Suitable Management Model for Economic, Social and Cultural ...

Journal of Social Sciences 6 (1): 4-7, 2010
ISSN 1549-3652
© 2010 Science Publications

Suitable Management Model for Economic, Social and Cultural Development Derived
from Beliefs and Rites on PraBuddha Southern in Chachoengsao Province

Phrakhrusutawisutthikun Phad, Wisanee Siltragool and Terdchai Panthachai
Research Institute Northeastern of Art and Culture Mahasarakham University, Thailand, 44001

Abstract: Problem statement: In the present Wat Thai was the center of Thai social, The study of
Wat Thai management model made us know about economy, social and community culture: (1) to
study history, management model of Wat Sothornwanaram Vorawiharn Chacheongsoa province in
economic, social and culture development form the believed and ceremonies about Pra Budhda
Sothorn figure; (2) to study model of approximal management in WatSothornwararam Vorawiharn in
economic, social and culture development form the believed and ceremonies about PraBudhda Sothorn
figure. Approach: The purposive random sampling technique were key informants with 13 monks,
19 community leaders, casual informants with 16 monks 100 merchants and general informants with
60 peoples 56 pilgrims. Research methodology were qualitative research and colleting data by survey,
observe, interview and focus group. Results: The story we know that the first name was Wat
Soahong and had change to Wat Soatong, Wat Sothorn and raised to Royal temple named
WatSothornwararam Vorawiharn. Pra Budhda Sothorn was holy meditation figure made of bronze
and super natural power by flowed up in the river with 3 brothers: Laung Por Wat BanLaem, Laung
Por Sothorn and Laung Por to Wat Bangplee. Management model of WatSothorn wararam
Vorawiharn in Economic, social and culture development about Pra Budhda Sothorn were believed
in safety by helping from Laung Por Budhda Sothorn to person who had good mind and good doing.
Conclusion: The ceremonies to developed economic, social and culture modeling by to word of bed
lucky, to make a votive offering to beseech, beg for good luck, give to charity and willing to have
Pea Budhda Sothon image. The believed and ceremonies made economic, social and culture developed
by made merit of the people.

Key words: Suitable, management model, economic, social, cultural, development, derived, belief,
rites, prabuddha sothorn, chachoengsao province

INTRODUCTION
there were told that the Buddha Images were sacred,

could be able to engender people’s life to be safe

Buddhism created civilization as the growth in
including luck as well as obtaining what one wished.
object and mental for global society. Besides, Dharma
Likewise, Wat Sotonwanaram where Luangpo Soton,
Principles of Buddhism also taught people to do good
the sacred Buddha Image of Chachoengsao Province,
deeds and merits, avoid the evil deeds, make ones’
was placed without evidence of who constructed and
mind to be wholehearted with rationale in living
when. According to the legend, was the Buddha Image
including being able to conduct oneself in society, work
floating in water and showed up in front of the temple.
and live together with the others happily.
So, people cooperated in pulling to the shore and

Since Thai people were very much fond of
placing at the temple.
Buddhism, belief and practice principle in Buddhism

In recent time, Wat Sotonwanaram was well
influencing their viewpoints and activities almost every
known both for Thai people and foreign people. There
aspect of Thai way of life. It could be said that
were many people continuously coming to pay respect
Buddhism was the major core or foundation of Thai
to, prostate oneself worship. As a result, the temple
culture, Pra Prom-Kunapon (Natsupa Chattip, 1995).
received the donated money more than other temples in
When Buddhism firmly situated in Thailand, the
Thailand. Consequently, it faced problems in managing
religious places and Buddha Images were constructed
money of the temple as well as lacking of appropriate
in coon places by the faith of people. In some places,
form in managing the temple in order to develop the
Corresponding Author: Phrakhrusutawisutthikun Phad, Research Institute Northeastern of Art and Culture,

