Keyword : Khrob Kru
Definition and Meaning
Khrob : putting on, covering or in a negative sense means dominating
it also means giving knowledge to
Khru : teacher/ master , the other meaning is heavy
Although Khru is a Thai word, its root comes from Sanskrit , Guru, which is composed of the syllables 'gu' and 'ru', the former signifying 'darkness', and the latter signifying 'the destroyer of that [darkness]', hence a guru is one characterized as someone who dispels spiritual ignorance (darkness), with spiritual illumination (light) -as per Advaya-Tãraka Upanishad (verse 16),
The syllable gu means shadowsThe syllable ru, he who disperses them,Because of the power to disperse darknessthe guru is thus named.
– Advayataraka Upanishad 14—18, verse 5
As a noun the word also means the imparter of knowledge .As an adjective, it means "heavy," or "weighty," in the sense of "heavy with knowledge," "heavy with spiritual wisdom," "heavy with spiritual weight," "heavy with the good qualities of scriptures and realization,"[or "heavy with a wealth of knowledge."
**When combine these 2 words Khrob and Khru together, it creates a new meaning that signifies a special performance enacted by an art teacher / master as an initiation and acceptance to pass on his knowledge to his student / apprentice, by using his hands to cover (khrob) the latter’s crown while giving blessing to the new student. The hand covering is seen as a symbolic protection from all evil spirit.
**Later on, when Indian civilization and Brahmanism were introduced to Thailand, the hand covering the head part would be replaced by the sacred masks of Hindu Gods and deities.
Khrob : putting on, covering or in a negative sense means dominating
it also means giving knowledge to
Khru : teacher/ master , the other meaning is heavy
Although Khru is a Thai word, its root comes from Sanskrit , Guru, which is composed of the syllables 'gu' and 'ru', the former signifying 'darkness', and the latter signifying 'the destroyer of that [darkness]', hence a guru is one characterized as someone who dispels spiritual ignorance (darkness), with spiritual illumination (light) -as per Advaya-Tãraka Upanishad (verse 16),
The syllable gu means shadowsThe syllable ru, he who disperses them,Because of the power to disperse darknessthe guru is thus named.
– Advayataraka Upanishad 14—18, verse 5
As a noun the word also means the imparter of knowledge .As an adjective, it means "heavy," or "weighty," in the sense of "heavy with knowledge," "heavy with spiritual wisdom," "heavy with spiritual weight," "heavy with the good qualities of scriptures and realization,"[or "heavy with a wealth of knowledge."
**When combine these 2 words Khrob and Khru together, it creates a new meaning that signifies a special performance enacted by an art teacher / master as an initiation and acceptance to pass on his knowledge to his student / apprentice, by using his hands to cover (khrob) the latter’s crown while giving blessing to the new student. The hand covering is seen as a symbolic protection from all evil spirit.
**Later on, when Indian civilization and Brahmanism were introduced to Thailand, the hand covering the head part would be replaced by the sacred masks of Hindu Gods and deities.
Khrob Khru as Trans-cultural performance
The Indian civilization started assimilating to South-East Asia through navigation and trade expansion from the sixth century onward. And ethnic tribes in this area, the Mons, the Khmer and the Thai tribes embraced and blended Buddhism and Brahmanism with their own culture and beliefs. There are evidences everywhere, architectures, arts, language, literature, music, dances, rituals and religions.
**The Indian influences have transformed many native rites to more elaborate ceremonies, among them, the Khrob Khru rituals. Instead of simple offerings, which can be performed in everyday life, the Indian influences and Brahmans have enlarged the spiritual act and moved it up to the level of the sacred ceremony. They introduced Hindu Gods and Deities and enhanced the Hinduism belief that these Gods are the supreme artists or the Khru of all Khrus. The Gods are represented with the masks and therefore, instead of just using both hands to cover the heads of students, as a symbolic protection of evil, the sacred masks of Gods and Deities was now used. And as ,according to Hinduism, the monarchs is a direct descendent of Gods, this ritual therefore is strictly limited to them. Only with the royal permission that the ceremony can be performed elsewhere.
The Indian civilization started assimilating to South-East Asia through navigation and trade expansion from the sixth century onward. And ethnic tribes in this area, the Mons, the Khmer and the Thai tribes embraced and blended Buddhism and Brahmanism with their own culture and beliefs. There are evidences everywhere, architectures, arts, language, literature, music, dances, rituals and religions.
**The Indian influences have transformed many native rites to more elaborate ceremonies, among them, the Khrob Khru rituals. Instead of simple offerings, which can be performed in everyday life, the Indian influences and Brahmans have enlarged the spiritual act and moved it up to the level of the sacred ceremony. They introduced Hindu Gods and Deities and enhanced the Hinduism belief that these Gods are the supreme artists or the Khru of all Khrus. The Gods are represented with the masks and therefore, instead of just using both hands to cover the heads of students, as a symbolic protection of evil, the sacred masks of Gods and Deities was now used. And as ,according to Hinduism, the monarchs is a direct descendent of Gods, this ritual therefore is strictly limited to them. Only with the royal permission that the ceremony can be performed elsewhere.
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