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Published on January 12, 2008

Thais have been praying for HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana to make the final journey in the afterlife to Heaven (Sawankhalai).

So where is Heaven? The Thais have taken the concept of Heaven from Brahmin beliefs. Heaven, or Mount Meru, which lies somewhere in the Himalayan Range, stands atop the range as the ultimate symbol of the home of the gods and goddesses.

To assist Princess Galyani in this final journey, the Royal Thai Government is building a pavilion, which is modelled after Mount Meru. The pavilion will be meticulously designed with a castle-like top. It will be an exquisite, gold-shining structure that will look as surreal and as beautiful as any building imaginable.

There lies the masterpiece of Thai arts. "We will strictly follow the ancient royal tradition of building the pavilion that looks like a castle at Mount Meru, where the gods and goddesses reside. The top of the structure will consist of five layers, with lotus-like shapes and the seven-tiered umbrella," said Squadron-Leader Arvuth Ngernchooklin, a former director-general of the Department of Fine Arts.

Arvuth has been studying the Mount Meru pavilion structure designed by Prince Naris, a son of King Mongkut, and also the blueprint of the Mount Meru pavilion built for Queen Sukhummarasri, a wife of King Chulalongkorn.

He said the pavilion built for Princess Galyani would be unique, with four banners pointing in all four directions. Each banner will be attached with the regalia of the princess.

"In the design of the pavilion, we'll take into account the Thai architecture in the ancient tradition. We want the pavilion to look as beautiful as Heaven and suitable to the Princess's highest status," Arvuth said.

In the ancient Thai tradition, artisans would do sculptures of mythical animals, which would then be placed in the pavilion that serves as Mount Meru. The mythical animals belonged to the artisans' imagination.

There could be several characteristics of other animals in one particular mythical animal. Sometimes, a lion and a man would share the same body. Giants, dragons, monkeys, garudas, elephants, and kinaree (half bird half woman) are also characters

of Mount Meru. During the reign of King Nangkhlao, or Rama III, artisans also created mythical-like animal sculptures.

There will be three stairs for the Mount Meru pavilion for Princess Galyani, each of which will be decorated with the mythical animal sculptures.

Two vehicles will be used in the grandiose ceremony to carry her body. The Mahapichai Royal Vehicle remains in fairly good condition but may need repair work done of its wheels, while artisans from the Fine Arts Department will be responsible for refurbishing the decorations of the Mahapichai Vehicle.

There are three remaining Small Royal Vehicles that are now kept in the National Museum in Bangkok. They have been built, seven in total, since the reign of King Yodfa, who was the founder of Bangkok. Now only three have survived the test of time. Of these three, two have been repaired.

In the cremation ceremony, only the Phra Mahapichai Royal Vehicle and two Small Royal Vehicles will be used to carry the body of Princess Galyani.

Chularat Saengpassa

 The Nation