Nong Huling Temple, Maha Sarakham Province
Established since 1933, the important things in the temple include "the chapel in the shape of an Ananta Naga boat", which is a chapel with a different shape from other chapels in Maha Sarakham. It was designed by Phra Khru Bowon Thammakhun (Niwat Chakkaworo), the abbot of Mittraphap Subdistrict, Area 1, who has held the position of abbot of Wat Nong Hu Ling since 1993, as a strategy for the public and tourists passing by to come and see the chapel with an unusual shape in the shape of an Ananta Naga boat. Every part of the chapel contains mystical riddles, such as:
- The entrance to the chapel has 4 directions, which represent the Four Noble Truths: the Noble Truth of Suffering, Its Origin, Its Cessation, and the Path.
- The four glass walls around the chapel are in the shape of the Naga King, who has 5 heads spreading his hood, which represents the Five Precepts, reminding Buddhists to observe the Five Precepts.
- The swan statue at the stern of the boat represents the support that keeps the boat going to heaven and Nirvana.
- The four corners of the chapel have statues of the Four Great Guardian Deities, who stand guard and protect the chapel from danger and bad things.
- The entrance to the chapel is called the Goodness Gate. The gate is designed so that everyone who enters must bow down to show respect to the principal Buddha image enshrined in the chapel. In addition to the Naga King statue at the entrance, there is also Rahu. To swallow human desires before paying respect to the image of the Lord Buddha, it is an invitation for Buddhists to enter the temple to practice Dhamma.
- The main Buddha image enshrined in the chapel is the first sermon posture, made from Nawalloha metal. The reason for choosing this posture is so that Buddhists who enter the chapel feel as if they are listening to the Dhamma teachings of the Lord Buddha.
Travel and transportation are convenient, approximately 10 kilometers from the city, towards Roi Et Province.
Currently, Wat Nong Hu Ling encourages people to visit the temple, make merit on important religious days, and is well-known as another religious tourist attraction in Maha Sarakham. Every day, Buddhists from all directions travel to visit in large numbers.
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