Dhamma Path Blog: Visited To Wat Nong Waeng Royal Monastery (Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon) ~ Khon Kaen

Monday, June 23, 2025

Visited To Wat Nong Waeng Royal Monastery (Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon) ~ Khon Kaen - Thailand.

The Wat Nong Waeng was founded in year BE2332, the same year the city was settled in Khon Kaen province. It became a royal temple in year BE2527. The iconic Chedi Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon was built and established to celebrate the Golden Jubilee celebrations of His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne and to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Khon Kaen province's establishment. This Chedi is 50m long on the side and 80m tall and has 9 floors because to followed figure represented His Majesty King Rama 9. Construction was started in BE2533 and it was inaugurated in BE2539. The idea for the Chedi Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon came from the highly respected LP Khun Khantigo, the former abbot of Wat Nong Waeng. The stunning nine-story Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon, a Chedi unlike any other in Thailand.

Photo taken is spectacular Chedi Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon.

The Chedi Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon ground floor is center of activity and has venerated a Buddha's Relic inside a chamber with a nine-spired at top roof. Next to it is a life-like resin statue of LP Khun Khantigo, the former abbot.

Photo taken with the sacred Buddha's Relic inside a chamber with a nine-spired at top roof.

The northern side with a table with 108 alms bowls (for donating 108 coins) and another table full of daily Phra Buddha statues. The number 108 was important in ancient India and so it is found in many Buddhist stories, most importantly the 108 signs of perfection to show that he was the Buddha – this is also why there are often 108 symbols on the soles of many large Buddha footprints. The carved wooden doors and window shutters tell the Four Jampa Trees folktale.

Wat Nong Waeng amulets counter.

The picture of the Grand Consecration Ceremony for the First Edition batch of Phra Phuttha MahaNakhon BE2515.

Queue in line for seek blessings.

The picture biography of LP Khun Khantigo, former abbot of Wat Nong Waeng Phra Aram Luang, Khon Kaen province, who built Chedi Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon. LP Khun Khantigo also built a Health Center for poor people, support three schools for poor students. The High School, Elementary School and high school for novices where they study Pali and dhamma.

Received blessing by senior monk of Wat Nong Waeng.

The local artisan painting of Chedi Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon.

The body of the late LP Khun Khantigo (Phra Dhammawisutthachan) kept for disciples and devotees to pay final respect before Royal Cremation Ceremony. LP Khun Khantigo was passed away on February 20, BE2563.

Above photos for different floors of Chedi Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon.

1st floor, main altar with Phra Cinnaraj and Emerald statues. In center is the Chamber to enshrines Buddha's Relic. Besides there are place for seek blessing from monks and amulets counter.

2nd floor, Isan Cultural Museum display the collection of the ancient appliances which rarely seen in nowadays including basketry, Ban Chiang-style pottery, palm-leaf manuscripts, animal traps, and musical instruments. The murals within feature the 35 prohibited rules of Isan people daily life and the painted doors and window shutters show the Sin Sai folktale.

3rd floor, displays some decorative items like nielloware bowls, shells, and tea cups, plus a whole lot of monk fans and magical Leklai. The wall murals are a unique rendering of the Vessantara Jataka set in Isan and the painted doors and window shutters tell the Nang Pom Hom (“Lady with Fragrant Hair”) story.

4th floor, displays a collection of Buddhist sculpture and collection of Buddha images in many different styles. Featured with wall murals are a biography of the former abbot, LP Khun Kantigo, have scenes of him going to school, working his family farm, visiting Germany, and building Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon stupa.

5th floor, a museum hall of the belongings (like dishes and books) of Luang Pu Phraku Palad Budsaba (Bong Sumano), Wat Nong Wang’s fifth abbot. (His picture is on the bed with the typewriters). The wall murals show Isan proverbs and the carved wooden doors and window shutters depict stories from the latter half of the Buddha’s life, including Angulimala and Devadatta trying to kill him.

6th floor, a preceptor hall with its doors and windows are carved and featured the stories from the first half of the Buddha’s life, including his birth, Great Renunciation (the beginning of his quest to find the way to end suffering), and enlightenment. Featured with Golden statues of monks who were some of LP Khun Kantigo’s teachers.

7th floor, venerated a small Laughing Buddha shrine and a bronze bell Rakhang. The carved wooden doors and window shutters tell the Mahanipata Jataka tales, the last ten lives of the Bodhisatta (the Buddha-to-be) before he was born as Prince Siddhattha and was able to reach enlightenment.

8th floor, with 2 cabinets holding Tripitaka of Buddhist Scriptures. Doors and windows are carved and feature the 16 classes of visible deities in the Brahma's world and Buddhist rites.

9th floor, a small Chedi houses relics of the Buddha. Walk around the walkway can enjoy panoramic view of the town especially Bueng Kaen Nakhon Lake. The carved wooden doors & windows depict the four “formless heavens” where dwellers exist only as consciousness in pure bliss.

One of the stairway led to the top floor of Chedi Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon.

The sacred Buddha's Relic inside a chamber with a nine-spired roof. It’s in a small copy of the nine-spired chamber on the first floor.

The beautiful carved wooden window in 9th floor walkway to depict the four “formless heavens”.

Stunning view of 360-degree view of Khon Kaen city and Bueng Kaen Nakhon lake. The bottom temple building is the Health Center, the High School, Elementary School, high school for novices and the Kuti monk quarters building.

The walkway around the Chedi has mosaic with pattern of animals, zodiac signs and dinosaur playing the kaen (musical instrument made of bamboo). There are also similar mosaics on the walkways around the 2nd and 3rd floors.