Feb 9, 2010

Thailand: Wat Sri Chum, Sukhothai






Buddha can speak? Well, that's what this temple is famous for besides the enormous and impressive Phra Achana Buddha image.

It turns out because of echo in the tunnels, anyone who speaks within the compound will make it seem like Buddha is speaking. It's mentioned in the lineage of King Narasuan the great when before the war, the soldiers will gather in front of the mondop. Thus, it seems like the Buddha is giving the commands rather than the King, hoping to build up the confident and team spirit of the warriors before the fight.

The mondop is 32m long and 15m high, with walls 3m thick. There is a passageway in the left inner wall leading to the top of the Buddha. On the ceiling of the passageway are fifty engraved slate slabs illustrating Jataka scenes. The passageway is now closed as many people had fell of the top a number of times. Perhaps they had violated the rule that a person should never be taller than the head of a Buddha.

It is a good example of Sukhothai sculpture in the bhumisparsa mudra and is built of stucco over brick. It is said to be once gilded all over during the Sukhothai Period.

“ Achana “ name of calmly image of Buddha , means “ fearlessness “
bhumisparsa mudra - earth witness mudra