Ban Grong Greng
Encyclopedia
Ban Grong Greng is a rural village in the northwest portion of the Nakhon Pa Mak
subdistrict of Bang Krathum
District of Phitsanulok Province
, Thailand
.
The second element grong (Thai: โกรง) is an onomatopoeia for the sound of a gong
, analogous to the word gong in English. The third element greng (Thai: เกรง) means dread.
Loosely translated, Ban Grong Greng means village of the dreaded gong. This is because a gong is beaten during funeral
processions at the village's temple in accordance with the local custom. The name Grong Greng is an example of an alliteration
.
on a canal which meets the Wang Thong River
at Ban Sam Ruen
. This canal comes to a fork at Ban Grong Greng where another canal leads to Ban Dongphayom
and beyond.. Ban Grong Greng lies within the Nan Basin
, which is part of the Chao Phraya Watershed
. Ban Grong Greng has the greatest population out of the 8 villages in Nakhon Pa Mak, and it encompasses the most land area as well.
This Theravada
Buddhist temple is where villagers of Ban Grong Greng and surrounding villages hold their funeral ceremonies. Funerals at Wat Grong Greng involve a procession around the temple, chanting and meditation
, and burning of the deceased's body. Prior to a funeral at Grong Greng, families typically hold a wake in the deceased's home where family, friends and neighbors can pay their respects to the deceased. Items brought to the wake, such as flower arrangements, photographs of the deceased, and mementos from the deceased's life are carried in the funeral procession. Black clothing is customarily worn by those in mourning, if available. Religious activities and ceremonies other than funerals are typically held at nearby Wat Sam Ruen in Ban Sam Ruen
.
at Wat Grung See Jayrin is influenced by earlier Thai pagodas, such as those found in the ruins of Ayutthaya
. This style was imported from Sri Lanka
during the rule of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great
along with Theravada
Buddhism. Later, King Ramathibodi I
went on to make Theravada Buddhism the official religion of the kingdom of Ayutthaya.
The ceremonial funeral chants at Wat Grong Greng are likewise in Pali
, the language of prayer of the Ceylonese Buddhist monastic community,
members of which Ramkhamhaeng imported from Sri Lanka to teach Theravada Buddhism to his subjects in Thailand.
Strikingly similar architecture can be found in Anuradhapura
, Sri Lanka.
Nakhon Pa Mak
Nakhon Pa Mak is a rural subdistrict in the Bang Krathum district of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand.-Etymology:The first element nakhon means town or city. The second element pa means forest. The third element mak means betel palm...
subdistrict of Bang Krathum
Amphoe Bang Krathum
-Etymology:The first element bang means village or settlement. The second element krathum means bur-flower tree .-Geography:...
District of Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok is a provinces of Thailand, located in the north. Neighboring provinces are Loei, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Uttaradit. In the north-east it also has a short border with Xaignabouli of Laos....
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Etymology
The first element ban (Thai: บ้าน) means village.The second element grong (Thai: โกรง) is an onomatopoeia for the sound of a gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
, analogous to the word gong in English. The third element greng (Thai: เกรง) means dread.
Loosely translated, Ban Grong Greng means village of the dreaded gong. This is because a gong is beaten during funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
processions at the village's temple in accordance with the local custom. The name Grong Greng is an example of an alliteration
Alliteration
In language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
.
Geography
Ban Grong Greng is situated near the center of Nakhon Pa MakNakhon Pa Mak
Nakhon Pa Mak is a rural subdistrict in the Bang Krathum district of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand.-Etymology:The first element nakhon means town or city. The second element pa means forest. The third element mak means betel palm...
on a canal which meets the Wang Thong River
Wang Thong River
The Wang Thong River is a river in Thailand. Its source lies in the Phetchabun Mountains in the Khao Kho District, Thailand.It flows through Thung Salaeng Luang National Park and forms Namtok Sri Dit and Namtok Kaeng Sopha in the Wang Thong District of Phitsanulok Province, and finally flows...
at Ban Sam Ruen
Ban Sam Ruen
Ban Sam Ruen is a village in the Nakhon Pa Mak subdistrict of Amphoe Bang Krathum District of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand.-Etymology:The first element ban means village. The second element sam means three...
. This canal comes to a fork at Ban Grong Greng where another canal leads to Ban Dongphayom
Ban Dongphayom
Ban Dongphayom is a village in the Nakhon Pa Mak subdistrict of Bang Krathum District of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand.-Etymology:The first element ban means home or village....
and beyond.. Ban Grong Greng lies within the Nan Basin
Nan River
The Nan River is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River.-Geography:The Nan River originates in Nan Province. The provinces along the river after Nan Province are Uttaradit, Phitsanulok and Phichit. The Yom River joins the Nan River at Chum Saeng...
, which is part of the Chao Phraya Watershed
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
. Ban Grong Greng has the greatest population out of the 8 villages in Nakhon Pa Mak, and it encompasses the most land area as well.
Wat Grung See Jayrin
Wat Grung See Jayrin (Thai: วัดกรุงศรีเจริญ), which means temple of the city of renowned progress, is more commonly referred to simply as Wat Grong Greng (Thai: วัดโกรงเกรง).This Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhist temple is where villagers of Ban Grong Greng and surrounding villages hold their funeral ceremonies. Funerals at Wat Grong Greng involve a procession around the temple, chanting and meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
, and burning of the deceased's body. Prior to a funeral at Grong Greng, families typically hold a wake in the deceased's home where family, friends and neighbors can pay their respects to the deceased. Items brought to the wake, such as flower arrangements, photographs of the deceased, and mementos from the deceased's life are carried in the funeral procession. Black clothing is customarily worn by those in mourning, if available. Religious activities and ceremonies other than funerals are typically held at nearby Wat Sam Ruen in Ban Sam Ruen
Ban Sam Ruen
Ban Sam Ruen is a village in the Nakhon Pa Mak subdistrict of Amphoe Bang Krathum District of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand.-Etymology:The first element ban means village. The second element sam means three...
.
Architecture
The style of the chediStupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
at Wat Grung See Jayrin is influenced by earlier Thai pagodas, such as those found in the ruins of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya historical park
The Ayutthaya historical park covers the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, Thailand, which was founded by King Ramathibodi I in 1350 and was the capital of the country until its destruction by the Burmese army in 1767....
. This style was imported from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
during the rule of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great
Ramkhamhaeng the Great
Pho Khun Ram Khamhaeng was the third king of the Phra Ruang dynasty, ruling the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1279–1298, during its most prosperous era. He is credited with the creation of the Thai alphabet and the firm establishment of Theravada Buddhism as the state religion of the kingdom...
along with Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhism. Later, King Ramathibodi I
Ramathibodi I
Uthong or Ramathibodi I was the first king of the kingdom Ayutthaya , reigning from 1351 to 1369. He was known as Prince U Thong before he ascended to the throne on March 4, 1351...
went on to make Theravada Buddhism the official religion of the kingdom of Ayutthaya.
The ceremonial funeral chants at Wat Grong Greng are likewise in Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
, the language of prayer of the Ceylonese Buddhist monastic community,
members of which Ramkhamhaeng imported from Sri Lanka to teach Theravada Buddhism to his subjects in Thailand.
Strikingly similar architecture can be found in Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
, Sri Lanka.