Wat Sothon: Where a ‘Venerable Father’ Reached Dry Land
Nida Tunsuttiwong
The temple of Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan (also known as ‘Wat Sothon’) in Chachoengsao province attracts hordes of lay people on a daily basis, who visit to pay homage to a statue of Luang Por Sothon (the ‘venerable father’ of Wat Sothon), while admiring its impressive new ordination hall.
Located about 80 kilometers east of Bangkok, along the west bank of the Bang Pakong River, the temple is best known for its principal Buddha statue, known as Phra Phutthasothon (or Luang Por Sothon).
The image, in the form of a meditation posture, measures 1.62-meters wide at the lap level and stands 1.98-m tall. As well as possessing an inspiring facial expression, there is also a fascinating story attached to the statue.
Waterborne trinity
Legend has it that three Buddha images were discovered floating along the Chao Phraya River towards the Bang Pakong River. Locals attempted to tie the three images together in a bid to pull them ashore, according to legend, but they constantly failed in their efforts.
Villagers at Ban Leam in Samut Songkhram province successfully managed to pull one of the images to safety, while the second one ended up in a temple in Bang Phlee, a district of Samut Prakarn province. The third statue – of Luang Por Sothon – ended its journey in Chachoengsao, explaining its current residence at the temple.
The statue, which was crafted from gold and other precious metals, once appeared much smaller than its current size. Fearful that the statue might become the target of thieves, it was decided to cover it with a thick layer of plaster.
An impressive residence
Luang Por Sothon is now enshrined upon a large lotus base in the temple’s new ordination hall, which took over 15 years to complete. Construction began in 1988, when His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Princess Sirindhorn presided over the pillar-laying ceremony. Finally, in 2004, the ordination hall was officially opened to the public.
The huge hall, reaching a height of 84 m, features a five-tier golden umbrella, weighing in at exactly 77 kilograms.
The decorative style of Wat Sothon’s new ordination hall – using a combination of pale gray and white - contrasts sharply with most other temples in the kingdom. You’ll also find a blend of contemporary and traditional styling features, along with some Western influences, including marble from Carrara in Italy.
The ceiling features a huge area painted to represent a deep blue night sky, along with countless stars, while the floor is adorned with mystical creatures from the deep, including a tiger with the body of a fish. Each carries a lotus in its mouth as though they represent an offering to Luang Por Sothon.
Nearby is a two story, Chinese-style shrine that also serves as a rong j (a kind of restaurant where free vegetarian food is served) and as a booth, which sells tickets at 100 baht (about US$3) for a two hour cruise. The cruise explores several destinations, including temples and markets located alongside the Bang Pakong River.
The temple opens from 7 am until 4.30 pm on weekdays and 7 am to 5 pm on weekends. For further information, call Tel: +66 (0)38 515 186.
Transport connections:
Minibus: You can take a minibus from next to Century Movie Plaza, close to the BTS skytrain station at Victory Monument. Inform the driver that you are going to Wat Sothon, and you will be able to disembark right outside the temple. The journey takes about one hour and the fare is 100 baht.
Car/Taxi: From Bangkok's Min Buri area, take Highway 304 to Chachoengsao province. Turn left at the end of this road (near the Sotharavej Hospital) for Chakkraphat Road. Turn right at the first T-junction for the new Sri Sothorn Road. The temple is located at the end of this road on your right.
Credit: TAN Network (www.tannetwork.tv)
No comments:
Post a Comment