Wat Pamok Worawihan is located in the municipal area of Pa Mok on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, 18 kilometers from Muang district on Highway No. 309 (Ang Thong - Ayutthaya), This temple noted for housing one of the most beautiful reclining Buddha images in Thailand. The image is 22.58 meters from the topknot to the feet, made of brick and mortar and covered with gold. It is assumed to have been constructed in the Sukhothai period. The miracle story of the image is told that at the site of Wat Pamok, formerly there were two temples located next to each other: Wat Talat and Wat Chipakhao. This large reclining Buddha image floated along the river and sank in front of these two temples. People worshipped and pulled the image up and left it on the river bank. In the Royal Chronicle, it is mentioned that King Naresuan the Great before leading his army to attack Phra Maha Upparacha of Burma stopped at this temple gathering his troops and paid homage to the image. In 1728 in the reign of King Thaisa, the King came to control the removing of the image from the river bank which was destroyed by the river current to be enshrined in a new wihan at Wat Talat, 168 meters from the bank. King Thaisa then had these two temples fused into one and named it Wat Pamok according to Mok trees which were abundant in that area. Attractions at this temple are various e.g., Wihankhian, the mondop enshrining the four Buddha footprints etc.
|
