Wat Wang Wiwekaram (วัดวังก์วิเวการาม)

Thai. ‘Wang [Ka] temple of the desolate araam’. Name of a temple situated on a hill side near the banks of the Khao Laem reservoir in Sangkhlaburi, where it was relocated from the local valley when it was submerged to create the lake. Some of the old temple buildings now at the bottom of the reservoir, can still be seen when the water level is low, whereas the ho rakhang, i.e. the belfry, which is topped by several Thai national flags and Thai Buddhist flags (fig.), is exposed permanently due to its taller size. It is rumoured that the monks still row over in a small boat every day (fig.) to ring the still functional bell (fig.). The current hilltop temple complex is built in a mixture of Thai, Burmese and Hindu styles and the monastery's abbot is a highly respected Luang Pho. The temple's viharn is a spacious building (fig.) which houses a Buddha image in the maravijaya position, the most common mudra in Thai Buddhist art. This example is a copy of an image from Chaiya in Srivijaya style (fig.). In the northern area of the main complex is a large wooden hall where phra kruh monks a run a school for local Mon kids (fig.). It has a strange combination, in that the Buddha is sitting on the snake Muchalinda whilst performing this mudra (fig.), and is understood to represent a summary of the entire story of his Enlightenment, since the position of this mudra refers chronologically to a scene just prior to Siddhartha's Enlightenment, whereas the protection by Muchalinda happens much later, after the Buddha's Enlightenment, almost at the end of his life story. The temple's main pagoda is erected in the style of the Maha Bodhi pagoda in Bodhgaya (India) and is one of several such pagodas in Thailand, others include those of Wat Yahn in Chonburi (fig.) and Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkon in Krabi (fig.). The pagoda is located some distance away and downhill from the main complex, on the northwestern bank of the Khao Laem reservoir, and is a local landmark that is noticeable from afar and doubles as a beacon for any boat traveling on the lake (fig.). It is built on a raised platform which can be reached by a spiral staircase. Halfway up this staircase is a large wooden dhammachakka, i.e. the Buddhist ‘Wheel of Law’ (fig.) that symbolizes the ongoing cycle of cause and effect in ones life, with 24 spokes, representing the hours in a day. From the surrounding balcony a closer look at the pagoda reveals its many corners, projections, dents and niches, many of which are adorned with Buddha images in different poses. Visitors come here and try to throw small coins into an elevated niche that holds a white stone Buddha image, an endeavor that is believed to bring the pitcher good luck if successful, and since one attempt might not suffice many are seen scrambling the floor in search for their coin that has bounced back from the wall (fig.). At the base of the pagoda, underneath the platform, there is a large hall (fig.) with around the central support for the pagoda eight cylindrical altars that are set up akin to the Burmese system of an animal-per-day (fig.) which is similar to the Thai sat prajam wan-system (fig.), and each altar is topped with some Buddha images. Locally, the temple is also called Wat Mon. See also POSTAGE STAMP, TRAVEL PICTURES (1) and (2), as well as MAP (1) and MAP (2). 回