History of Ayutthaya - Siampedia

Paam	Ancient name for Pattani.
Pala art	The art of the Pala dynasty, an Indian dynasty of northeastern India (8th - 12th centuries A.D.). Its kings patronized Mahayana Buddhism of which the center was at Nalanda. [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).]
Palelai	Phra Palelai depicts a posture of Buddha in one episode of his life when he sat in the jungle and an elephant offered him a sugar cane while the monkey offered him a honey comb.
Paranimit wasawadi	Heaven in which angels have all they desire, without having to create it by their own will, subsidiary angels gratifying their desires. In this highest of the luxurious sensual heavens, dwells Mara, the angel who takes the place of Satan, the tempter in our legend of Buddha. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 308.]
Pattani	The ancient name for Pattani is Paam.
Pha Kong	Ancient name of Nan. [Ref: A History of Siam - W.A.R. Wood (1924) - page 72.]
Phalahok	(Valahaka), the king of horses. The horse occupies a much more important place among Northern Buddhists tlian it does among those of the South. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 305.]
Phangoa	Phangoa is a corruption of the prefix "Phor" (father) and "Ngoa" (old word for five). It was common in earlier times to call children by numbers, even in noble or royal families. "Ngoa" can be compared with the Latin "Quintus". This system of nomenclature was as follows: 1. Ai; 2. Yi; 3. Saw; 4. Sai; 5. Ngoa; 6. Lok; 7. Chet; 8. Pet; 9. Chew; 10. Chong. These same names are in use among the Shans at the present day, though most of then have fallen into disuse in Thailand. There was a similar system for naming girls. [Ref: A History of Siam - W.A.R. Wood (1924) - page 70.]
Phongsawadan (Th)	Phongsawadan is derived from two Pali words bansa and avatara, meaning history or annals of members of a line, dynasty, or kingdom; it usually refers to dynastic chronicles. It concerns the history of dynasties, which appeared first some time in the seventeenth century. Although in Siam at the present day efforts are being made to break out of the tradition of phongsawadan history, its influence is still very strong and to a great extent still governs the modern writing of Thai history. [Ref: The Rise of Ayudhya - Charnvit Kasetsiri (1976) - page 1,2.]
Phothisat (Th)	(Sanscrit, Bodhisatva); A being who is passing through transmigrations on the way to become a Buddha. At the beginning of the Siamese story of Buddha are mentioned some of these pre-existences of the Phothisat, the term applied to him up to the very time he achieves the Buddhahood. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 163.]
Phothiyan (Th)	A contraction for Somphothiyan (Sanscrit, sam, bodhi, jnana), the omniscience of a Buddha. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 164.]
Phuket	The ancient names for Phuket are Ianarurum and Junkceylon.
Phra (Th)	Siamese word applied to all that is worthy of the highest respect, that is, everything connected with religion and royalty. It may be translated as "holy." The Siamese letters p-h-r commonly represent the Sanscrit v-r. I therefore presume this word to be derived from the Sanscrit "vri - to choose or be chosen," and " vara - better, best, excellent," the root of [...] . I also find a Sanscrit word, varh, or barh, to be pre-eminent. In Burmah the words Para and Bhura are used in a similar way to the Siamese Phra. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 164.]
Phra Khan (Th)	The royal sword. This is one of the five great insignia of kings. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 303.]
Phra Narai (Th.)	See Visnu.
