The royal crematorium (พระเมรุ) of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana

[Mel]

เมรุ pronounced as ‘main’ or ‘me-ru’, 2 meanings

1.The name of Mount Sumeru (เขาพระสุเมรุ), the center of universe in Buddhist Cosmology, this place is appeared in Buddhist scripture.
2. ที่เผาศพ (tee-pao-sop), ที่ปลงศพ (tee-bplong-sop) or a funeral pyre, crematorium
Generally, เมรุ or ที่เผาศพ or ที่ปลงศพ in temples, called ฌาปนสถาน (chaa-bpa-na-sa-thaan)
http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php/...customs?blog=5

พระเมรุ (phra-main) and พระเมรุมาศ (phra-me-ru-maard) are ราชาศัพท์ (ra-cha-sup, terms used for Thai royal family) - crematorium of members of the royal family, depends on ฐานานุศักดิ์ (tha-na-nu-sak) - dignity, rank and title.
พระบรมวงศานุวงศ์ (phra-ba-rom-wong-sa-nu-wong) – member of the royal family

พระเมรุ (phra-main) – royal crematorium, this term used for royal members at the rank which use the royal term of death as ทิวงคต (ti-wong-khot) or สิ้นพระชนม์ (siin-pra-chon)

Phra-main of HRH Prince Father Mahidol Adulyadej (died 1929)
http://image.dek-d.com/9/1091611/11439426.bmp

Phra-main of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, 2008
http://www.marinerthai.com/Pic-news2/2008-01-09-001.jpg

พระเมรุมาศ (phra-me-ru-maard), – royal golden crematorium, term used for the highest rank; king, queen, and royal members who use the royal term of death as สวรรคต (sa-wan-kot)
มาศ (maard) means ทอง (gold)

Phra-me-ru-maad of King Rama IV (died 1868)
http://www.dvthai2.com/maru2.jpg

Phra-me-ru-maad of King Rama VIII (died 1946)
http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%...4%E0%B8%A5.gif
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw_-Bg3LrLA"]YouTube - Cremation ceremory for King Rama VIII Part2[/ame]

Phra-me-ru-maad of HRH Princess Mother Srinagarindra, 1996 (died 1995)
http://hilight.kapook.com/view/19324
http://www.oknation.net/blog/home/bl...ges/Arwut1.jpg

The royal cremation ceremony (พระราชพิธีพระราชทานเพลิงพระศพ) of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana will be held on November 14-19, 2008. Her remains will be cremated on November 15, 2008.

The royal crematorium is located at Sanam Luang, modeled after the legendary Mount Sumeru, decorated with statues of เทวดา (tay-wa-da) or celestial beings, and mystical creatures from the legendary Himmaphan forest.
http://hilight.kapook.com/admin_hili.../14574_014.jpg
http://webboard.siamza.com/data/chir.../587227730.gif

1. อัปสรสีหะ (Apsornsiha) – the upper part of the body is a woman, the lower part is of an animal with hoofs.
2. นกทัณฑิมา (Nok Thuntima) – the head is bird and the body is Garuda (Garuda is the vehicle of Indra – พระอินทร์)
3. กินรี (Kinnaree) – female body with wings, tail and feet of swan.
4. หงส์ (Hongsa) – legendary bird, the vehicle of Brahma. http://news.mcot.net/_images/MNewsImages_28918.jpg

[Surawut]

Khun Mel. I was present at Sanaam Luang on the day of the cremation of Her Majesty the Queen Mother. it was an incredible, almost unbelievable experience. The pomp and circumstance was amazing. There were huge crowds of people dressed in black there and the ceremonies went on for much of the day. Food and drinks etc were given out free all day, supplied by the major corporations. The elaborate chariots used to convey the funerary urn to the pyre were being pulled slowly along by hundreds of soldiers wearing bright coloured uniforms. accompanied by traditional khlui and drum music. Somdet Phra Sangkharaat sat up high in one of the chariots. The urn eventually arrived at the meru and was placed in position. this took a long time.
At around 6.15 pm just after last light, a wisp of smoke went up, this brought an amazing reaction from the crowds, a loud wailing groan rang out over Sanaam Luang, it was surreal! and as the smoke intensified people were wailing and crying. I had left home around 7 am and eventually got home at midnight, totally exhausted and emotionally drained. I will be there again on the 15th of November. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Thai history in the making and Thai culture at the highest level. If any one has the opportunity to be there, I strongly recommend it.

[Khun Don]

I saw the dress rehearsal for the Queen Mothers funeral on 11 02 1996 -or should that be 02 11 96? . I was at Wat Po at the time and was attracted by the noise. Sadly I flew back to the UK or I would have gone to the funeral, having visited her home on Doi Tung a few days previously

[Mel]

Khun Surawut, you are lucky to join this ancient ceremony. As I know they tried to follow the old tradition as much as they could.

