Description
Sri Chai Rattanakot Ashram (อาศรมศรีชัยรัตนโคตร) is a new Sakon Nakhon temple which stands out two structures: its beautiful white Viharn and a white Pagoda on a small pond whose sole purpose is to house a holy sculpture of Luang Pu Thep Lok Udon (ลวงปู่ใหญ่พระเทพโลกอุดร). Also known as Luang Phor Thep Udorn, he is believed to be over 900 years today and still alive. According to legend, he has been able to reach this incredible age because he achieved phase 7 in meditation, the phase where you can control whether you want to live or die. Phase 8 is where you become the Buddha.
On the grounds outside of Sri Chai Rattanakot Ashram is a lovely sculpture of a woman who appears to have a snake's tail emerging from her head. But that is not a snake's tail. That is the long, slender hair of the Holy Mother Earth Goddess, otherwise knows as Phra Mae Thorani. She protected the Buddha when under the Bodhi tree, wringing from her hair a flood of water which swept away the evil Mara and his soldiers who were trying to prevent the Buddha from achieving enlightenment.
Sri Chai Rattanakot Ashram's main white pavilion houses a collection of gold sculptures behind a bold red backdrop, which is all the more striking because of the white interior. The sculptures include several figures of the Buddha and famous Northeastern monks, as well as a photograph of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Bhumibol the Great) when the monarch was a monk.
If you are looking for other Sakon Nakhon temples in the area, you can visit the charming, little Wat Pa Chareon Tham Sammakki, which is only 4 kilometers away.
