Description
Wat Pho Chai (วัดโพธิ์ชัย) is a downtown Sakon Nakhon temple that gets overshadowed by the famous Wat Phra That Choeng Chum temple a few kilometers away. But it is one that we like to visit. The temple features a beautiful Ganesha sculpture in the posture of happiness, due to no lack of arms to create wealth, live comfortably, eliminate problems, and spend money pleasurably. A large reclining Buddha can also be viewed. This iconic posture always has Buddha lying on his right side, and it represents the moment before Buddha's death when he is about to enter Parinirvana, which (according to Buddhist belief) is the heavenly state that occurs after death when a person has attained Nirvana during their lifetime.
Wat Pho Chai also has a lovely mural depicting 3 phases of Buddha's life: his childhood, his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and his final moments before his death. This is located inside the Viharn in the center if the temple grounds, where there is also a large gold Buddha sculpture. Throughout the grounds, you will find many opportunities to "make merit" in the form of a donation. This donation boxes are located next to various sacred iconography and revered Buddhist monks of the past. Our favorite place to make merit is in the "hermit cave" which is slightly hidden in the corner of the temple, close to the gold Chedi/Stupa.
