The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXXVII, Part 1-2, 1989 - Khamkoo

24 HANS PENTH
sensuous world (kamaloka). The terrace of laterite blocks
represents the earth inhabited by humans (manussabhumi),
w hile the six-step elevation represents the six heavens which
make up the lowest class of heavens: Catummaharajika,
Tavatimsa, Yama, Tusita, Ni.mmanarati and Paranimita-vasavatti.
The upper three-step elevation represents the triad
rl!pabrahmaloka, arupabrahmaloka, and N irodha or Nibbana.
Rl!pabrahmaloka, or rt:tpabhilini, is the second highest class of
heavens of which there are 16 and w hich belong to the world of
appearance. Arl!pabrahmaloka or anlpabht:m1i is the third
highest class of heavens of which there are four and which
belong to the incorporeal world.
The focal point of the site is the city navel pillar (fig. 16)
w_hich represents Mount Sineru, the axis of the universe. It rises
from a triangular pedestal that represents the three mountains,
Trlkl!tapabbata, on w hich Mount Sineru is resting. The pillar is
also equated with the jai ban or jai miiang pillar, the "village (or:
country) hea rt pilla r" mentioned above. Following the traditional
formula, it has the height of the monarch at the time of its
erection, and a diameter five times his fist. His Majesty the King
graciously had the data made known to the construction committee
and permitted it to use them for the Chiang Rai city navel
pillar. His Majesty anointed the pillar in Chitrlada Palace on 27
January 1988.
The city navel pillar is surrounded by 108 satellite pillars.
Four of them stand cl ose to the city navel pillar at the four
corners of the upper platform and are taller than the others.
These 108 sa tellite pillars represent major features of the universe
as illustrated in detail; for instance, on the "map of the
cosmos" on the wall behind the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra
Kao, Bangkok (fig. 15), or on the Buddhapada from Wat Phra
Sing, Chiang Mai (now in the Chiang Mai Museum, fi g. 17;
around 1500 A.D.?). H 2 These important fea tures or items of the
cosmos are also known as the 108 auspicious signs,
mangalalakkhai}a. On Buddha footprints they are usually
found in stylized form and in rigid geometrical alignment, not
in the form of the ma p H 3
Also surrounding the city navel pillar, on five of the lower
steps, are five channels collecting the rainwater which represent
the fi ve grea t rivers (pancanad]) that water the earth on
which we are living, the continent Jambudipa: Gmiga, Yamuna,
Aciravatl, Sarabhu, and Mahl. Like their originals, the channels
drain towards the south.
The city navel pillar ca n be sprinkled w ith water by those
w ho wish to pay their respects to it. The water is thought to
become consecrated through contact with the pillar and to bring
good fortune. The custom is to moisten one's head with a few
drops.
Corresponding to the royal measurements, the ci ty navel
pillar is 1.72 em high (measured from the top to where it enters
the pedestal) and has a diameter of 39.8 em. The outer terrace
measures 35 x 35 m . Each step is 20 em high. The platform on
which the ped estal with the pillar is standing is 1.80 m above the
level of the outer terrace. The ped estal of the pillar is 80 em high.
Fig. 16 Th e City Navel Pillar 'fl1ff::~vd1vJ.
Han s Pen/11 1988. 88/3/12
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