Crocodile pennon (ទង់ក្រពើ) and soul pennon (ទង់ព្រលឹង) are used in every funeral throughout Cambodia, why do we use these pennons? There are many different origins and stories about these pennons, especially the crocodile pennons. We are going to learn about both the crocodile and soul pennons today, so check out the details below.
Soul Pennon
Traditionally, an acha or monks are invited to stay by the side of a person whom the relatives know is not going to make it. It can be a person who is at a very old age or a person with a serious disease. During the moment, the acha and/or monks will begin chanting the prayer to calm the person’s mind. We believe that in the end, only these prayers will be with us.
When the person is close to their last breath, the acha will fold a 2-meter white garment in two, put two bamboo or wooden sticks in a cross and another as the handle before inserting them into the folded cloth. He then ties the garment, leaving the handle outside for holding, and he also ties a new rice pot to the handle.
After that, he writes “ឥមំ ធជ បដាកំ តាវតឹស ភវនេ ចេតិយស្ស ឧយ្យោជេមិ ឥមិនា និស្សន្ទេន” or “អាទាយ វត ឥទំ អយំ តុសិតភវនំ អាគច្ឆន្តិ អសាមិកំ សុញ្ញំ គណ្ហាមិ” on the surface. Then he places that pennon on the bed head of the person who is dying or deceased. As he is doing so, he tells the person “This soul pennon is the ticket to your next path, and hold onto it firmly. You are going to walk this path alone before you make it to the next life.”
The Origins Of Soul Pennon
A long time ago, there was a man who had a son whom he loved so much asked him to study. After he finished his study, he then sought knowledge from other teachers. He met a Buddha whose practices he found very respectful so he asked to be his disciple. The monk allowed him to learn but the man has to become a monk first. After he became a monk, the Buddha taught meditation to him. Then the man also became a Buddha like his master but he passed away at a very young age. The villagers then held a funeral and built a stupa for his ashes at a crossroad there.
Back to the father, he hadn’t heard from his son for too long so he left to find him. When he arrived in that village, he asked the villagers for his son. The villagers told him what happened, and the father cried. Then he poured the water on the sand at the stupa’s base then tied his scarf as a pennon. He placed the pennon in front of the stupa and then left for his home. The villagers saw what he did, and they followed since then.
Since then, during the funeral cortege, acha always carries the soul pennon until he arrives at the crematorium. He then plants the pennon on the northeast as a sign for the deceased to know which direction to go.
Crocodile Pennon
When someone passes away, people always erect a crocodile pennon in front of the person’s house or somewhere visible to everyone. The pennon could be one or two, and Cambodian people practice this all over the country. Regardless of before or now, there are some families who bury their deceased family members for a certain amount of time before cremation. They always place a crocodile pennon by the tomb until it wears out. In some districts in Battambang province, people erect the crocodile pennon for up to 100 days or until it wears out.
The crocodile pennon resembles a skinned crocodile in both shapes of the head, body, and tail. As the art advances, the crocodile pennon sometimes has up to eight legs and two legs. In the funeral of a high-ranking head of a monastery, the crocodile pennon has a striking design of many colors. But usually, a crocodile pennon is 5 meters long at most, and it is made from just a white garment. There are two main crocodile pennons at most but there is no limit for the tiny pennons around the crematorium.
The Origins Of Crocodile Pennon
When it comes to the origin of the crocodile pennons, we have two different stories. The first one is very closely related to the Buddha while the second story is more historical and a folktale. After reading these two stories, you will understand that crocodile pennons are not just for funerals. They are also a part of our religion as these pennons are always near the Buddha statues in the pagoda.
First Story
When the Buddha was still alive, there was a male and female crocodiles who had a pure intention towards Buddhism. They asked to be a part of Buddhism but the Buddha did not allow them because they were animals. So they said, “Though we could not be a part of Buddhism, we really love and respect Buddhism with all of our hearts. We would like to request that when we die, please turn our skin into a pennon for you.” The Buddha kindly accepted the request, and the crocodiles’ skin was used as the pennon when they died. When the Buddha passed away, the crocodile’s skin also deteriorated. The people used white garments or paper to cut into a crocodile shape instead. This is also why you also see crocodile pennons in every Buddha’s shrine.
Second Story
During King Ang Chan II’s reign, he had a very beautiful daughter named Krorpum Chhouk (blossomed lotus). When she was 16 years old, a large crocodile called Ah Thun disguised as a monk swallowed her whole. The king was devastated and he ordered the capture of the crocodile immediately. On the 7th day, the crocodile was captured in Kratie province. The queen missed her daughter so much she ordered the crocodile to be ripped open immediately. Unfortunately, the princess always passed away.
The king ordered a temple to be built at the spot where the crocodile was ripped open. This temple has 100 pillars, and there is a large stupa in front of the temple. He ordered 20 pregnant women to be beheaded and used as the foundation of the stupa and a statue of the princess standing on the stupa was made. The crocodile was skinned near the stupa, and the skin was erected there.
Legend has it that nobody dares to walk past that stupa, and pregnant women who did so mysteriously died immediately. This is why we think it is the origin of the crocodile pennon and why we called it a crocodile pennon.
Related Post: Totemism In Cambodia