History of Ayutthaya - Siampedia

Abhidharma	A class of sacred books; the Buddhist Canon; the "superior truths", metaphysics of Buddhism. Third part of the teachings of the three baskets in Siamese, Phra-Baramat, the "superior truths," or metaphysics, was repeated by Kasyappa himself [on the first Buddhist Council]. With respect to the third part of the canon, called Abhidharmma, the northern Buddhists teach that it was not among the oral traditions of early Buddhists, but was first taught by Nagarjuna (about the Christian era), who learnt it from the superhuman Nagas, who had heard Buddha teach it. European scholars do not allow that books differing so much as the Sutras and the Abhidharmmas can have had a simultaneous origin. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - pages 165, 167, 231.]
Abunyaphi	Abunyaphi (demeritorious) is the predisposition which will lead to birth in one of the four states of sorrow, viz., - existence in hell, existence as a Preta, existence as an Asura, and brute existence ; and which will cause the object of it, after having endured one of those states, to be born in some degraded condition as a man - as an evil, poor, stupid, unfortunate, sickly, wretched fellow. This is the state of every one who is wicked, and particularly of those who have taken life, or committed theft. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 236.]
Achirawadi	River, with lotus; One of the five great rivers. There are five similar figures representing the five great rivers (Maha nathi), whose source is in the Himalayan lake Anodat. They are named Kongkha (Ganges), Yumna, Achirawadi, Saraphum, and Mahi. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 307.]
Adam's Peak	Sumanekuto; The footprint on Adam's Peak, [...], is the celebrated Sri Pada (beautiful footstep), which still attracts travellers to the summit of a mountain, striking in appearance, and most difficult of access. It is a hole in the rock, about five feet long, and represents a very rude outline of a foot; but its unshapeliness has not prevented Buddhists from claiming it as made by the foot of Buddha; Sivaites, as made by that of Siva; Mahometans, by that of Adam; and Christians, by that of St Thomas. [...] The Sri Pada is supposed to have been discovered about 90 B.C., by King Walagambahu, who, when out hunting, was led on and on, by following a beautiful stag, to the very summit of the mountain, where the stag, which indeed was an angel, vanished, and left the fortunate monarch to discover the holy footprint. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 252.]
Adjatasattru	Adjatasattru, the son of Bimbisara, the great supporter of Buddha, was King of Magadha, in Central India, his capital being Rajagriha (about 150 miles E. by S. of Benares). He gained the throne by murdering his father, seven years previous to Buddha's death; and at first opposed the great teacher, but afterwards became strongly attached to him and his religion. He enlarged his dominions by subjugating the neighbouring states of Kapila (Buddha's own country), Kosali, and Wesali; in the latter case, effecting his purpose by using means which the legends tell us were suggested by Buddha. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 166.]
Akkha Sawok	The two principal disciples; in Siamese, Akkha Sawok. Akkha being equivalent to the Sanscrit agra, eka, or aika, "one, chief"; and Sawok to Cravaka, "one who attends", a term applied to the disciples of Buddha. Every Buddha is supposed to have his two principal disciples, and the list of the last twenty-four Buddhas ..., with the record of each Buddha, the names of his principal disciples. Gotama Buddha's two disciples "of the right and left hand " were named Moggalana and Sariputra. Both died before their master. In Siamese temples their statues may be seen standing in an attitude of adoration before images of Buddha, one on the right hand, the other on the left. The expression "right and left," applied to dignities, is still used in Siam, where there are two Prime Ministers, one of the left, the other of the right; and where, when the King has two principal Queens (which is not now the case) they bear the titles of Queens of the left and right. The dignity of the left is the more honourable. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 187-8.]
Ambapali	Ambapali - Name of a an eminent courtesan, of great wealth and high estimation visited by the Buddha, and of her garden. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 233.]
Amravatti	The ruined Tope of Amravatti, situated near the mouth of the river Kistnah, on the East Coast of India, affords numerous illustrations of the footprint. Some of the bas-reliefs from Amravatti may be seen in the court of the India Office. [...] In these bas-reliefs, which are supposed to vary in date from the second to the fifth centuries of our era, there are numerous representations of altars, on or before which are a pair of footprints marked with the Chakkra, but with no other figures. On a fragment, whose position in the building is not yet ascertained, is cut in low relief a large pair of footprints, marked not only - with the Chakkra, but with several other mystic emblems. [...] we pass back to the Tope of Amravatti, where the Naga appears as the protector of altars, and also as the sign of some family or race; and thence, going back three hundred years, to the date when the Sanchi Rail was carved, we still find the protecting Naga. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - pages 248, 301.]
