Key Concepts in the Murals Depicting the Story of Mahajanaka in the Ordination Hall of Ratchaphatikaram Temple, Dusit District, Bangkok

• Main Authors: Adchariyaprasit, Jiraporn, Chuwatthanakij, Paiboon
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2024
• Subjects: mural paintings; Ratchaphatikaram Temple; Mahajanaka
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/paha/vol14/iss2/14; https://archium.ateneo.edu/context/paha/article/1342/viewcontent/6_PAHA14.2_jiraporn_pp91_114.pdf
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This article is aimed at studying the key concepts depicted in the murals about the past lives of the Buddha Mahajanaka in the ordination hall of Ratchaphatikaram Temple, Dusit District, Bangkok. Through an analysis of the paintings, the researchers note the following concepts: perseverance, the main theme of the murals, which is consistent with the Jataka tales or the birth stories of Buddha; the importance of knowledge and avoidance of vices; and government and national development in the context of governing the country with intellect and perseverance and developing the country using technology in conjunction with knowledge and morality. The murals are based on two sources: an ancient collection of Buddhist sacred texts called Tripitaka (The Three Baskets) and the royal writing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej titled พระมหาชนก (The Story of Mahajanaka). The painters carefully selected the scenes to include in the murals, aiming to narrate the story of Mahajanaka and highlight the significant concepts mentioned above.