Wat Phikun Ngoen

Rating: 2.6/5 (7 votes)

Operating day: daily

Operating time: 08.00 - 16.30

 

Wat Phikun Ngoen Bang Muang, Bang Yai, Nonthaburi. Based on archaeological evidences, this temple was assumed to be built in 1831 in the early Rattanakosin period; however, its founder was still unknown.

 

After that, a Chinese man named Ha who was the ancestor of Thonawanik, passed the temple by boat. As soon as he saw the temple, he had faith in it.

 

So he decided to donate his personal property in order to build an ordination hall or Ubosot in 1978. Anyway, general people called it "Wat Phikun".

 

It is the place where the first Phra Buddha Sothorn (Luang Phor Sothorn) model had been placed in Thailand. Luang Phor Phuttha Sothorn Buddha image is a Buddha image in the attitude of meditation; sitting with his legs crossed; right leg over left leg, the right hand over left hand which both hands are folded in the lap.

 

The Buddha image is 6 feet 2 inches high and 5 feet 6 inches long. Nowadays it is installed in the royal ordination hall of Sothorn Wararam temple in Chachoengsao province.

 

According to the history, an astonishing story happened when three ordained brothers in a northern province of Thailand became proficient in the Buddha’s teachings.

 

They turned themselves into Buddha images floating along the river. The first one floated up to the Mai Klong River and turned up in Samut Songkhram province.

 

It was enshrined in Wat Ban Laem or Wat Phet Samut Worawihan by all fishermen. The second one floated around and appeared in front of Wat Hong. And the last one floated to the Chao Phraya River.

 

Local people came and tried to pull the Buddha image upon the shore but they could not. It has been told that around three hundred thousand people came to help to do this.

 

Because of it, the place was called "Sam Saen" but the word was deformed into "Sam Saen" and has become its name since then. After that this Buddha image floated again and finally rose at Sam Rong canal in Samut Prakan province.

 

It was enshrined at Wat Phlap Phla Chai Chana Songkhram or Wat Bang Phli Yai and it has been there until now. The Buddha image at Wat Phikun Ngoen is an imitation one that a lot of people pay homage to.

 

For people who want to ride a boat from the Tha Chang to Bang Yai piers, you can get down in front of the temple prior to the Bang Yai pier (an old Bang Yai market).