Page 33 - The Royal Coronation Ceremony

Chao Phraya River Ratchaburi River Phetchaburi River

of the Ayutthaya period was taken from five ponds or Sa in holy water for the Royal Purification or the Phra Muratha Bhisek
Thai: Sa Ket, Sa Kaeo, Sa Khongkha and Sa Yamuna from ceremony was comprised of a portion of the waters from
Suphanburi. The fifth portion was the addition of sacred water “Bencha Suttha Khongkha” or the Five Pure Streams of Ganga
from another five important rivers of Thailand that were mixed and a portion from the five symbolic ponds in Suphanburi,
into the other four. These five main rivers are called “Bencha which was of the same proportion as the previous reigns
Suttha Khongkha,” or the Five Pure Streams of Ganga, so in the dynasty. In the year of 1872, when His Majesty King
as to follow the belief in the use of the sacred water from the Rama V visited India, he brought back with him to Thailand,
five mainstreams from South Asia or Chomphu Thawip in the symbolic waters from the five main streams of Chomphu
Thai. The five specific sources of water are from: the Bang Thawip, as prescribed by the Brahmin Textbook. Therefore,
Pakong River, taken from the Bueng Phra Achan Pond in when the second Royal Coronation Ceremony was conducted
Nakhon Nayok Precinct, the Pasak River, taken from the in 1873, the actual sacred water from the original five rivers of
Tharap Subdistrict of Mueang District in Saraburi Precinct; India was added in with the water from the four sacred ponds
the Chao Phraya River, taken from the Bang Kaeo District of Suphanburi in Thailand.
of Angthong Precinct; the Ratchaburi River taken from
Daowadueng Subdistrict of Samut Songkhram Precinct and In 1920, as part of the Royal Coronation Ceremony
from the Phetchaburi River, taken from Thachai Subdistrict of of His Majesty King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), His Majesty was
Phetchaburi Precinct. The water samples were then sanctified blessed upon entering the new residential palace. The potion
in a ceremony at the significant chedi of each Subdistrict from of the holy water used in the ceremony followed the formula
which the water originated, before being transferred to be of the second Royal Coronation Ceremony of King Rama V.
consecrated in Bangkok again. In the reign of King Rama IV, But in 1921, when His Majesty had the second ceremony
a Buddhist religious ceremony was added to the procedure. conducted for the celebration of the royal coronation, he
This Buddhist ceremony is to have four Provosts of the Thai ordered that water be collected from additional important and
Phra Paritra chant and consecrate the Buddhist holy water, auspicious rivers in the Royal Kingdom. The collected waters
which was also used in the Royal Purification or the “Song were consecrated at the Great Chedis, or Maha Chediya
Phra Muratha Bhisek” ceremony. Sathan of each of the seven ancient kingdoms and of the ten
In 1868, when the first Royal Coronation Ceremony different precincts* in order to be used as the Buddhist holy
of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) took place, the water in the ceremony.

* Appendix: page 176

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The Royal Coronation Ceremony