Beliefs about Sumeru in Lanna

Abstract

This research aims to 1. study the concept of Sumeru in Buddhism and 2. study the concept of Sumeru in Lanna. This is a qualitative research, a study of documents accompanying in-depth interviews.
The research results found that the concept of Sumeru appears in the Tripitaka and later Buddhist scriptures, namely, the Commentary, Chakravaladipani, and Traibhum Phra Ruang. They directly state that Sumeru is the center of the world or universe, the residence of spirits in various realms and planes of the animal world. It is located above water and supported by three mountains: Trikut (triangle or three peaks). The belief in Sumeru in Lanna is mainly influenced by Buddhism, which has influenced art, paintings, sculptures, and traditions and cultures, such as the con-struction of temples that are linked to the concept of Sumeru, the construction of the Satabhan for worshiping the Triple Gem, and the worship of the guardian deities of Sumeru in the four directions.