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It is written in the Vinaya Pitaka that the Baddhasima (the area in which the monks perform the Sanghakamma or Buddhist sacred ceremonies) must be able to accommodate 21 seated monks, with a space the length of a forearm between each monk. The area should also not be larger than three yojana which is about 48 kilometres (30 mi). This is probably meant to mean the maximum circumference. In other words, the Baddhasima should not be too small, nor too big.
It is also written that the Baddhasima can be marked by the following Nimitta (border markers): hills, rock formations, forests, trees, ant hills, streets, rivers and other waters such as the sea or a pond. The type of Nimitta that is mainly used in Thailand is a stone. The oldest stone bai sema in Thailand were found in northeast Thailand (Isan) and are from the Dvaravati period (6th - 9th century CE).
Placing of the bai semaedit
Luk Nimit next to their pits waiting for the burial ceremony.A Luk Nimit in an open, yet uncovered pit.
Before work starts on a new phra ubosot, nine holes are dug: eight at the cardinal points, the ninth beneath where the principal Buddha statue will be placed. Luk nimit (Thai: ลูกนิมิต), round stones the size of a cannonball, are placed in to these holes during a religious ceremony. Eight Sema stones are then placed over those Luk Nimit which are situated at the cardinal points. Double (or even triple) bai sema signify that the phra ubosot has been rebuilt, or consecrated for use by more than one monastic order, or that the temple has a Royal connection (photo 1).
Description of the bai semaedit
The Thai words bai sema mean "Sema leaves" due to the shape of the flat Sema stones being somewhat akin to the shape of the leaves of the Bodhi tree, the tree under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment (photo 1).
Parts of a bai sema are described in Thailand as being body parts: "neck", "shoulders", "chest", "hips" and "stomach". During the Ayutthaya kingdom and the following Rattanakosin era, bai sema would sometimes be decorated with eyes (photo 2) and princely crowns (photo 3). The Thammayut order, which was founded by Prince Mongkut (the later King Rama IV) in 1833, developed a three-dimensional form of bai sema (photo 4).
Galleryedit
Photo 2: Bai Sema with "eyes", Wat Phra Kaeo, Bangkok
No Na Paknam: The Buddhist Boundary Markers of Thailand. Muang Boran Press, Bangkok 1981 (No ISBN, only to be had from used bookstores)
No Na Paknam: Sima Gattha, Samut Khoi Wat Suthat Thepwararam ("Manuscript of Sima of Wat Suthat Dhepvararam"). Muang Boran Press, Bangkok 1997, ISBN974-7367-82-3
External linksedit
Ancient Thai History: Sacred sema stones in Isan
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bai Sema.
January 01, 1970
sema, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, november, 2023, learn, when, remove, t. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Bai sema Thai ibesma pronounced baj seː maː are boundary stones which designate the sacred area for a phra ubosot ordination hall within a Thai Buddhist temple wat otherwise called sema hin esmahin citation needed Photo 1 Bai sema at Wat Mahathat Sukhothai Historical Park Contents 1 History 2 Placing of the bai sema 3 Description of the bai sema 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksHistory editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it November 2013 It is written in the Vinaya Pitaka that the Baddhasima the area in which the monks perform the Sanghakamma or Buddhist sacred ceremonies must be able to accommodate 21 seated monks with a space the length of a forearm between each monk The area should also not be larger than three yojana which is about 48 kilometres 30 mi This is probably meant to mean the maximum circumference In other words the Baddhasima should not be too small nor too big It is also written that the Baddhasima can be marked by the following Nimitta border markers hills rock formations forests trees ant hills streets rivers and other waters such as the sea or a pond The type of Nimitta that is mainly used in Thailand is a stone The oldest stone bai sema in Thailand were found in northeast Thailand Isan and are from the Dvaravati period 6th 9th century CE Placing of the bai sema edit nbsp Luk Nimit next to their pits waiting for the burial ceremony nbsp A Luk Nimit in an open yet uncovered pit Before work starts on a new phra ubosot nine holes are dug eight at the cardinal points the ninth beneath where the principal Buddha statue will be placed Luk nimit Thai luknimit round stones the size of a cannonball are placed in to these holes during a religious ceremony Eight Sema stones are then placed over those Luk Nimit which are situated at the cardinal points Double or even triple bai sema signify that the phra ubosot has been rebuilt or consecrated for use by more than one monastic order or that the temple has a Royal connection photo 1 Description of the bai sema editThe Thai words bai sema mean Sema leaves due to the shape of the flat Sema stones being somewhat akin to the shape of the leaves of the Bodhi tree the tree under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment photo 1 Parts of a bai sema are described in Thailand as being body parts neck shoulders chest hips and stomach During the Ayutthaya kingdom and the following Rattanakosin era bai sema would sometimes be decorated with eyes photo 2 and princely crowns photo 3 The Thammayut order which was founded by Prince Mongkut the later King Rama IV in 1833 developed a three dimensional form of bai sema photo 4 Gallery edit nbsp Photo 2 Bai Sema with eyes Wat Phra Kaeo Bangkok nbsp Photo 3 crowned Bai Sema Wat Ratchanadda Bangkok nbsp Photo 4 four sided Bai Sema Wat Mahanaparam Bangkok nbsp Two sets of Bai Sema surround the ubosot and a chedi at Wat Chet Yot Chiang Mai nbsp Mold for a Bai Sema found at Wat Umong in the Umong subdistrict of Lamphun nbsp A triple Bai Sema in Sukhothai nbsp Gilding Lumbini NepalSee also editCetiya Uposatha Patimokkha Upasampada Ordination hall Vihara Kyaung WatReferences editSources editNo Na Paknam The Buddhist Boundary Markers of Thailand Muang Boran Press Bangkok 1981 No ISBN only to be had from used bookstores No Na Paknam Sima Gattha Samut Khoi Wat Suthat Thepwararam Manuscript of Sima of Wat Suthat Dhepvararam Muang Boran Press Bangkok 1997 ISBN 974 7367 82 3External links editAncient Thai History Sacred sema stones in Isan nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bai Sema Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bai sema amp oldid 1183175652, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