Mahasarakham University, Thailand, 44001
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J. Social Sci., 6 (1):4-7, 2010

economic, social and cultural aspect based on belief and
Worawihan in developing economic, social and cultural
ritual of people. These issues were pushing forces for
aspects, Chachoengsao Province, based on belief and
the researcher to conduct research and apply
ritual of people regarding to Luangpo Praputtasoton,
information for managing temple in the future.
would be discussed with documents and other related

literatures as well as approaches and theories in order to
Purposes and objectives: The objectives of this
show the similarity, congruence and differences
research were: (1) the historical background of Wat
according to the following topics:
Sotonwararam Worawihan and Luangpo Praputasoton,

(2) belief and ritual of people regarding to Luangpo
• Historical background of Wat Sotonworawararam
Praputasoton, (3) management of the temple based on
Worawihan and Lunagpo Prapouttasoton regarding
belief and ritual, impact and occurred problems and (4)
to background of Wat Sotonwararam Worawihan,
appropriate management model in developing the
according to the findings found that it was an
temple and community regarding to economic, social
ancient temple constructed in Late Krungsri-
and cultural aspects.
ayutaya as a royal palace or the beginning of

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Dhonburi Age about in 1764. Since it was built for

a long period of time. So, there was no records

The instruments in collecting data consisted of: (1)
since the beginning. But, there were records only
The Interview, (2) observation form, (3) Focus group
as they were found and recorded. Some parts were
discussion and (4) agenda of workshop.
legend from the background of temple informed by

the old age people
Population and sample: The samples, the samples
• Belief and ritual of people regarding to Luangpo
were classified into 3 groups by the researcher: (1) the
Praputtasoton according to the study from
expert group consisted of 13 monks, (2) 19 community
information, found that the people believed in
leaders 3 practitioners included, 1 16 monks, 100 of
Luangpo Praputtasoton for 4 issues: The belief of
male and female merchants and villagers, (3) general
being out of danger, safety, obtaining what one
People included 60 of people groups in community near
wished
and
helping
for
happiness
Wat Soton and 56 people groups coming for merit.
(Pradharmakosajan, 2006). It was supported by the

Data analysis: The data analysis results were
belief in religious meaning or superstitious belief.
subsequently presented by means of a descriptive
Every society had one’s belief in a form of super
analysis.
power over human beings. The religious belief

referred to the sacred object. Although the
RESULTS
instruction of the sacred objects were instruction of

religion, the belief in ghost or spirit was also called
• Historical background of Wat Sotonwanaram
religion since it was the belief of super power over
Worawihan and Luangpo Praputasoton as well as
human beings (Lecturers of Department of Social
the belief and ritual toward Wat Sotonwanaram
Science and Humanities, Faculty of Political
Worawihan and Luangpo Praputtasoton were
Science (Southern Region Teacher College Group,
useful for those who were interested in
1983)
• Management of the temple based on belief and

ritual, impact and occurred problems, would be

According to people’s belief of Luangpo
information for the temple and related work unit or
Praputtasoton regarding to some things, it was usual
organizations
thing. Smith Sra-ubon stated that the belief
• Appropriate management model in developing the
simultaneously occurred with human beings. Human
temple and community regarding to economic,
could be able to transfer their feelings, opinion,
social and cultural aspects would be a model for
familiarity until the social habit was formed. So, the
being applied in others temples with similar nature
belief system happened relating to human’s belief for 4
as well as a guideline in developing Wat
things: (1) human couldn’t have no belief. If they had
Sotonwanaram
no belief, they wouldn’t be able to survive or might be

harmed by environment to destroy these kinds of belief.
DISCUSSION
So, they had belief for fighting with, (2) human life

both were visible, provable, not understandable, if they

The findings from the research study in the
had no basic belief, they couldn’t act or practice to
appropriate management model for Wat Sotonwararam
those things, (3) belief caused people to have
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J. Social Sci., 6 (1):4-7, 2010

confidence and (4) the belief caused people to be
be able to understand and agree with vision until one
happy, for instance, the belief in good intention of ghost
had trust on and felt that one had to have far distant
or angel causing people’s success. Consequently, they
dream and could reach it, (3) samuttechana (braveness)
managed ritual for paying respect to the angels.
referred to the encouragement to have self confidence

