Description
Wat Si Sawat (วัดศรีสวัสดิ์) is a Thai temple in Sakon Nakhon that is located only a few kilometers from Wat Kham Pramong, the Buddhist temple that has successfully provided alternative treatments to cancer patients. Founded in 1921, Wat Si Sawat serves the villagers of Ban Don Koi (บ้านดอนกอย) in Phanna Nikhom, as do the nearby monks at the "samnak song" known as Wat Pa Thammawimok, which is 500 meters away in the forests.
Wat Si Sawat is quite impressive for a rural, village temple in Thailand. It's always curious when you run across such a wealthy looking temple in a Sakon Nakhon village that's kind of in the middle of nowhere. Most often it is due to a few wealthy benefactors who received great fortune by making merit at the temple and/or large lottery winners whose lottery pick was somehow connected to the temple.
Wat Si Sawat appears to be a "good luck temple" where many go to seek good fortune. It has a sacred shrine known a "mondop," with Buddhist and Hindu iconography. This is where visitors seeking good fortune go to make merit. The cave-like inside of the mondop is painted with wild, dream like paintings, and an area to light incense.
Outside the shrine is a Buddhist chant said to deliver "Instant Success". From the looks of the temple, it appears to have worked for some people! It goes like this:
นะโม นะมะ สัตวา อาจาริยัง ครูบาทั้ง
na-mo na-ma sat-wah ah-jah-ri-yang kroo-bah-tang
อันตะรา ยังวินาสสันติ สัพพะการิยะ
an-dta-rah yang-win-aht-san-dti sap-pa-gah-ri-ya
ประสิทธิเม สัมปะติจฉามิ
bpra-sit-ti-may san-bpa-dti-ja-chah-mi
สาธุ
sah-too (which means amen)
It should be noted that the Thai people of Ban Don Koi don't expect success just to drop into their lap. The villagers are hardworking and many are involved in Sakon Nakhon's rich history of indigo dyeing and traditional hand weaving. Their motto for accumulating wealth (written on signboards) is:
Don't sleep late, Don't be shy about cooking, Don't look down on little money, Don't wait for luck. (อย่านอนตื่นสาย อย่าอายทำกิน อย่าหมิ่นเงินน้อย อย่าคอยวาสนา)
View our full photo gallery at: Thailand Good Luck Temple
