Pra Bang Wad Trai Poom

Pra Bang Wad Trai Poom  


Pra Bang Wad Trai Poom (Trai Poom temple's Buddha image in Repelling the Ocean gesture) is located at Taautain district in Nakornpanom province. It is an 80-inches tall Buddha image in standing posture and Repelling the Ocean gesture. Placed on an octagon base that stands15 inches tall and is supported by 8 elephant statues. The Buddha image is molded from various metals such as gold, alloys, silver, platinum, and copper. There are onyx gems periodical embed along the waistband and a 0.5 diameter diamond embed in the navel of the image, but the diamond has been missing up to the present. The image and the base can be disjoined into 5 pieces: the halo, the head, the hands, the torso, and he octagon base. The sides of the base are inscribed in the old Laos language (Tai Noi) which reads "Lord Haema Wanta and Ung Tae Wa Si, male and female follower of Lord Buddha have cooperated to construct this image in the size of a person to be worshipped in the year of 2008 BE, which is the Year of the Monkey, the third month, the 9th waxing moon. Friday..." According to historical record, the Buddha image was transported from Baan Kog temple, Camkehd distric, which is on the other side (Laos) of Khong River. The Bang Trai Poom Buddha image reflects an important tradition which bonds the people living in both rever banks. An example of traditional cooperation is the act of taking turns to transport a Bhuddha image to be placed in the area of the area of the opposite banks. Around 1907, the governor of Hin Poon city, Ca Kerd distict in Laos, respected the monk Hong, who was staying at Pra Thad temple in the area of Utain port. Monk Hong had already been a much respected monk of the people from both banks of Khong River. The governor thus relocated The Pra Bang Buddha image from Baan Kog village in Hin Herb district as a meritorious tribute to monk Hong. The Buddha image was first placed in Tah Utain temple and later transported to Trai Poom temple, where it has remained up to today.