An Analysis of Phaya Than Based on the Concept of Deva in Theravada Buddhist Philosophy

Abstract

This article aims to study Phaya Thaen according to the concept of deities in the Buddhist philosophy. The results of the study showed that Phaya Tan is a belief in ancestral spirits that create culture, traditions, wisdom, and beliefs that are important to the way of life of Thai people. Phaya Tan is divided into two types according to their roles: 1) Than Luang is the supreme deity. is the creator of the world, human beings, and everything. In Theravada Buddhist philosophy, there are 3 types of deities: 1) assumption deities, fictitious deities, 2) upapattitheps, natural deities, and 3) Visuddhitheps, pure deities. Devi in this research refers to Upapattithep. In this study, deity refers to the one who was born in the realm of the gods, which included the six levels of the Kamavajorn realm's celestial realm and the 20 realms of the realm of existence, as well as the four realms of the realm of the devas. There are precepts and access to meditation. According to the concept of deity in Theravada Buddhist philosophy, it can be concluded that Than Luang or Phaya Tan means Indra in the Tavatimsa Heaven and his followers mean the four Chatu Lokban Thao in the Chatumaharachika Heaven. Paranimmitavasavati, the ruler of Paranimmita heaven, is comparable to the elves who can bring you and harm you in both good and bad ways.