Description
Wat Ban Non Hom (วัดบ้านโนนหอม) is the primary temple in Non Hom village, which is home to the "Phu Thai" ethic group who emigrated here from the Laos side of the Mekhong river in the mid 1800s. The Phu Thai are noted for their beautiful dress, weaving skills, and dance customs, as well as indigenous dinners called "pa laeng". The village and temple are located off of Highway 223, about 13 km from Sakon Nakhon city, in the direction of Na Kae.
Since Wat Ban Non Hom is a temple of the Phu Thai people, one would expect a few interesting features to be on display, and indeed that is the case. The old Ubosot on the temple grounds features a beautiful mural on one of its outer walls. The mural depicts the scene where Phra Mae Thorani wrings a flood of water from her hair, washing away the warriors of Mara who were trying to prevent him from achieving enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
You will occasional see statues of Phra Mae Thorani at other Sakon Nakhon temples, such as the Sri Chai Rattanakot Ashram, but this is the first instance where we have seen the mythical flood scene depicted. The mural shows Phra Mae Thorani seated below the Buddha, wringing the flood from her hair, washing away a warrior on an elephant, more warriors immersed in the flood waters, and a crocodile which also was there to unseat the Buddha.
Above the mural is set the multi-headed bust of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of the Hindu creator god Brahma, who is viewed as a deity of good fortune and protection. At Sakon Nakhon temples, Phra Phrom usually appears as a bust or small statue, the only full size version we have seen being at Ban Non Sung Priest's Camp Site.
Wat Ban Non Hom also has quite an unusual statue of Mucalinda, the Naga snake that protected protected the Buddha from the storm that occurred after his enlightenment. The shape and structure of the serpent's head is what sets it apart from others that you will see.
