Wat San Luang

Wat San Luang is located at No. 20, Ban San Luang, Village No. 3, Pong Yang Khok Subdistrict, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province. It is affiliated with the Maha Nikaya sect of Thai Buddhism. The temple grounds cover a total area of 3 rai, 3 ngan, and 19 square wah under land certificate Sor Kor 1, No. 421. The boundaries are approximately 45 meters to the north adjacent to the village road, 58 meters to the south adjoining the village, 80 meters to the east next to an internal village road, and 50 meters to the west adjoining rice fields and a road. There is one additional plot of monastic land measuring 1 ngan.

 

Within the temple compound are several religious structures including the ordination hall decorated with mural paintings of the Vessantara Jataka, a sermon hall, and monks' living quarters. Among its sacred objects are a bronze Buddha image alloyed with gold in the Maravijaya posture and a stupa. The temple was founded in 1877 (B.E. 2420) by Phra Tepin and was originally called Wat Ban San. It received official recognition and the consecrated boundary for monastic rituals (Wisungkhamsima) on November 20, 1924 (B.E. 2467), covering an area of 20 meters in width and 40 meters in length.

 

The temple has had nine abbots since its founding. From 1865 to 1876 (B.E. 2408–2419), the temple was under Phra Tepin, followed by Kruba Ka from 1877 to 1900, Phra Wong from 1902 to 1911, Phra Phrom from 1916 to 1917, Phra Khru Phuriso from 1919 to 1938, Phra Mo Uttamo from 1938 to 1951, Phra Kongsin Yasotaro from 1953 to 1961, and Phra Athikan Saman Aphatharo from 1964 to 1980. Since 1980, Chao Athikan Chuchai Panyawatthano has served as abbot. The current abbot is Phra Khru Phiphat Panyakun, who is also the ecclesiastical district head of Hang Chat.

 

The temple formerly hosted a Dhamma school for monastic education, which began operation in 1920 (B.E. 2463), as well as a library and a preschool for young children. The Dhamma school has since been relocated to Wat Ban Mo Suttha School, and the preschool has been merged into the local government’s early childhood education center under the Pong Yang Khok Subdistrict Municipality.

 

Among the temple’s antiquities is a bronze Buddha image in the Maravijaya posture in Lanna art style, with a lap width of 43 cm, a base width of 61 cm, and a total height of 82 cm including the base. Another notable item is a wooden satphan, also in the Lanna style, measuring 158 cm in height, 103 cm in length, and 19 cm in thickness, which is preserved in the temple’s viharn.