasat district consisting of ethnic groups, Khmer, Lao, Gui, and China. But most of them are Khmer ethnic groups. The cultural traditions of the Prasat district are cultural traditions that blend between these ethnic groups. This makes the Prasat district a culturally diverse practice.

            The diseases that use ritual (Jol Ma-muat) treatment methods of Thai-Khmer Buddhist’s descent, Prasat District, Surin province found that diseases to be treated by organizing play rituals. Ma-muat is mostly an unexplained disease to a doctor whose medical condition has not healed or has abnormal symptoms from the general patient. The patient’s relatives will go to the folk doctor or vessel to see what disease the patient is? What do I need to do to recover? Once he is attended, a ma-muat ritual will be held, where a ceremony will be created, a faith-based ceremony will be performed, and dance music will be played during the ceremony. When performing ma-muat play, there is a cure from the illness and does not heal, which the villagers will believe is an individual wreck.

            The influence of belief in ritual treatment (Jol Ma-muat) of Thai-khmer Buddhist’s descent, Prasat district, Surin province fond that the ritual treatment of Jol Ma-muat of Ban Jol Ma-muat is a belief that has been passed down since ancient times that the state's medical system or nursing disease is not as widespread and prosperous as it is today. Despite this day, modern medical treatment is more successful and effective than before. But belief in rituals treating the disease with Jol Ma-muat also still exists. According to the researchers, the belief in the treatment of Jol Ma-muat has influences in the following areas: 1) Faith influence: Some Prasat district residents still believe in the treatment of certain diseases by performing Jol Ma-muat rituals, even though modern medical treatment is very prosperous. 2) Ethical influence on society: Jol Ma-muat rituals cause ethics or good conduct of people of common faith, such as gratitude to the beneficiary. Love, unity, help with the community.