Wat Sawang Arom (วัดสว่างอารมณ์)

Thai. ‘Bright Mood Temple’. Name of a Buddhist temple in Nakhon Chum (นครชุม), a district of Kamphaeng Phet, which has been built upon the leftovers of a previously abandoned temple that was originally named Wat Song Phi Nong (วัดสองพี่น้อง). When the local village temple Wat Ta Man (วัดท่าหมัน) became old and in disrepair, the villagers in 1997 moved the sala, the only structure still in good condition, to the location of the neglected temple and demolished the rest. They then started construction of a new village temple on the grounds of the deserted temple, which was still used as a cremation site in the reign of King Rama V. During renovation with the help of mahouts from nearby Ban Hang (บ้านห้าง), the local villagers stumbled upon an ancient Buddha image that was buried under the soil, presumably hidden there to prevent it from being stolen or damaged when the Burmese invaded the area. When they dug it out, it seemed as if it had been placed in a tunnel-like cavity, so they named the Buddha image Luang Pho Umong (หลวงพ่ออุโมงค์), which translates ‘Revered Father Tunnel’. Almost 3 meters tall, 2.87 meters wide, and seated in the lotus position and with a maravijaya mudra, the statue is made in Chiang Saen-style. As for the new name of the temple, its origin is a matter of debate. Some say they saw a bright light over the wihaan in which the Luang Pho Umong Buddha image is enshrined, others claim that when someone from Yangon carrying a chat, i.e. a royal multi-tiered umbrella, visited the temple, it suddenly lit up. Other important Buddha images kept at the temple (fig.) are the reclining Buddha Luang Pho Phutta Kohdom (หลวงพ่อพุทธโคดม), and Luang Pho Maha Mongkon (หลวงพ่อมหามงคล), which is seated in the bhumisparsa pose. In the back of the temple is a small but lush garden with a walking Buddha, known as Luang Pho Pratahn Phon (หลวงพ่อประทานพร), which stands in front of a tall wooden drum tower (fig.). Interestingly, the garden also features a few oddities, such as the African Baobab, a species of baobab tree with the botanical name Adansonia digitata, that have spectacular drooping flowers with long green stalks and huge white flowers with a large ball of stamens (fig.). Pronunciation Wat Sawahng Ahrom. See also TRAVEL PICTURE (1), (2) and (3), and MAP. 回