Meaningful Value of Naga Patterns on The Religious Wrappers of Thai-Khmer People in Surin Province

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to point out the background, significance,and value-based meaning of the Naga patterns on religious wrappers,which are rooted in the beliefs of Thai-Khmer people in Surin province.The patterns represent an integration of two cultural values. The meaningof the Naga patterns is based on spiritualism or animism (traditional symbolism) and Buddhism (myths, the literature of the religion). That is whythe Naga appears on the religious wrappers. It is an innovative integration of cultural values (assimilation) – that is, the traditional symbols which are in harmony with Buddhist values. It is an integration of two values of the epoch through the development and long-lasting relationship. The Naga symbol was created as a silk pattern on cloth for use in daily life, which represents traditional beliefs and is raised to a symbolic mark on religious wrappers. This latter use is an innovative merger of original beliefs and new meanings through the Buddhist worldview. As such, it is a symbol embodying a meaningful value. It is, in other words, a meaningful pair that represents the values of animistic and Buddhist worldviews