Ban Lao Phra Chao Ta Khiew Temple

Wat Ban Lao Phra Chao Ta Khiew, Lamphun Province There is a green-eyed Buddha statue, an ancient black Buddha statue in Lamphun. It is the principal Buddha image in the chapel. In front of the chapel, there is a statue of Thao Wessuwan on the left and a statue of Thao Kumphan on the right, standing prominently. According to local legend, when the Lord Buddha arrived at a certain place, he prophesied that in the future, it would be a city with great Buddhist prosperity, named "Haripunchai Nakhon". At the place where the Lord Buddha rested, there was a Lawa named Mengkabut who invited the people in that area to listen to the Dhamma and learn of the benefits of building Buddha statues until everyone reached the Triple Gem. Phra In asked for the hair relics, which the Lord Buddha granted and then traveled on. Mengkabut and the local people dug a tunnel, put the hair relics in a gold casket and another layer of silver koti, along with many valuables, and put them in the tunnel and closed it with large bricks. Later, the Naga brought large stones from the underworld to cover the tunnel with another layer. Later, the Hariphunchai Kingdom was very prosperous in religion. A virtuous man named Khantaka learned about the hair relics and led a group to dig up and renovate the cave. He invited the goddess Chamadevi, the first king of Hariphunchai, along with his sons, King Mahantayot and King Anantayot, to be the president. They thought of building a Buddha statue over the mouth of the cave. When they built the face, they didn't know what to do. Phra In, knowing with his intuition, transformed himself into "Chi Pha Khao" to volunteer to help build it. He put the green emeralds he brought with him in both eyes of the Buddha statue. The local people in that area therefore named it "Phra Chao Ta Khiew" until today. 📍 Tambon Ban Ruean, Amphoe Pa Sang, Lamphun Province #WinterTravel#Wat Ban Lao Phra Chao Ta Khiew #Lamphun #SacredTemplesofThailand