Description
Wat Siri Mongkhon (วัดศิริมงคล) is a small village temple about 3 kilometers down the road from Wat Non Chonlaprathan Rang Srit, another Buddhist temple in the Phang Khwang Neua area. A unique feature of this temple is the Yak giant which stands guard outside the large gold Buddha statue on the temple grounds. The Yak has an unusual mustached face and his giving the sign of the horns. In Buddhism, this gesture is known as the Karana Mudra, and used to expel demons, dissolve negative energy, and ward off evil.
While one can occasionally see Buddhist statues, including the Buddha himself, making this sacred gesture, it is not often seen in the statues at Sakon Nakhon temples. Yoga practitioners also use the Karana Mudra to channel the flow of vital life force energy known as prana. The horns gesture is also of course used to suggest cockoldry in Latin and Mediterranean countries, but that offensive meaning is not found in Thailand.
Around the large Buddha image, you will also see Hongs (or Hamsas) statues. These are swan like creatures which represent the breath and foundation of human existence, and serve as the gatekeepers to heaven. There are quite a number of temple dogs on the grounds, but don't worry about them. They only bark and don't bite.
