The Tradition of Mahajati Preaching

Abstract

This academic article aimed to study evolution of the tradition of Mahajati Preaching is assumed to occur before the Sukhothai period. There were not the literary works at that time because of losing the works. In the Ayuthaya period, there was the literary work, “The Royal Mahajati” (Mahajati Kum Luong), in various types of poetry. Later on, In the Ratanagosin period, the Mahajati was called “Vessantara Jataka”, which was developed to be the applied Mahajati, Mahajati Zong Krueng, and Mahajati Haang Krueng, relatively, in order to enjoy the listeners.
The evolution of Mahajati Preaching evolved in three parts, There are both of the good and bad points of the development of the Traditional Mahajati Preaching, The good points is the format of writing which makes the listeners understand clearly. As for the adding of La in preaching, it is the good point to entertain the listeners, but it is probably the bad point to increase the greed in the listener’s minds. As for the order of ritual in the preaching, it is the good point to keep it in the old tradition such as, the decorating of places like the forest according to the Vessantara Jataka’s story. It is the rather bad points to use the C.D. instead of the gamelan, however, it is sympathetic because of the limitation of the budget.