The Kha-Okasa Of Phra-That-Phanom: The Dynamics Identity Of The Buddhist Pagoda Safeguard In The Context Of Lao-Thai History And Politics

Abstract

The purpose of this research article is to study the dynamics of Kha-okasa cultural identity in the context of  Lao-Thai political history. Kha-okasa are those assigned by rulers or kings to safeguard Phra-that-phanom pagodas and Buddhism in the context of Lao-Thai history and politics. they were the lowest-ranking member of the Lao feudal dynasty, dedicated to serving the monarchs' beliefs. When Laos became territory of Siam, the Kha-okasa became a state-controlled Lake-wat, and the Lao lords' authority was centralized in central Siam. Kha-okasa finally ended when King Rama V abolished slavery. However, as time passed, their long association with pagoda endowed them with the consciousness of Kha-okasa. They consequently try to maintain a substantial portion of the significance of Kha-okasa in relation to Phra-that-phanom pagoda, which serves as a holy symbol/center of religion for people on both banks of the Mekong River, as well as to accommodate cultural adaptability in the change. As a result, the Kha-okasa identity is dynamically adaptive to Thai Buddhism's sociohistorical context.