Kathina

The Kathin ceremony ( Thai ทอดกฐิน - Thot Kathin ) is a Buddhist ceremony in Thailand, while the monks new robes are passed. This annual ceremony usually takes place after the end of the three -month rainy season retreat, ie between mid-October and November, and serves the acquisition of merit ( tam bun ) and the Dankerweisung against the monks.

The ceremony

The Kathin ceremony consists of a colorful procession on the dancers move along the road to the temple, behind which those who follow, carrying the gifts for the monks. The gifts are housed in metal bowls or consist of bills that are fluttering attached to small gold and silberumwundenen logs.

The delivery of gifts is done in silence, and the congregation kneel in front of the seated in a row monks. For a correctly sequenced ceremony must have at least five monks to be present within the Sema - stones of the monastery, which form the boundary of the monastery. The donor has to explain that he is veritable Kathin robes. The presiding monk is this then the assembly is known, and then quoted from the rules of the order. The Assembly this answers usually with " sadhu " ( so be it ). The donor then shows the robes, which the monks pray their ritual texts. Now over to the donor and the other assembled the rest are necessary for correct clothing items: the loin cloths, shoulder scarves and robes. Then there are the dish for alms, a Razor, a sewing needle, a sash and a sieve. Well, other gifts may be made while the monks quote ritual texts and the dispenser pours water for a libation from a cup to another ( Kruat nam ). This ends the religious part of the ceremony.

Subsequently, more festivities are held, such as games, entertainment, and boat racing.

Molding

Basically, there are two versions:

• The Royal Kathin ceremony in which the king or a member of the royal family hands over the gifts and robes; this happens only in temples, which are under the patronage of the royal family ( Wat Luang ). It is often associated with a Royal Barge Procession.
• The Kathin ceremonies of generality that take place in the other temples and are held slightly less festive.

The ceremony chun Kathin is a special form, which is usually held on the last day of the Kathin period. The robe to be transferred must run it in a continuous process from picking the cotton, spinning, weaving the fabric, the cutting and sewing the robe and the coloring of the substance in a yellow-orange color. This time-consuming process has to take place within 24 hours and many helpers are needed. The robe is then presented in the same way as an ordinary Kathin robes.

Etymology

Kathin ( กฐิน ) is a derived from the Pali word that stands for the wooden frame, which is used for the cutting of monk robes. The size of the frame measures about one meter by two meters (originally three times sok sok five, ie 1.5 mx 2.5 m).

(See: Ancient Weights and measures (Thailand) )

History

In ancient times, the monks made ​​their robes themselves by taking, sewed and dyed materials from the waste. It was only in later times the robes were completed and sold to be handed over to the monks.

In the Rattanakosin era, the Royal Kathin ceremony was held each year 6 to 9 night of the waning moon of the 11th month. This is also the time when the Royal Barge Procession takes place in Thailand. Today, the royal family takes over the duties in 16 temples which are under special patronage of the royal family and delegated this to the other temples in the country on official bodies of government and private organizations. This is also known as Kathin Ratchathan.

Traditionally, the Kathin ceremony for a temple is done only once a year. After completing a flag with a crocodile symbol is hoisted in front of the entrance of the temple. This is done according to an old legend, according to which a crocodile once wanted to earn good merits, by participating in the Kathin ceremony. But when it was no longer able to follow the boat on the way to the temple of fatigue, it asked the donor question of creating him a flag, so that it could gain merit at least.