The Meaning of the Memorial Monument of Buddhist Saint in the Temple of Luang Pu Man Bhuridatta Thera’s Lineage

Abstract

The Relic Museum (utensil museum) of Luang Pu Man Bhuridatta Thera was established in the context of dynamic change of Thai society, not only internal but also external factors. It affected people’s ways of thinking and pattern of Buddhist worship, which was adjusted according to the context in every changing period. The museum inspired new design concept of architecture as a place of worship, which had never been appeared before in Thai society. It was the origin of Buddhist saint (Arahant) relic museums.

The objective of this study was to investigate the interactions between the space of Luang Pu Man Bhuridatta Thera’s Relic Museum as a memorial monument and the context in 1967-1977, when it was established. The museum was viewed as a ‘heterotopias’ which has many layers meaning. Its meaning seemed not to be static; in contrast, there were something hidden behind. Therefore, the way to interpret meaning of space is to understand through contemporary social changes. This study is expected to reveal contemporary conceptual outcomes affecting this Relic Museum.

          The result of this study found that the concept of ‘relic worship’ has been shifted from the former tradition. Furthermore, every establishment of memorial monument was definitely unpredictable. They have been created independently and have not been related to the continuation of duration. It provides the identity of this museum which affects the concept of later relic worship architecture.