Wat Si Dok

Wat Si Dok is located at Mu 3 Tambon Huai Fai, Sung Men District, Phrae. It is considered as one of the ancient temples of Phrae. The temple currenly has Adhikan Sombun Praphakaro as an abbot who tells the story of Wat Si Dok and Phra Chao Nang Din. There is no written records about the history but it was transmitted orally from one generation to another. It is said that once upon a time, Buddha came to the south and while he was sitting under a Bodhi tree, Lawa people came to find fishes along the nearby swamp which led them to the Buddha. They thought that he was a giant because they had never seen him before. They all ran out panicking to different directions. The Buddha called them back and told that he was the Buddha of the Pali Canon. Some of them believed while some did not. The Buddha, therefore, showed his supernatural power by making the Bodhi tree’s flowers bloom beautifully with their fragrance spreading all over. Lawa people saw that told other people. They came to see the Buddha, leaving their houses behind as well as their gongs leading to the name of Long La Kong (The channel you leave a gong for).After having known that the Buddha is a marvelous man, the Lawa developed faith for him. He said that a Buddha image would be situated this place which is a dense tropical rain forest full of wild animals. Later on, Shan people came to build a Buddha image in the forest and built a small Buddha image hall, which was made of bamboos and lalang for the roof, for religious ceremonies at that time. Sometimes, tigers stayed in the hall. Later on, people came to settle down and the area became more densely populated. The people had a tradition on the last day of 9th month in Thai lunar calendar to pay respect to the Buddha and pray for rainfall. When Somdet Phra Wannarat came to visit Wat Si Dok on 14th February 1971, he saw that the Buddha image was different from other images in Thailand because it was placed sitting on the ground. Somdet Phra Wannarat, therefore, named it Phra Nang Din (The Buddha Image Sitting on the Ground). He also told disciples at Wat Si Dok not to move or raise the image’s position. The image is still in the same position until now.Phra Chao Nang Din of Wat Si Dok is a cement Buddha image in the attitude of meditation covered with gold leaf at the size of 1.5 meters wide and 2 meters tall. It is one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Phrae. Moreover, in the area of Wat Si Dok, there are many valuable objects such as the pond behind the image hall which has a golden gong producing a beautiful sound and the glass bead which sometimes shows its beautiful lights.Additionally, sugar palm trees were planted on 4 sides around the temple by Kru Ba Mahathen as well as pagoda trees which were brought on elephant back from Mueang Phrae by Pho Chao Kum Lue, Mae Chao Kum Po’s father. No one has never dared to cut these trees because those who planted had cursed. Therefore, Wat Si Dok has many big trees including the Bodhi tree providing shade to visitors.