There will be a full dress rehearsal of processions on November 2 - Sunday. If I have time I will post the schedule of the royal cremation ceremony and 6 grand processions.

[Mel]

The photos of นกทัณฑิมา (Nok Thuntima) and หงส์ (Hongsa) from the newspaper - Siamrath.

[Mel]

Both poles at the entrance of the ceremonial ground (มณฑลพิธี), decorated with 3 - meters Lanna flag called ตุงกระด้าง 12 นักษัตร, made from golden teakwood (ไม้สักทอง).

ตุง is northern dialect, means ธง (flag).

ตุงกระด้าง (dtoong-kra-daang) is one type of Lanna flags, big size, made from wood, representing ยศศักดิ์ (dignity, rank, title, honor) and ความเป็นที่นับหน้าถือตา (high respect)

นักษัตร pronounced as ‘nak-sat’ – 12 years is 1 cycle or 12 nak-sat, each year is named after the animal, the cycle starts with Rat.

1. ชวด (chuat) – หนู (noo) - Rat
2. ฉลู (cha-loo) - วัว (wua) - Ox
3. ขาล (khaan) – เสือ (seua) - Tiger
4. เถาะ (thor) - กระต่าย (gra-dtaai) - Rabbit
5. มะโรง (ma-rohng) – งูใหญ่ (ngoo-yai) - Dragon
6. มะเส็ง (ma-seng) - งูเล็ก (ngoo-lek) - Snake
7. มะเมีย (ma-mia) - ม้า (maa) – Horse
8. มะแม (ma-mae) – แพะ (pae) – Goat
9. วอก (Wok) – ลิง (ling) - Monkey
10. ระกา (ra-gaa) – ไก่ (gai) - Rooster
11. จอ (jor) – สุนัข (soo-naak) - Dog
12. กุน (goon) – สุกร (soo-gon) – Boar

[Khun Don]

COVER STORY



Portraits of a Princess

Pakamard Jaichalard
Daily Xpress

Artists commemorate HRH the late Princess Galyani Vadhana with paintings that capture her life from childhood to old age
Eighty-four artists have completed their paintings inspired by the life of HRH the late Princess Galyani Vadhana. The first four, a series of portraits depicting the Princess from girlhood to old age, were revealed yesterday.

Four huge paintings
Apinan Poshyananda, Director-General of the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, said the three-by- three-metre canvases by Teerawat Kanama, Preecha Thaothong, Pornchai Jaima and Somsak Raksuwan would be hung at the Ratchawat barrier near Thab Kaset and Sala Lukkhun halls within Sanam Luang's royal crematorium ground.
This would be done in time for next Monday's ceremony attended by HM the King to place the nine-tiered umbrella on the crematorium, he said.
The office is holding a press conference on October 27 to introduce all 84 artists with their paintings at Royal (Rattanakosin) Hotel on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, said Apinan.

Photos and sketches
Artist Somsak Raksuwan has used photos and sketches to capture the Princess's life from her time as a child to early adulthood. He said the cheerful colours he's used to evoke gentleness and beauty were inspired by "Saeng Nueng Khue Rung Ngam ("Spectrum"), the book that explores the life and works of the Princess. He placed a photo of the Princess as a young woman in the centre of his composition to highlight her gracefulness, he added.
Fine Arts Department deputy chief Prarop Laowanich said the series of 80 paintings, each 80-by-100 centimetres, is divided into 13 categories that include the Princess's life story, the sibling bond between HM the King and his elder sister, and the Princess's works. They will be displayed at an exhibition after the royal cremation and published in book form.

[Mel]

This would be done in time for next Monday's ceremony attended by HM the King to place the nine-tiered umbrella on the crematorium

This information is not right, it should be 7-tiered umbrella (ฉัตร 7 ชั้น).

The 9-tiered umbrella – for the King only
The 7-tiered umbrella – for the Queen and the Crown Prince
The 5-tiered umbrella – for the rest of the immediate royal family
The 3-tiered umbrella – for the Supreme Patriarch

Anyway, the King has granted the 7-tiered umbrella used above the royal urn and the royal crematorium of the Princess Galyani Vadhana in recognition of her performances and hard work for Thailand and Thai people.

Monday, October 20, 2008, the King will attend the ceremony to place the 7-tiered umbrella on the royal crematorium (พิธียกฉัตรสัปตปฎลเศวตฉัตรยอดพระเมรุ), this 7-tiered umbrella represents the royal rank (พระอิสริยยศ) of the Princess Galyani Vadhana.

[Mel]

The photo from Siamrath.

This 7-tiered umbrella, 4.55 meters high will be placed on the royal crematorium.

[Mel]

The statues of Thewada (celestial being) - เทวดา and mystical creatures from Himmaphan forest (สัตว์ในป่าหิมพานต์) will be decorated at the royal crematorium, the photos from Siamrath.