Wat Ja Ting Phra

Wat Kao Ja Ting Phra, Sa Ting Phra of Songkla Province previously named “Wat Sa Ting Phra” but nowadays changed to “WatJa Ting phra”. It is an ancient temple of Sa Ting Phra District and was established in 1542 B.E. Inside the temple, there are two archeological sites which are Srivijaya Arts such as PhraMahathatChedi, the Buddha Image in the attitude of Reclining, the bell tower. The legend of Nang Ek-Kao has it that Chao Praya Krung Thong who was the city ruler of Sa Ting Paranasi and the founder of the temple. For the evidence of the Kanlapana bookofPatthalung City in the Ayudhya Era and that the temple was divided into two temples by the middle wall. The first temple is WatSa Ting Phra having the Vinaithamprovest as the abbot and Thammachedi non-commissioned officersor Muen as the lay temple officiator. Another temple is WatPhraMaha big Chedi having the AmaruetSiriwattanathatProvestor as the abbot and KhunThampayabal as the lay temple officiator. Both names of the two temples becomes “Brotherhood Temple” which is under WatKien Bang Keaw, Pakaew clergy and later in the reign of King Rama V they were united.PhraMahathatChedi, WatJa Ting Phra is 20 meters high and has a base of which each side is 17 meters wide. Thediameter of circle of the bell tower is 6 meters. It is the upside-own bell shape or Langka style like PhraBaromathatMueangNakorn Si Thammarat; however, there is no Rattana bench the Buddha’s scat under the pipal tree when he was in the state of enlightenment. The Ma-huad post is on the top of the neck of the bell. Between the post lie the 16 bas-relief structures of followers. Next, the top of chedi is in strange shape; that is, it is quite narrowed at the middle. The arts historian explains it as the arts of Pala in Srivijaya Era which agedsince 13th-15th centuries. The chedi was built with brick and baked clay and Pakarang Brick and marl limestone. The chedi was put on the squre basewith additional 20 angles, moreover, each angle lies the arch which is curved and sharp as the architecture of Gothic which had an influence on Thai architecture since Ayudhya Era in the reign of King NaraiMahraj (219-2231 B.E.).The wall inside the hall is painting about history of the Lord Buddha which is about 100 years old. It is the work of 3 local painters which are Vicharnsilakul (Choo) provestor, Kleuan and Bai. It painted with fade white, grey, green as well as light-colored lines on the light yellow background.