Date : October 7-11, 2003
Place : Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri Temple , Uthai Thani
The Buddhist merit-making ritual called "Tak Bat Devo" originates from the word "Devorohana". It refers to the return of the Lord Buddha from Heaven to earth mentioned in ancient Buddhist tales.
The significance of the merit-making ritual is based on the Buddhist concept of reincarnation - the belief that upon death, an individual passes on to another life. It is believed that a person's destiny is determined by the meritorious acts or good deeds performed in the present life. Depending on the good deeds and merit they have earn, in subsequent lives, individuals progress to the point where they attain spiritual enlightenment and reside in the upper tiers of heaven, or are re-born into a life that is worse than the last. Based on this belief, making merit by presenting offerings to monks evolved as a Buddhist ritual known as "tak bat". The "bat" being the bowl in which the alms and offerings presented to the monks are placed.
According to Buddhist tales, prior to becoming The Lord Buddha - the "Enlightened One", the prince named Siddhartha Gautama - "The Victorious One", the son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya, had many previous lives. Following the birth of Siddhartha, his mother died when was only seven days old. After death, she resided in the Heaven of Delight where she watched the drama of her son's life unfold.
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