This thesis aimed to study the belief and rite performed to offer sacrifices to spirits (the rite performed to offer sacrifices to grandfather ghosts), to study the belief and tradition performed to offer sacrifices to spirits of Sano villagers in Sano sub-district, Khukhan district, Sisaket province and to study value and influence of the rite performed to offer sacrifices to grandfather ghosts of Sano villagers in Sano sub-district, Khukhan district, Sisaket province. The research was conducted with qualitative research technique and its methodology was based on studying from Tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures), documents, and related research studies shown in different data sources including making a field trip to survey and collect data in the areas that the rite is performed, participatory observation, interviewing a person who acts as a leader of the sacrifice (called Por Jam) in the community. In-depth interview was used in the research methodology.
The research results found that the belief was from problems in living a life of people. They understood that a mystery power above nature is the cause of what and how things are. Therefore, they should do something to please that power. Once problems were solved, they expressed their gratitude by offering sacrifices or perform different rites. Such belief is called “attitude towards spirits and angels” which was religious attitude in the ancient times before evolved to be current religious attitude.
Before Buddhist era, people living in the land called Thailand at present had belief based on attitude towards spirits and angels. It was widely believed that spirits really existed and rites were performed to sacrifice in order to ask for guardian or protection for all activities that they did. Thus, the system of belief is maintained and intervened in the way of life by blending to daily life practices.
The grandfather ghost rite of people in the northeastern part of Thailand (Isan) is the tradition that all communities have to practice by expecting a part of forest areas to be a place for grandfather ghosts to stay. The chosen area must be thick forest where many wild animals are living with a lot of diversified plants. The place has to be a mound or highland that cannot be flooded. A small house or spirit house (Toob) is built so that ghosts or spirits can live in and people come to make worship and it is going to be a place where a rite can be performed to nurture people’s minds or for fortune telling. Moreover, this can lead to enjoyment as during the sacrifice is offered, dances and amusement take place which enable harmony in communities. The components in the rite are a spirit house of grandfather ghosts (Toob of grandfather ghosts), a person who acts as a leader of the grandfather ghosts sacrifice (Por Jam), and other people who provide things used in the sacrifice. The rite is typically held on the 3rd day of the waxing moon on the 3rd Thai lunar month of every year. Sano village is one of villages in Sano sub-district. It is located in the southwest of Khukhan district in Sisaket province. People in the village are Laotians who evacuated to settle down. The evacuation of Laotians at that time brought religion, belief and tradition with them. The rite of sacrificing grandfather ghosts blends all these beliefs and villagers have kept practiced this until today. The rite is held at the spirit house of grandfather ghosts aiming to make worship and used as a spiritual anchor for living a life, for maintaining fertility of food, for peace and order, for unity and social responsibility. In order to carry on good tradition and nice culture, the rite is held on the 3rd and the 6th of Thai lunar month every year.
The rite of sacrificing grandfather ghosts of villagers living in Sano village, Sano sub-district, Khukhan district in Sisaket province has value and influence on the villagers. By doing this, it is believed that agricultural products will be fruitful. The traditional rite is greatly respectful and acts as a spiritual anchor for earning a living and living a life. It encourages a sense of protection and belonging in resources and hometown, peace and order, harmony, sense of social responsibility, and maintaining nice tradition and beautiful culture.
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