Music for the Nang Sida Conquering the Hadsadiling Bird Ritual at Wat Bor Chaneng, Hua Taphan District, Amnat Charoen Province.

Abstract

     The academic article, "The Music Accompanying the Nang Sida Praap Nok Hassadiling Ceremony at Wat Bor Chaneng, Hua Taphan District, Amnat Charoen Province," investigates the history, origins, and role of music in this crucial pre-cremation ritual. The ceremony was dedicated to the late venerable monk, Phra Ratchapreechayanmunee (Lhom Mahaviriyo), former abbot of Wat Bor Chaneng, and is rooted in the belief that the mythical Nok Hassadiling carries the deceased's soul to heaven. The ritual features a "Nang Thiam Chao Nang Sida" (spirit medium) leading a performance to subdue the bird, thereby clearing the path for cremation. The music is structurally divided into three segments: invoking Nang Sida, the procession, and the fight to subdue the bird. Utilizing the Structural Functionalism framework, this study argues that the ceremony is more than a cultural show; it actively reinforces Buddhist faith, promotes gratitude toward the late elder, links beliefs about the afterlife with local customs, and strengthens unity within the Isan community. Thus, understanding the music reveals its crucial symbolic, social, and spiritual roles in maintaining the cultural stability and way of life of the local population.