Vassa candle
A vassa candle is a giant beeswax candle which burns for the whole duration of the Theravada Buddhist festival of Vassa used especially in Cambodia and Thailand. It has been compared to the paschal candle of Christians, which burns during the whole season of Paschaltide.[1]
History
Angkorian origin: the deflowering of girls
An ancient Angkorian rite was associated with the presence of a large candle sometimes compared to the Vassa candle.[2] According to the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan who visited Angkor in the 12th century, the rite the tchen-t'an was a rite of deflowering of the girls. Girls between seven and nine years were submitted to that rite.[3]
A Buddhist rite since the 19th century
The first archeological reference to a Vassa candle holder is found in the early 19th century in Siem Reap. The oldest Buddhist Vassa candle dates back to 1807-1857. The second oldest reference to Vassa candle is based on the Cambodian Royal Chronicles composed during the reign of King Ang Duong. The genealogy mentions that no Vassa candle had been found beforehand. Vassa candle tradition therefore emerged as one of the "candle-lit ceremonies" led by Buddhist monks. [4]
Wax Candle Festivals in the 21st century
In the pre-electricity era, one of the offerings people would make was candles which monks could use to help light the temple during the darker days of the rainy season. Candle-giving has morphed into one of Thailand's more colourful festivals.[5] This carving has become so intricate that some observers even consider it to be "extravagant".[6] In various localities of Thailand, this has evolved into Wax Candle Festivals with teams coming "from all over the world to compete and the detail on the wax artworks is staggering, with some being colossal in scale."[7]
Rituality
Moulding
In Cambodian, an annual ceremony known as sett tean Vassa is hold at the royal palace for the Vassa candle moulding.[8] The Khmer monarch, sitting on a throne, pours the melted wax, into moulds held by the purohit baku attached to the religious service of the palace.
Offering
Offering a Vassa candle is a particular honor sought after by government officials and benefactors of Buddhists pagodas in Cambodia.[9]
The Vassa candle is usually carried by men[10] and brought to the pagoda in an elaborate procession.[11]
Lighting
While the monks have usually been the ones lighting the Vassa candle,[12] laypeople have also more recently been granted that privilege.
Formerly the candle could be lit only with the fire coming from a stone beaten by a lighter or by the fire which one obtained by the friction of two bamboos. Today, a simple match is enough.[1]
Once lit, the candle has to burn for the full length of the Vassa festival.
Fabrication
A Vassa candle is traditionally prepared by the achar from twelve kilograms of natural beeswax. It measures 93 centimeters and is seated on a pedestal or throne called balan, about 29 centimeters high.
Today, beeswax is usually recycled by melting old candles stumps, collected from within the temple, or donated by the surrounding villagers. Hairdryers to make the wax soft again, allowing them to mould and create the shapes. Sculptors create the more intricate carvings and details of the exterior.[13]
On top of the large candle is placed an actual candle to be lit. The wax candle is carved with intricate design of lotus flowers. It is often be crowned with a small recipient filled with coconut oil which burns instead of the wax.[1]
Symbolism
Tean Vassa is considered as the light for life, in which the dark part of life would be lightened, guiding a way out toward nirvana.[14]
References
- ^ a b c Leclère, Adhémard (1916). "Le Cierge du Vossa" [The Candle of Vossa]. Cambodge: fêtes civiles et religieuses (in French). Imprimerie nationale. pp. 175–179.
- ^ Pym, Christopher (1968). The Ancient Civilization of Angkor. New American Library. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-451-60858-1.
- ^ Kersalé, Patrick. "Documentary sources on the music of Angkor Wat". Sounds of Angkor (in French). Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ កេស, រណ្ណីយ្យា (2014-10-01). "ទំនៀមបូជាទៀនវស្សា" [The Tradition of the Vossa candle]. Radio Free Asia (in Khmer). Retrieved 2022-07-05.
{{cite web}}: zero width space character in|title=at position 6 (help) - ^ "Vassavasa – Thailand's Annual 'Rains Retreat' and Candle Festivals". xyzAsia. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ Fenton, Stéphanie (2012-08-02). "Buddhist: Light a candle for the three months of Vassa". Religious Holidays. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ "Khao Phansa festivals across Thailand". The Nation - Thailand. 2018-06-29. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ "His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni - News". Official website of His Majesty King Sihamouni. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ "Lok Chumteav Khieu Tep Rainsy Kanharith Offers Vossa Candles and Foodstuffs to Buddhist Monks in Koh Sotin District". Royal Ministry of Information of the Kingdom of Cambodia. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ Schrock, Joann L. (1966). Minority Groups in the Republic of Vietnam. Headquarters, Department of the Army. p. 1094.
- ^ Leroi-Gourhan, André; Poirier, Jean (1962). Ethnology of Indochina. U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Technical Services, Joint Publications Research Service. p. 93.
- ^ Ebihara, May Mayko (2018-02-15). Svay: A Khmer Village in Cambodia. Cornell University Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-5017-1480-1.
- ^ Wilson, Allan (2019-04-02). "Buddhist Lent Day: The Candle Festival on Wan Khao Phansa". Live Less Ordinary: Bangkok Based Bloggers Travelling in Asia & Beyond. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
- ^ ""Chol Vossa" festival to be celebrated from tomorrow". Khmer Times. 2021-07-24. Retrieved 2022-07-05.