Page 11 - The Royal Coronation Ceremony

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The Purification Bath Ceremony

Historically, Thai society was established around the banks of its rivers which provided

staples like rice and fish. So many of its ceremonies and traditions revolve around water.

For weeks leading up to the coronation, officials collected water from more than 100
sources across the country between 11:52 a.m. and 12:38 p.m. deemed an auspicious time in

Thai astrology. The water was then blessed in Buddhist ceremonies at major temples before
being combined in another consecration rite at Wat Suthat - one of Bangkok's oldest temples.

On the morning of May 4, His Majesty, dressed in white garments, first participated in

the purification bath by sitting on a wooden bench inside a pavilion specially erected next to
Chakrapat Biman Royal Residence in the Grand Palace. The sacred water flow out from a

canopied showerhead. The sacred water was used in two rituals at the Grand Palace. The first

is the bath to "purify" the king, where the water is poured over his body while he wears a
white robe, known as Song Phra Muratha Bhisek and an anointing with sacred water, the

Abhisek.

The second is to anoint the monarch. The king changed into the regal vestments to
attend the royal anointment rite at Atha Disa Udumbara Raja Asana Throne that is intricately

carved with fig wood in octagonal shape. The anointment water was presented to the King in
eight cardinal directions of the compass – representing his rule of the Kingdom. The monarch

has to turn in the clockwise direction to receive, starting from the east that is considered the

primary direction. The chief Brahmin also presented him Nophapadol Maha Saweta Chatra
(the nine-tiered white umbrella).

His Majesty pours on his head the consecrated water given by the chief Brahmin priest

The crowning of King Rama X ;lifestyle May 05, 2019 01:00 By The Nation ay 6, 2019 18:30
[digital image] Retrieved from https://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/lifestyle/30368863