Phra Sing Phra Sihing (Th.)	The Phra Sing or Phra Sihing was cast in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) early in the Christian Era. King Ramkhamheng of Sukhothai sent an envoy to Ceylon to ask for it. It was despatched by sea, shipwrecked, and floated ashore at Nakhon Sri Thammarat. The image was taken to Chainat (Sukhothai Kingdom), where it was removed to Ayutthaya by Boromracha I around 1378. Mae Luang of the House of Sukhothai and the wife of Boromracha I, conveyed it back to her kingdom by a stratagem implicating a son of the Governor of Kamphaengphet. The image remained in Kamphaengphet until 1388. Prince Phrohm took the statue by force to Chiengmai and offered it as an act of reconciliation to the King of Chiangmai. About 1549 the Phra Sing was removed to Luang Prabang, together with the Emerald Buddha and the crystal Buddha of Lamphun, by the Maharaja of Chiengmai, Jai Jettha, who assumed the crown of Luang Prabang and announced to remain there. In 1556 it was sent back to Chiengmai. In 1662 King Narai took it to Ayutthaya. After the capture of Ayutthaya in 1767, Chiengmai troops assisting the Burmese, returned it as part of their booty to Chiengmai. King Rama I (Chakri dynasty) received a submission from Chiangmai in 1795 and ordered the image back to Bangkok. At present the statue is in the National Museum of Bangkok. It is interesting to know that there are at least three images going by the same name; one in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, one in Chiang Mai and one in Bangkok. All three claim to have the original. Conquering troops in former days captured a replica of the image as the original was hidden in case of an attack and a replica set up in place. The Phra Sing now in Chiengmai is generally supposed to be a replica, cast about 1388. Some believe however, that it is the original image, and that the one in Bangkok is the replica. All by all, the original could be well the statue of Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
Phra Torani (Th)	Angel of the earth (in Siamese, Phra Torani, or Nang Pha Sunthari): In the much finer account of the contest between Buddha and the Evil One given in the " Lalita Vistara," the goddess of the earth (Sthavara) appears as Buddha's witness, but the flight of Mara's army is caused by an earthquake. In that account the intervention of the angels of the Bodhi-tree is also very noticeable. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 225.]
Phraya Krut (Th)	The King of the Garudas (Th: Phya khrut). The Garudas or Suparnas figure in Siamese writings mainly as the great enemy of the Nagas. With the Hindus, Garuda is the vehicle or Vahan of Vishnu. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 309.]
Phraya Nak (Th)	A king of Nagas (Th: Phya nak). The Naga of Siamese mythology is a hooded serpent, possessed of various supernatural powers, such as ability to change its form and assume any desired appearance; to dart through the earth, fly through the skies, and indeed to move anywhere instantaneously; also to cause death by a glance or a breath. [Ref: The Wheel of the Law - Alabaster Henry (1871) - Trubner & Co, London - page 300.]
Picul (Eng.)	English word for the traditional Chinese unit of weight called dàn in Mandarin Chinese or tam in Cantonese language. A picul is the equivalent of 60.47 Kg, but was rounded to 60 Kg in siam. The picul was the standard load for a human carrier of burdens. A picul is equal to 100 catties. Also see "Hab".
Plong chanai (Th.)	See Chatravali.
Prajnaparamita (Skt.)	"Perfection of Wisdom", a goddess of wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism, highly venerated by the Mahayanists; sometimes regarded as the (spiritual) Mother of all the Buddhas. [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).]
Prang (Th.)	[Thai pronunciation of pranga (Skt.)]: A kind of stupa corresponding to the prototype popularly executed in Khmer art (Prasat or sanctuary tower). Generally, it has a square platform with a high redented base and a main body (or ruanthat) crowned with a long, large top in the shape of a corn-cob. [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).]
Prasat (Th.)	[Thai pronunciation of Prasada (Skt.)]: A residence of a king or god. This term is generally used in the sense of sanctuary tower (Cambodia). [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).]
Prathaksin (Th.)	[Thai pronunciation of padakkhina (P.); pradaksina (Skt.) Respectful clockwise circumambulation (See also lan prathaksin). [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).]
Prawatsat (Th.)	The Thai word prawatsat, meaning history, is a modern word coined during the reign of King Rama VI (1910-1925). Its invention probably reflects the fact that the concept of Thai history was changing under the influence of internal political developments and, perhaps, Western conceptions of history. In the old days the most frequently used words for history were tamnan, phongsawadan, and chotmaihet (or sometimes kotmaihet). [Ref: The Rise of Ayudhya - Charnvit Kasetsiri (1976) - page 1,2.]