Amrita	The draught of immortality. Amrita, a Sanscrit word meaning immortal, the elixir of life, the beverage of the gods. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 164.]
Anakha	One of the four highest degrees of saintship (The Four Paths); 3rd degree - [Skr] Anagamin - "he who will not come back." There will be another birth, but not in the worlds of sensuality. From the heavens of the Brahmas Nirvana will be attained. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - pages 170-171.]
Ananda	Favourite disciple of the Buddha, the cousin of Buddha, must not be confounded with Nanda, Buddha's half-brother. Ananda, born on the same day as Buddha, is throughout his career represented as a man of a peculiarly sweet disposition, and a great favourite of his Teacher. He was converted in the first year of Buddha's teaching, and in the twentieth season was appointed his personal attendant, and remained in that capacity until Buddha's Nirvana. Nevertheless, he is represented as somewhat deficient in intelligence, and outstripped in the race of sanctity by many who had less advantages. There was a question as to whether he could be admitted to the first council of five hundred, owing to his not having attained the requisite degree in the priesthood. The objection was overruled, and at the same time, by a night of intense meditation, he attained the sanctity required, and with it the miraculous powers of knowing the thoughts of other men and of flying through the air, which are referred to in the text. But for the direct assertion in chapter iii. that Ananda was born at the same time as Buddha, everything in the stories of Buddha that I have read seems to assume Ananda as younger than his master. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 168.]
Anatta	Unreal; One of the three characteristics of existence known as Phra Trai Laksana. This triple formula is of very frequent occurrence in Siamese religious writings ; indeed, is so well known, that instead of being written at length, it is often written Anichang, &c. The words, which are Siamese-Pali, are Anichang, Thukkhang, Anatta (unstable, painful, and illusive). They correspond to the Sanscrit Anitya, Duhkha, and Anatma. Anitya is "inconstant, or perishable, Duhkha is "pain:, Anatma is "that which has no self." [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 227.]
Anda (P., Skt.)	Literally egg; hemispherical portion or the dome of an ancient Indian stupa, e.g. the great stupas at Sanci. Later on, the anda was gradually developed into the form of a bell as usually seen in the Thai chedi (pagoda). [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).]
Anenchaphi	Anenchaphi is the predisposition of those who are steadfast in the higher Dhyanas, the Dhyanas of the formless. It will cause re-birth in one of the four worlds of the formless Brahmas, the angels who have neither form nor materiality, and have but spiritual faculties (Chit-chetasik), fixed and subject to no disturbance. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 236.]
Angkor Vat (Kh.)	The most famous Khmer monument in Cambodia, dedicated to Vishnu, built by King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century A.D. It is also used as the name of a Khmer style of art. [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).]
Angirasa	Angkhirasa, a name of Buddha; I do not find this name given in any other Life of Buddha. The name Angirasa is mentioned by Csoma de Koros (translating from the Thibetan) as one of the descendants of Mahasammato, the first king of the world, and may perhaps be the Bhagiraso of the Pali Mahawanso. We also find the name Angiras as that of one of the authors or custodian families of the Vedic hymns. The name may perhaps have crept in here by mistake. In accounting for it by connecting it with the brilliant glory or rays streaming from his head, the Siamese probably derive it from their word "rasami" (Sanscrit, Kagmi), effulgence. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 207.]
Angkuliman	Murderer and saint; The fourth and last Kam (the Upakhathaka Kam) violently opposes itself to any existing Kam, so as to destroy its effects. This last Kam is illustrated by the story of "Angkuliman." "Angkuliman, whilst yet a layman, committed nine hundred and ninety-nine murders, but afterwards, by attaining to saintly perfection, lie obtained an Upakbathaka Kam, which cut otf the Kam of the murders he had committed. He acquired meritorious Upacha AVethaniya Kam, of which he would enjoy the fruits in his next generation, and meritorious Aprapara Wethaniya Kam, of which he would enjoy the fruits in the third and subsequent generations. There Avas left only Thittham Wethaniya Kam, by which his murders could have any effect ; and it did have effect, causing him, after he had attained his saintly condition, to be accidentally pelted with sticks and lumps of earth." [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 51.]
