Si Lo Phra Thammachak Inscription

Name other

L.B. 14

Script

Pallava

Date

12th Buddhist century

Language

Pali

Face/Line

2 faces ; each one contains 2 lines of writing

Material

stone

Form

cog of Dharmacakra

Size

17 cm. length

Found at

Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, Tha Hin Locality, Mueang District, Lop Buri Province

Exhibited

Somdet Phra Narai National Museum, Tha Hin Locality, Mueang District, Lop Buri Province

Description

On one side of this inscription is inscribed ‘saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso’. Judging from the pattern of the inscription, the writing appears to be Pali language. The inscription is the same as that which appears in the Lord Buddha’s discourse on ‘Paṭ iccasamuppāda’ (Cycle of Dependent Origination) or generally called ‘paccyākāra’, of which the first sentence begins ‘avijjā paccyā saṅkhārā’. As for the inscription that says ‘vedanānirodhā taṇhānirodho’, when considering the pattern of the inscription, the writing appears to be in Pali language which also appears on the same discourse. Both Gathas are included in the Khandhaka category of the Tripitaka’s Vinaya.

Reference

Edited by : The Inscriptions in Thailand Database Project Staffs (2552 B.E.), SAC, from :
1) Thoem Mitem and Prasan Bunprakhong, “ <style type="text/css"><!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> </style> Si Lo Phra Thammachak Inscription,” in The early ancient inscription found at Lop Buri Province and the vicinity (Bangkok : The Fine Arts Department, FAD, 2524), 5-6 (in Thai).
2) Thoem Mitem, “ <style type="text/css"><!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> </style> Si Lo Phra Thammachak Inscription,” in The Inscriptions in Thailand volume 1 : Pallava and Post-Pallava Script, 12th-14th Buddhist century (Bangkok : The National Library of Thailand, NLT, 2529), 123-125 (in Thai).
3) Suchip Punyanuphap, Tripitaka for public, 16th edition (Bangkok : Mahamakut Buddhist University, MBU, 2529), 213 (in Thai).
4) Cha-em Kaeokhlai, “Appendix : The Dharmacakra and Octagon Pillar Inscription,” in Archaeology of Mueang U Taphao (Bangkok : Archaeological site exploration, The Technical Side, Archaeology Division, The Fine Arts Department, FAD, 2534), 178-181 (in Thai).
5) Mahamakut Buddhist University, MBU, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta,” in Vinaya Piṭaka volume 4, Mahāvagga Part 1, and Atthakathā, 3rd edition (Bangkok : Mahamakut Buddhist University, MBU, 2536), 46-47 (in Thai).

Illustrations

Photograph from : The early ancient inscription found at Lop Buri Province and the vicinity (Bangkok : The National Library of Thailand, NLT, 2524)