Description
Wat Si Bun Rueang (วัดศรีบุญเรือง) in Tambon Khamin is one of 19 temples in Sakon Nakhon that go by this name, which translates to The Temple of Glowing Merit. Many villages also have been named Si Bun Rueang in Thailand, especially in Northeastern provinces. The temple is located only about 2 kilometers from Don Hin Thong Priest's Campsite, one of our favorite, little temples in the countryside.
Wat Si Bun Rueang is unique for the baby Buddha statue it exhibits in front of a cave structure that holds a full grown Buddha statue. The baby Buddha is pointing toward the sky, and represents that time shortly after the birth of the Buddha (then known as Siddhartha), when he allegedly took seven steps, faced the four directions, and pointed upwards. It is believed that the gesture signified he was the foremost Buddha, and this was his last birth.
Another interesting statue is the gold Buddha image which seems to have a very Isaan like face, a face very different from all of the other faces we have seen on statues of the Buddha at Sakon Nakhon temples. Other Buddhist sculptures on the temple grounds, include a Fat Buddha statue, Buddha with walking stick, tall white Buddha, and a Buddha protected by 7-headed Naga serpent atop the drum tower.
