Kap Maha Chat, Lilit Chantha Kinnon Chadok : Kham Luang of the Ayutthaya period

Abstract

This academic article studies whether the poems Kap Maha Chat and Lilit Chantha Kinnon Chadok qualify as Kham Luang, using seven established criteria. Both are identified as Kham Luang from the Ayutthaya period. Specifically, Kap Maha Chat meets four criteria: (1) commission by royal command, (2) use in the royal Mahachat sermon ceremony, (3) derivation from Buddhist scriptures expressing Buddha’s teachings as a Bodhisattva, and (4) translation from Pali mantras into Thai poetry. Lilit Chantha Kinnon Chadok meets three criteria: (1) royal command, (2) derivation from Buddhist scriptures with Bodhisattva teachings, and (3) translation from Pali into Thai poetry. The study also newly identifies seven Kham Luang (royal literary) works in Thailand: Maha Chat Kham Luang, Kap Maha Chat, Nanthopananthasutta Kham Luang, Phra Malai Kham Luang, Lilit Chantha Kinnon Chadok Kham Luang, Supriti Thammarat Chadok Kham Luang, and Phra Non Kham Luang.