ABSTRACT
The Court Brahmans speak only Siamese, and do not understand Sanskrit, but they have corrupt Sanskrit texts usually written in an Indian character, which some of them are able to read. The texts which the Siamese Brahmans now possess are the Sanskrit and Tamil mantras with instructions in Siamese for the preliminary rites intended to be used in daily worship, and as an introduction to the more important ceremonies. The ceremony of initiation to the Brahman priesthood is still performed, being known as Pvaj Brat. A king shall offer various sacrifices at which liberal fees, and in order to acquire merit he shall give to Brahma?as enjoyment and wealth.” The Brahman and the King are both offshoots of the same primitive idea, the divinity of the chief. The ascendant position attained by the Brahmans in India was for some time maintained by those who ventured overseas and settled in the States colonized by Indians in Indo-China.
