Dhamma Path Blog

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Visited Wat Phanan Choeng ~ The Chinese Temple 善庆俺 (Shan Qing An) - Ayutthaya - Thailand (Part:1/2).

善庆俺 (Shan Qing An) is next to Wat Phanan Choeng and facing Pasak river. This temple enshrined Mae Guan Yim (Bodhisattvas Guan Yin) and Lady Chao Mae Soi Dok Mak (Betel Nut Blossom), a local goddess. This shrine was dedicated for Chinese princess Soi Dok Mak. At some time before the Ayutthaya period, there was a Thai King named Phra Chao Sai Namphung requesting the emperor of China’s daughter to be his wife. She travelled from China to this area by boat. When she arrived, the King was not there to greet her. She was heart-broken. She waited for a long time but the King did not come. Finally, she killed herself by holding her breath. The King was very sad, so he had this temple built at her cremation site in order to gain merit for her soul, and he named the temple “Wat Phanan Choeng".

The statues of Four Heavenly Kings venerated at front side temple. The Four Heavenly Kings are four Buddhist gods, which originates from the Indian version of Lokapalas, each of whom watches over one cardinal direction of the world. In Chinese mythology, they are known collectively as the "Fēng Tiáo Yǔ Shùn" (风调雨顺) or "Sì Dà Tiānwáng" (四大天王). The name of Four Heavenly Kings is 多闻天王-Vaiśravaṇa , 增长天王-Virūḍhaka, 持国天王-Dhṛtarāṣṭra and 广目天王-Virūpākṣa.

The Pillar of 善庆俺 (Shan Qing An) with Dragon at top.

The sacred Budai (布袋) statue, also know as "Laughing Buddha" (笑佛) and many statues of Mercy Bodhisattvas Guan Yin.

The sacred Guan Gong.

The sacred Nezha, SunWuKong and ChaiSen statues.

The front side of 善庆俺 (Shan Qing An).

Antique of ceiling pillar with Dragon decoration.

Veneration of many Chinese deities inside the temple.

The Chao Mae Soi Dok Mak (Betel Nut Blossom), a local goddess. It is a traditional designed Chinese building, with a courtyard in the middle and the outer wall essentially joining the two separate buildings together. The shrine is in the two-storey building in the rear. The lower floor is dedicated to Mae Kuan Yin, the bodhisattva of compassion, while on the upper floor the image of Lady Mother Soi Dok Mak is enshrined. The window shutters and doors are highly decorated with dragons and phoenix birds. The shrine remains very popular with members of the Chinese community to this day.

The antique ceramic painting.

Photo taken with main altar of Mercy Bodhisattvas Guan Yin.

The Thai style of altar with Phra Buddha statues.
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See more amulets of Wat Phanan Choeng at:
https://thaiamulets-dhammapath.blogspot.com/search/label/Wat%20Phanan%20Choeng
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See more other amulets at:
http://www.thaiamulets-dhammapath.blogspot.com/

Friday, August 16, 2019

Revisited In Year BE2562 ~ Wat PhiKulThong - Temple Of LP Pae - Singburi - Thailand (Part: 2/2).

In part 2/2, we came and pay respect to LP Pae in chapel where his body is well kept in the coffin for people coming to pay respect. Here we see more photos od Wat Phikulthong.

LP Pae was born on 1 January BE2448 in Singburi Province. When he was 11 years old, his parents took him to learnt Thai language, Khmer language and Buddhist scriptures from a monk. When he was 14 years old, his parents sent him to Bangkok to LP Som, a Cambodian monk at Wat Chana Songkhram to learnt more and he also became Pali student to learning Buddhism at Wat Mahathat, Bangkok. When he was 16, he came back Singburi and got ordained as a novice on 15 April BE2463 at Wat PiKulThong. After ordination, he came back Wat Mahathat in Bangkok. Until age 21, he got ordained as a monk on 21 April BE2469 at Wat PiKulThong, Singburi. He learnt many things in Buddhism dhamma, meditation, incantations and spells mantra. He learnt more contemplation at Wat Pho, Bangkok. Between B.E. 2471-2472, he was a Pali teacher at Wat Chana SongKhram, Bangkok. Beside built his own temple, he supported social affairs in education and public health for example Singburi Hospital where LP Pae donated some money to build the buildings for patients and medical working. Additionally, LP Pae contributed other temples too. LP Pae passed away on 10 February BE2542. People were so sad. Today, his body is well kept in the coffin for people coming to pay respect.

The banner and board of LP Pae and Wat Phikulthong at entrance of rear side of Wat Phikulthong.

The wiharn, hall and sala building of Wat PhiKulThong.

The main chapel for late LP Pae's body (well kept in the coffin) for people coming to pay respect.

Photos taken in front of LP Pae Wax statue and his body in coffin.

LP Pae portrait and statue.

The Golden LP Pae statue.

The ubosot of Wat Phikulthong.

The Golden Chedi.

Wooden house.

New built chapel.

The cottage.

The statues of Phra Putthacharn Toh, LP Pae, past abbot and LP Pae's master.

The altar for some big statue of Phra Buddha.
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See more info of this LP Pae Somdej amulets at:
http://thaiamulets-dhammapath.blogspot.com/search/label/LP%20Pae
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See more other amulets at:
http://www.thaiamulets-dhammapath.blogspot.com/

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Revisited In Year BE2562 ~ Wat PhiKulThong - Temple Of LP Pae - Singburi - Thailand (Part: 1/2).

In Singburi, one of the most important and popular temple is Wat PhiKulThong - The temple of LP Pae. All devotees in Thailand and oversea eagerly come here to pray and pay respect to late LP Pae. In part 1/2, we see the front area of temple and part 2/2, we see the rear area of temple Wat PhiKulThong.

Luang Phor Pae was born on 1 Jan 1905 (BE 2448). When he was 8 months old, his mum passed away and LP Pae was adopted by his father's younger brother. At age 14, his foster parents sent him with a senior monk at Wat Chana Songkram in Bangkok to studies in Buddhism. In 1927-28, LP Pae became a teacher teaching Pali at Wat Chanasongkram. In 1931 (BE 2474), abbot of Wat PikulThong left his position and wanted LP Pae to take over the position. LP Pae became abbot of Wat PikulThong and he was only 26 years old.

The big statue Phra Sangkachai with flabby tummy image of Wat PhiKulThong.

The front side of the big statue Phra SangKaChai was venerated another Bucha Phra SangKaChai.

The next of the shrine Phra Sangkachai was located the cow statues and cart.

The famous giant Buddha image of Wat Phikulthong - Phra Buddha Suwanmongkon Mahamuni built in year BE2516. The down side of the giant Buddha was inscribed with Yant 'BudhSon' and 2 khom letters Ang and U over the Yant.