Page 149 - The Royal Coronation Ceremony

The Royal Regalia

The offering of the Royal Regalia to the King as performed in the Royal Coronation Ceremony is a traditional practice
from Brahmanism. The chief Brahmin, or Phra Maha Ratcha Khru, gives the address offering the Royal Regalia to the King.
The Royal Regalia is considered the most important symbol of the Kingship, and it is essential that it be offered to the King
in the Royal Coronation Ceremony.

According to the book of protocol concerning the Royal Coronation Ceremony of the King, it states the ceremonial
articles to be used consist of: the great crown, the royal clothes made of red wool, the sword, the tiered umbrella and the
golden slippers. Each item holds a symbolic meaning. The Great Crown refers to the high heavenly abode of Indra; the
Red-wool cloth represents the Khanthamat Mountain of the Sumerumat Range; the Sword represents the wisdom to cut
through misunderstanding; the Six-tiered Umbrella refers to the sixth level of heaven; and the Golden Slippers are a reference
of royal support to all subjects living in the royal kingdom, just as the earth is a support to the Sumerumat Mountain.

Formerly, officials who looked after the Royal Utensils organized a yearly ceremony for the celebration of the Royal
Utensils and the Royal Regalia. It normally fell in the 6th lunar moon simply because there were less activities during that
period. However, in the reign of King Rama IV, His Majesty thought that upon the auspicious occasion of the Coronation
Day was an equally appropriate time to include the ceremony for the celebration of the Great Tiered Umbrella and the Royal
Regalia. It was first practiced in 1851 and was given the name, the Chatra Mongkon Ceremony. Later, in the reign of King
Rama VI, His Majesty ordered an additional merit-making ceremony dedicated to the previous kings of the Rattanakosin
Kingdom. He changed the name of the ceremony to the Thaksina Nupatha and the Chatra Mongkhon Ceremony.
The Royal Regalia that the Chief Brahmin offers to the King in the Royal Coronation Ceremony is: the Great Tiered
Umbrella, the Crown of Victory, the Royal Sword of Victory, the Royal Scepter and the Golden Slippers or “Chalong Phra Bat
Choeng Ngon” in Thai.

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The Royal Coronation Ceremony