Luang Pho Phet Um Phet - Phra Ok Taek Mueang Phraya Phichai
𝐔n𝐬e𝐞n #Uttaradit ✨
Luang Pho Phet Um Phet (Phra Ok Taek), Mueang Phraya Phichai Dap Hak
Wat Ban Kaeng Tai is another important temple in Tron District, Uttaradit Province. There is a large principal Buddha image in the chapel called Luang Pho Phet, which is an ancient Buddha image. There is no evidence of when it was built. Later, in 1950, Luang Pho Phet was damaged and decayed. The temple decided to build a new Luang Pho Phet to cover the old one.
The new Luang Pho Phet is in the Phetchaburi meditation posture, 4 meters wide and 6 meters high. Time passed and there was no more renovation until 2012 when the temple renovated the chapel and repaired Luang Pho Phet, which had deteriorated a lot. However, while the renovation was in progress, the workers who were renovating Luang Pho Phet's chapel at Wat Ban Kaeng Tai, Uttaradit Province, Cracks and pieces of plaster were found, and they were shocked to find the head of a Buddha statue in the middle of the chest of the large Luang Pho Phet, which became a sensation among the villagers who talked and told stories. The head found was Luang Pho Phet made of laterite, with gold leaf covering the entire head and face.
There are many versions of this surprising legend, but the truth is still unknown. For example, a villager dreamed that Luang Pho Phet came to tell them that he felt uncomfortable and wanted to go outside, which turned out to be true. The villagers called him “Luang Pho Ok Taek” or Luang Pho Phet Um Phet.
The elders in that area said that #Wat Ban Kaeng Tai was built without any evidence.
They only know that in the years 2294-2299, Phraya Phichai Dab Hak came to train in boxing with Kru Thiang at Wat Ban Kaeng Tai. In the past, they had heard from the elders that inside the principal Buddha statue, there was a sacred Buddha statue made of laterite hidden inside. There were valuables inside. The one you see today was covered over by the old people with cement. It is estimated that it was built during the late Ayutthaya period when the Burmese invaded and occupied the city. The villagers in the past helped build a new cement Buddha statue with an ugly appearance to cover it up so the Burmese could not see the real one to prevent it from being stolen or destroyed.
Most villagers only heard stories and half-believed and half-disbelieved. When they saw the real thing today, they believed that what the old people had been telling them for over 200 years was true. Most villagers believe that the monks performed a miracle to show the villagers that there was really a sacred laterite Buddha statue inside.
From the appearance of the art, it is assumed that the original Luang Pho Phet was built by local craftsmen during the Rattanakosin period. This may have been a strategy of the ancients or it may have been done to protect the valuable Buddha statue from being stolen or destroyed by the enemy. Therefore, a larger Buddha statue was built to protect it. Over time, the plaster deteriorated, revealing the Buddha statue hidden inside, which looked amazing.
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🕰️Opening hours of the church: 06.00 - 17.00 hrs. every day
📍Address: Wat Ban Kaeng Tai, Uttaradit
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