Friday, August 14, 2009

Wat Intharawihan In Bangkok Thailand.

Popularly known as Wat In and most famously amulet - Somdej Bang KhunPhrom.
Wat Intharawihan is located at Bang KhunPhrom sub-district, Nakhon District of Bangkok, Thailand. This civil temple was built prior to Rattanakosin Period, called Wat Bang KhunPhrom Nok after its located sub-district. Later on, its name was changed to Wat Intharam to honour Chao In, who had renovated the temple and invited a monk from Vientiane of Laos to be the temple's abbot.
Somdet Phra Putthachan (Toh Phrom Rangsi), a very revered monk by Thai people from Wat Rakhang, started to build a high Buddha image in standing posture and holding an alms bowl (which was later called Luang Phor Toh), was completed in a later period of time and the temple held a 3- days celebration for the completion during March 4th-6th, 1928. Since then, the Temple Fair has been continuously organized in March for the people to pay Homage to Luang Phor Toh every year.
The huge Buddha holding an alms bowl statue (which named Luang Phor Toh) in Wat Intharawihan. It measures 32 metres height and 10 metres wide. The 24k gold mosaic outfit was added after the Buddha relic from Ceylon - Sri Lanka, laid inside the statue. It took over 60 years to complete.
The temple entrance of Wat Intharawihan.
The close-up view of Standing Buddha (Luang Phor Toh) image. During BE 2415 in the Buddhist calendar, when Arjhan Toh was personally inspecting the construction of the image the Buddha holding an alms bowl in Wat Intharawihan, he slept in a tent at the foot of the statue. On the night of the 22nd day of June in BE 2415, when the statue was half completed, Arjhan Toh passed away at the foot of the Buddha statue.
The construction of the new Sala Hall and Vihara Hall is just in front of the Standing Buddha (Luang Phor Toh).
The temple Vihara of Arjhan Toh, a scale model of new Vihara, Arjhan Toh's relic and a bowl, and venerations of the Phra Buddha, Arjhan Toh, statues and previous famous monk who had served as Chief Abbot in Wat In.The Ubosot of Wat Intharawihan's main hall, which locates at the center stage of the temple compound has three Phra Buddha images stepping one of another and flank by two rolls of Buddha images at smaller scales in line with the center three larger Buddha images.
The outlook of the shrine of the scripture pool in Wat Intharawihan. This is the water pool where Arjhan Toh chanted his prayers. Many devotees from all walks of life arrived here for meditation and thereafter each of them will carrying a bag of holy water for consumption to eliminate bad fortune and usher bliss at home.
Arjhan Toh's gold foiled statue and another unverified images were placed at the entrance for visitors to worship and saw the devotees offering the Sangkatarn to the monk at the same time.
The compound view of Wat Intharawihan and many other statues for worship.
Wat Intharawihan has an amulet counter (unlike many other temples), the sale is handled by the temple monks.
A bunting for the Special Edition of a new series of Arjhan Toh images amulet. These amulets, I obtain from the temple, see below:

A produce of Wat Intharawihan, Somdej Bang KhunPhrom in year 2006, is a project to raise fund for some public welfare, include a Buddhist library for Wat Sangkhararam in Sukhothai province. This series of amulets were being produced for such good deeds.

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See more information of this Somdej BKP at:

http://www.thaiamulets-dhammapath.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html .

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See more information of other amulets at:

http://www.thaiamulets-dhammapath.blogspot.com/

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Wat Chaiyo (Ketchaiyo) Woravihan In Angthong.

Wat Ketchaiyo in Ang Thong is one of the 3 old temples built by Somdej Phra Buddhachan Toh (To Phrom Rangsi) of Wat Rakhang, and it is famous for its 7 layered Somdej amulets. Somdej Ketchaiyo images present quite a unique form in its shapes and appearances from any typical classic design of Somdej Wat Rakhang image. A recent trip to Thailand (2009) has prompted me to take a visit to this Thai temple which locates just 120km north of Bangkok.
Inside the huge Vihara, we are greeted by the peaceful looking of Phra Maha Buddha Phim golden statue, which is in the Samadhi (meditation) posture.
Behind the Vihara, is a structure of smaller scale as compared to the other temple of new Ubosot, the old-style Ubosot which was very well preserved in its original historical form. The beautiful mural wall paintings and other settings possibly went through some stages of upgrade but the arrangement resembles closely with current Wat Rakhang arrangement.
Around the Wat Ketchaiyo compound, seen this famous old Thai temple changed in its overall look to a newer structure of modern temple.
A part of Chao Phaya river is just beside the temple and the aquatic animals which you can release for making merits by granting an animal its freedom.
Inside of the Somdej Toh Vihara, the large gold plated statue of Somdej Toh in the meditation posture of veneration.
Donation for expansion of Wat Ketchaiyo.
I obtained these amulets from the amulets counter of Wat Ketchaiyo, a set of Somdej Ketchaiyo 7-layered cast, Somdej Ketchaiyo (metal) 7-layered cast and Somdej Ketchaiyo 7-layered cast.
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See more information of Somdej Ketchaiyo at:
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Or other amulets at: