ABSTRACT

                        The objectives of this thesis are: to study the ritual practice of Kuankhoatip merit making tradition of Ummao people Muangtong sub-district, Muang district, Roi-et Province, to study the belief of  Kuankhoatip merit making tradition of Ummao people Muangtong sub-district, Muang district, Roi-et Province, and to do an analytical study of the influence of the belief of  Kuankhoatip merit making relevant to the living of Ummao people.

                        The result of the study found that history background of Kuankhoatip practice could track back to the story of Suchada offering Madhupayasa or Khoatip to the Buddha, but Suchada believed in Brahmanism; therefore, the practice of Kuankhoatip, its ingredients, actually got influence from Brahmanism. In Thailand, the practice of Kuankhoatip existed during Ayudhaya dynasty. It was believed that Khoatip was a special food, those who took Khoatip would stay healthy. Therefore, if Khoatip was offered to the Buddhist monks, it would bright a lot of advantage.

                        However, the historical background of Kuankhoatip merit making tradition of Ummao village was somewhat matter of controversial. The official date was in 1980. The process of Kuankhoatip began with making advertisement or broadcasted to the surrounding people at least 10 day before the day of the auspicious occasion, following with preparing the place, condiments of Khoatip, big pan, and so on. Nevertheless, before the Kuankhoatip ceremony was started, there people will observe eight precepts, the monks would chant, and virgin girls wear in white cloth representing as the angle stirring ingredient of Khoatip. It took almost 15 – 16 hours to finish the process of Kuankhoatip.

                This ritual practice played a lot of influence toward the Ummao people in various aspects: economically, there was positive an economic exchange during the period of Kuankhoatip. While, the practice of Kuankhoatip also tied the people in unity and it helped in fostering wholesome traditional practice to for the generation to generation. More importantly, in the part of religious cultivation, there were no negative aspects in Kuankhoatip process. However, the practice of Kuankhoatip could eventually resolve the problem of conflict in the society, as it rooted in the principle of sharing and loving to all living fellows. Last but not least, the remarkable benefit of Kuankhoatip were that people started giving and the advantage of this Buddhist ritual practice led the people to understand other better, strong mutual relationship was formed, and collectively it led the people to live happily and peacefully in the society.