Faith Construction of Loksorn Shrine, Lopburi Province

Abstract

The purpose of this research article was to study the construction of faith of the people in Lopburi Province towards Looksorn Shrine. It was a qualitative research. Data were collected by interviewing 10 people from Lopburi province using purposive sampling together with observing activities in Looksorn Shrine area and a study of related documents. The researcher used the critical discourse concept of Fairclough, N. (1995) as a guideline for data analysis. The research results found that Looksorn Shrine was a place that existed as a text that communicated faith through organizing various elements that helped create faith from the perspective of the people of Lopburi Province. The communication that led to construction of faith in the context of Looksorn Shrine was both verbal and nonverbal communication. It consisted of 2 types of communication: communication through Lopburi legends and the organization of elements within the shrine. This communication was based on an artificial tradition that was a discursive practice that helped reinforce the faith that people in Lopburi Province had in Looksorn Shrine. As for the said artificial tradition, it was divided into 3 types: the tradition of worshiping the annual Looksorn Shrine; traditional procession of the Godfather and Goddess of the Looksorn Shrine and the custom of paying homage to the Looksorn Shrine of government agency heads who moved into Lopburi Province. This artificial tradition arose in the context of Lopburi being, an area linked to a super-myth related to political and administrative institutions such as Ramayana which was in the position of social practice with content regarding the use of power and supernatural powers. Therefore, the communication to construct faith through the texts of Looksorn Shrine was in the nature of creating supernatural power that was based on the ruling class. So that people came to rely on such supernatural powers. The Looksorn Shrine was respected as the City Pillar Shrine of Lopburi Province.