Moreover, according to the management of ritual
and be enthusiastic in acting toward goal. (4)
from people’s belief toward Luangpo Praputtasoton was
Sampahangsana (joyfulness) referred to the creation of
happened as Victer Tumer’s, an anthropologist of
climate in cooperated friendly working which would
Symbolism, statement that the belief or ritual of a
promote happy working of members.
society was an analysis or interpretation on various

In managing economic aspect, found that it was the
symbols occurring in ritual. The occurred symbols in
application of belief into economic development of
ritual was a moving process throughout the time. In
people in Chachoensao Province by encouraging them
addition, people in that society would adapt themselves
to gain income from selling products or items as
with the occurred changes by using ritual as social
symbols of Luangpo Praputtasoton and Soton temple as
expression managed by the organizer groups for
continuing their social environmental conditions and
well as OTOP of the province which was economic
external culture showing internal wishes as well as
development for community to be self reliance. This
group life ideal of the groups who were organizing the
finding was based on Symbolic Interaction Theory.
rituals.
People coming to pay respect to Luangpo at Soton

The management by the temple according to belief
temple, were interested in the items as symbols of the
and ritual, impact and occurred problem condition,
temple and Chachoensao Province. For social
according to the studied information, found that many
management, the findings found that the appropriate
people coming to pay respect and managing rituals
management was to support education for youngsters,
based on their beliefs on Luangpo Praputtasoton
people and monks not only for schools nearby the
causing many expenditures. As a result, the creation of
temple, but the temple should also extend the educational
work, income, or support system in community around
opportunity covering every sub-district and every district
Wat Sotonwararam Worawihan, for instance, the
of Chachoengsao Province. Besides the educational
management of selling local souvenir or monkish
development, the improvement in quality of life for
products, restaurants, hotels or staying places, tour
people coming to temple especially in public health as
company, etc. Consequently, it caused the circulating
well as provision of convenience for those people, should
capital trend in economic system of grass root level in
be managed by the temple. It was supported by Chattip
community. For this reason, the private sectors were
Natsupa (1995) studying community development in
more interested in investing for their business in
dimension of social development that when people got
Chaseungsao Province.
together as a group for working and solving problems

The appropriate management model in developing
together passing on new generation people so that the
temple and community regarding to economic, social
society would be strong.

and cultural aspect according to conclusions from the
CONCLUSION
appropriate management model of Wat Soton based on

this research, found that the appropriate management of

So, the education and quality of life development
temple including the following aspects: vision of
were very important. Furthermore, the cultural
management, principles using in managing the goal or
management, the model obtaining from workshop
objective of implementation, as well as role and
found that the temple should be origin in transferring
participation by different work units for managing
knowledge of religion and Thai good culture for people
economic, social and cultural aspect. The management
coming to temple so that they could gain knowledge
of temple was supported by the findings of Pra Kosajan
and apply knowledge into practice in their way of life
’s (2006) statement that the management referred to
based on their belief.

working until it was finished by depending on the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
others with explanation applicable with management as

follows: (1) santassana (clearness) referred to the

The research has been supported generously by the
explanation of steps of implementation clearly, the
Mahasarakham
University
Research
Fund.
The
members could easily follow the instructions, (2)
researchers would like to express their sincere
smatapana (motivation) referred to the explanation to
appreciation for all of the support provided.
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J. Social Sci., 6 (1):4-7, 2010

REFERENCES
Southern Region Teacher College Group, 1983.

Amulet
Really
providing
advantage
and
Natsupa Chattip, 1995. Culture and Social Changing
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Process. Chulalongkorn University Printing Office,
Company, Bangkok, ISBN: 974-333-607-9
Bangkok. ISBN: 978-975-9681, pp: 99-2.

Pradharmakosajan,
2006.
(Prayoon
Dharmajitto)

Buddhism Management Technique. Bangkok:

Mahachulalongkorn
Rachawittayalai
Printing,

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