Ladies and gentlemen. We are now at Wat Muang, the temple houses the largest seated Buddha image in Thailand. My name is…, but you may call me...
This temple is situated in Angthong province. Angthong means a Golden Bowl. Angthong is one of a lovely central provinces, which only 1 and half hour by car from Bangkok. The province is just further north of Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya province.
As I said Wat Muang temple houses a gigantic Buddha which sets in the middle of the temple and was surrounded by greenery rice field. It has tectonic mirage of charm, unsurpassed beauty of rural settings that captures your eyes attention. This huge Buddha image is called “Phra Buddha Mahanawin” which is claimed to be the largest seated Buddha statue in Thailand. Its measurement is 92 meters high, in the attitude of subduing mara.
The compound comprises of museum where houses the largest silver holy Buddha image, several different decorated important religious figures, and the statues of the renowned dead monk from all over the country. The museum also exhibits the sacred objects outside the compound.
Worshippers and devotees in theravada Buddhism followers, always come to temple to pay respect to the Buddha statue; some of them often visit this temple twice a week. You may notice a number of these worshippers walk round the Buddha statue 3 times, and place lotus flower on its palm. You may see these people walk without slippers and shoes on.
The majority of devotees in this Theravada temple often touch the Shakyamuni Buddha fingers which pointing down to earth. Doing so they believe that the Buddha will hand over them generosity and granting their wishes. They also believe that when the Lord Buddha touch their fingers, he will enlighten them and bring them good luck.
If you notice, the big Buddha statue seated in a single lotus pedestal, which looks like "the earth touching Buddha" in the middle of rice field in captivating the panoramic vistas. It’s like a dot on large greenery lawn. The big trees come only half level of the Buddha statue size. It has the unique features of the landscape, and this scene is so special to see.
There is a theme park within the temple compound, exhibiting sculptures in the scene of Buddhist belief where all the sinners in hell. There is also a various of enactment statues, depicting of demons with sharpen sticks, adulterers are forced to climb up on trees of pain spikes, fighting demons and angels statues. One scene shows the the history of a Thai Burmese battle. In the other side of the park, there are various Chinese goddesses statues.
This is about interesting things at Wat Muang. Do you have any questions?
Thank you. From now, you have 20 minutes to see things and take photos. We will meet on coach again at…….เวลา…………