Anichang	Unstable; One of the three characteristics of existence known as Phra Trai Laksana. This triple formula is of very frequent occurrence in Siamese religious writings ; indeed, is so well known, that instead of being written at length, it is often written Anichang, &c. The words, which are Siamese-Pali, are Anichang, Thukkhang, Anatta (unstable, painful, and illusive). They correspond to the Sanscrit Anitya, Duhkha, and Anatma. Anitya is "inconstant, or perishable, Duhkha is "pain:, Anatma is "that which has no self." [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 227.]
Ankana	Ankana: King of Dewadaha and father of Maia. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 178.]
Anodat	One of the seven great lakes (Anodat, Kannamuntha, Eotaphan, Chatthan, Kunala, Manthakini, and Sihapat) of half-mythical Himaphan - the Buddhist fairyland, supposed by some to be the source of rain and in which grow the red-blue rose and white lotuses. The Himalayan lake Anodat is the source of the five great rivers (Maha nathi), being the Kongkha (Ganges), Yumna, Achirawadi, Saraphum, and Mahi. In these lakes grow the five kinds of nymphcea or lotus (Bencha prathum). The lotus, the emblem of vitality and symbol of Buddha, holds a very foremost position among Buddhist symbols. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - pages 190, 296 and 306.]
Anoma	River; Cunningham identifies this as probably the river Aumi, about forty miles from Kapila. This identification cannot, however, be made to tally with our story; and it is to be remembered that learned archaeologist draws his conclusions mainly from the works of the Chinese pilgrims who visited the Buddhist Holy Land a thousand to twelve hundred years after the date assigned to the commencement of Buddha's teaching. I, regarding the history of Buddha as a fiction, embracing only a few historical truths, and mainly important as showing what is now believed by Buddhists, do not look upon the question of the exact identification of sites as one of much importance in this place. Assuming, however, Cunningham's sites of Kapila, Sravasti, and Vaisali as correct, and that Prince Sidharta passed through these places to some river Anoma lying beyond Vaisali, then we can make up our distance of two hundred miles, or, as I should have translated it, two hundred and ten miles. The literal translation is thirty yot or yojanas. I have taken the yojana at seven miles, on the authority of General Cunningham. A Siamese reading the story would probably believe it to be the same as his own yot, which is nearly ten miles. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - pages 214, 215.]
Anon	Immense fishes under the earth; The pla anon, the huge fish in the waters beneath the earth, whose movements, shaking the world, give rise to earthquakes. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 599.]
Aphinya Yan	Those who have achieved the first four degrees of meditative science (Dhyana), acquire, by virtue of their intellectuality, the five miraculous powers, Aphinya Yan ; in Sanscrit, Abhi-djna, which are: 1. Power over their own bodies, such that they can change their form, fly through the air, become invisible, &c.; 2. Power to see what they desire to see, even though obstacles intervene; 3. Power to hear in a similar manner; 4. Knowledge of the thoughts of others; 5. Remembrance of their previous existences. These five powers are possessed in different degrees, according to the sanctity of the possessor. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 183.]
Arahatta	One of the four highest degrees of saintship (The Four Paths); 4th degree - [Skr] Arhat - "the venerable." This is the perfect saint who will pass to Nirwana without further birth. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - pages 170-171.]
Aram	The word “Aram” means a monastery. Monasteries in Thailand are divided into two groups; royal monasteries and commoners’ monasteries. Royal monasteries are built and up kept by kings. They are in turn, divided into three classes, having the third rank at the lowest order.
Arom	The six senses; the Arom are - appearance, sound, scent, flavour, feeling, and nature known by reason. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 236.]
Asongkhai	A vast number; almost an infinite period of years. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 182.]
Asura	Fallen angels; The same word is found in Indian mythology with a similar meaning, the opposite of Sura, "a god." The Siamese, who do not seem to have the word Sura with the meaning of "god or angel," derive Asura from Sura, "spirituous liquor," defining the a-sura as "no-liquor angels", angels who have suffered so much through drunkenness that they have now foresworn liquor. The story is that they were formerly angels residing in the heaven of Indra, from which Indra expelled them in a drunken state, and drove them to a region underneath Meru, from which they make continual sallies, vainly attempting to regain their former abodes. Some of them are very powerful ; as, for instance, the Asura Rahu, the great dragon, whose attempts to swallow the sun and moon are the cause of eclipses. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - pages 191, 217.]
Avalokitesvara (Skt.)	The most important Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism, greatly worshipped by the MahAyana adherents. He is considered to be the Savior of the world and known under various names, e.g. Padmapani, Lokanatha, Lokesvara, etc. [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).]