Description
Wat Siri Phatthanaram (วัดศิริพัฒนาราม) is a Sakon Nakhon vtemple located less than a kilometer down the road from Wat Nong Daeng and around 1 kilometer south of the southernmost point of Nong Han Lake. The archway to this village temple has a colorful bas-relief depiction of the Buddha teaching a small group of disciples. He is show performing the gesture known as the Vitarka Mudra.
This mudra (gesture) represents the teachings of the Buddha, the the circle formed by the index finger and thumb, symbolizing the flow of information and energy. At Sakon Nakhon temples, you will most often find the Buddha displaying the Vitarka Mudra with his right hand, while his left hand is placed upward on his lap. Sometimes instead of using the index finger, the thumb and ring finger touch, meaning good fortune, while other times the thumb and middle finger touch, symbolizing compassion.
Wat Siri Phatthanaram also has on display a small pavilion honoring the Phra Lersi hermit monks (statues of which you can also see at the nearby Wat Nong Daeng), a large Buddha statue on a lotus base, and a monk and Buddha with unique facial features underneath a tree.
When visiting rural temples such as Wat Siri Phatthanaram in November (the rice harvesting season), you will often see the temple grounds covered partially with a blue tarp and recently harvested rice, which is being dried out before storage (see our photo gallery).
