Wat Phra Kwang

Terrain

General condition

Wat Phra Kwang is a temple that is still in use today. It is located along the Chumphon River which is a floodplain on the western bank of the Chumphon River. In the old city of Chumphon

Vihara that enshrines Phra Kwang is a transparent pavilion. facing east or go out to Chumphon Canal

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Khlong Chumphon

Geological conditions

Archaeological site deposited from sediments during the Holocene period. (Department of Mineral Resources 2007) by the influence of Khlong Chumphon

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Phra Kwang is under the Maha Nikaya Sangha. According to the history of the temple said that it was built in 1837. It is a temple that has been granted Wisung Kam Sima in 1857 and the last time was on February 10, 2021 (National Office of Buddhism 2522) with Luang Por Kuti He was the first abbot.

Wat Phra Kwang is located on the west bank of the Chumphon Canal. In Old Chumphon or Chumphon in the early days, important archaeological evidence that remains today is "Phra Khwang" (besides Phra Kwang, Some villagers also call it “Pho Pu Wat Phra Kwang” or “Luang Por Wat Khwang”)

According to the legend of Phra Kwang said There was a Buddha image floating along the Chumphon River and stuck in front of the temple, so the villagers used a rope to drag it ashore to be enshrined in the temple, but could not drag it up until the villagers were discouraged later that night. Some villagers dreamed that this Buddha image had told them to build the address first and wrap the 7 strands around the Buddha image and then come up by themselves, so the villagers followed until they were able to bring the Buddha image up and enshrine it. Within the temple successfully and named this Buddha image "Phra Kwang" until the name of Wat Phra Kwang.

There is also a legend that continues When the Buddha image was enshrined inside the temple, a strange incident occurred that greatly surprised the villagers and monks in the temple as the monks and novices in the temple gradually disappeared. One night, the villagers peeked and saw this Buddha image eating children and novices brought the matter to the abbot of the temple. So the abbot used the talisman to cover it and removed the mercury which was contained in the Buddha image since then, no one has ever disappeared.

There is also another legend, which has slightly different details, that two Buddha images floated from Burma at the same time, with one of them floating into the Bang Son canal. Then popped up at Thaphet in the area of ​​Moo 1, Bang Khan Subdistrict, Pathio District, Chumphon Province, currently enshrined at Wat Don Taeng, Village No. 2, Thale Sub Subdistrict, Pathio District, Chumphon Province. The villagers call him "Luang Por Yai" and another Buddha image (Phra Nong) floats into the Chumphon Canal. (Chumphon River) and then pop up at Village No. 6, Khun Krathing Subdistrict, Mueang Chumphon District, in front of Phra Kwang Temple The villagers then brought several elephants to pull the Buddha image up, but until it survived, he couldn't bring it up. So they dispersed to go home that night. This Buddha image had incited the villagers' dreams that they had to help build the address first, then tie the string of the holy thread to the arm's arm and Luang Por would come up by himself. So the villagers helped to follow their dreams and the next morning they saw the Buddha image enshrined in the viharn itself. Therefore, the temple organizes the celebration of Luang Por Phra Kwang until it is a tradition that has been carried on from generation to generation, namely, the Solemnity of Luang Por Phra Kwang on the 14th waxing moon of the 5th lunar month.

Phra Kwang It is a stucco Buddha image in the subduing Mara posture, with a lap width of 59 inches (about 150 centimeters) and a height of 75 inches (about 190 centimeters), with a smooth hairpin. Ketumala's high relief upturn is a pointed cone. Buddha art is a local art in the Ayutthaya period, covered with gold leaf throughout the body. (So ​​the city of Chumphon, located along the Chumphon canal in the vicinity of Wat Pratem and Wat Phra Kwang, probably existed in the Ayutthaya period as well.) (The Fine Arts Department 2022)

At present, Phra Khang is enshrined as the principal Buddha image inside Viharn Phra Kwang, which is a hall hall, made of bricks and mortar, roofed with wavy tiles. Facing Chumphon River or facing northeast, there is a plaque indicating that this viharn was built on October 25, 1975. Viharn Phra Khwang is surrounded by a fence, plaster walls decorated with wrought iron bars.

Phra Khang is enshrined on the Chukchi base (lotus base), facing the same direction as the viharn. is facing the Chumphon River In the northeast, to the left and right of the Phra Kwang enshrines a newly built stucco Buddha image in the attitude of subduing Mara, 1 on each side. In addition, at the far right is a small Buddha image in the attitude of subduing Mara. The 4 Buddha images are enshrined on the same pedestal, about 120 centimeters high. There are 2 stairs going up and down the pedestal in front (northeast side) (left-right) for Buddhists to go up and gilt the Buddha image.

In addition, within the viharn enshrines sculptures of 3 monks, painted in gold and gilded, with a sign indicating that the middle one is a handsome figure of Phra Khru Winaithornkerd Devadhammo (Mong Korakaew).