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.