Description
Wat Pa Don Pradu Mongkhon Thip (วัดป่าดอนประดู่มงคลทิพย์) is one of our favorite Thailand Off the Beaten Track temples in Sakon Nakhon. Located in the Phanna Nikhom village of Ban Rai, the temple has a large white Viharn, which has a unique architectural design that combines both modern and traditional elements, including large glass walls. Inside the Viharn, a platform of Buddha statues are dazzling highlighted by a glittering wall and pillars covered with small mirrored tiles.
Wat Pa Don Pradu Mongkhon Thip temple's most famous Buddha statue is named Phra Phuttha Udommongkonwat (พระพุทธอุดมมงคลวัฒน์), which is housed within a spired pagoda located behind the Viharn. This Buddha statue includes a large Naga serpent taking the form of a Cobra, accentuated by a backdrop of multi-colored reflective panels and walls that are covered with gold bricks decorated with the Buddha in bas relief. In 2011, the temple created amulets with the image of Phra Phuttha Udommongkonwat, which continue to sought after by collectors of sacred amulets.
The pagoda that houses Phra Phuttha Udommongkonwat has been beautifully designed, with large Naga dragons flanking the two stairways that wrap around the 1st and 2nd levels of the pagoda. Two five-headed Naga serpents also appear beside the front entrance to the pagoda, as well as two black elephants which stand outside as additional protectors.
The temple name Wat Pa Don Pradu Mongkhon Thip could be translated to The Padauk Forest Temple of the Divine Garland — Paduak being a tree that displays beautiful yellow flowers. The main entrance to the temple has been consecrated with a large, newly built wooden archway, with mammoth tree trunks as pillars.
As you go through the archway, you'll notice on the right a statue of the four headed, four armed, Hindu god Phra Phrom (Brahma), and the single headed, four armed god Phra Isuan (Shiva). Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and destruction, and Shiva is the god of transformation. Thus the two placed together symbolize our hoped for transformation into a spiritually driven being, after the destruction of our material desires.
Wat Pa Don Pradu Mongkhon Thip also has on display some fine examples of Buddhist murals, one of our favorites being a depiction of Mae Thoranee protecting the Buddha from Mara's demons by wringing a flood of water from her hair. To view more photos of this beautiful Sakon Nakhon temple, please visit our Wat Pa Don Pradu Mongkhon Thip photo gallery.
