The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE IN NORTHEASTERN THAILAND 173
seeking, is a religious action which provides access to merit and is viewed
by believers as meritorious in itself. This merit pervades sacred sites at
which are found certain symbolic representations of the Buddha, the
teacher and model for the transcendance of ultimate reality. The local
village or urban temple-monastery (the customary center for religious
action oriented toward images of the Buddha and representatives of the
Sangha) is one sacred domain for the faithful. However, those sacred
places in Thailand which attract merit-seeking journeys are those at
which objects directly associated with the Buddha have been established
and{or at which the Buddha himself is believed to have made an actual
visit during his lifetime. The following section will focus upon the
character of one such sacred site in northeastern Thailand.
11. The Qualities of a Sacred Place
The sacred object at Wat Phra That Phanom is an alleged "breastbone
relic" of the Buddha which bas been installed within the base of
a towering brick-and-stucco structure and thus not visible to the eyes
of the faithful. Before considering the circumstances of this object's
appearance at this spot near the Mekhong, attention must be given to
the origins of Buddhist sacred places in general, and the sanctions for
pilgrimage in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, which are attributed to
the Buddha himself.
The Maha Parinibbana Suttanta (one of the texts of the Sutta-Pitaka)
is concerned with the final days of the Buddha's life. Shortly before his
demise, the Buddha enumerated to his disciple Ananda the four places
which could be visited by devout believers: ( 1 l the birthplace of the
Buddha; (2) the place where the Buddha achieved Enlightenment (nibbona);
(3) the place where the Buddha preached his first sermon; (4) the
place where the Buddha passed away (pari-nibbana) (Maha-Pari.Sut.: V,
16-20). Devotees who die whtle journeying to any of these places are
assured rebirth in the heavenly realms (ibid.; V, 21-22).
In addition to four specific geographic locations, each identified
with a significant event, the Buddha mentioned certain structures which
could serve as objects of pilgrimage. In response to a question from
Ananda concerning the disposal of the Budda's remains after cremation,