Wat Phra That Si Song Rak, Loei
#Beautiful temple Phra That Si Song Rak is located on the bank of the Man River, Dan Sai District, Loei Province. It was built during the reign of King Sai Setthathirat in 2103 and completed in 2106.
Phra That Si Song Rak was built to be a witness to the mutual assistance between Ayutthaya (During the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat) and Sri Sat Na Khon Hut (currently Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic).
The two kings ruled the kingdom at the same time that Burma was powerful and invaded various territories to expand its power. King Maha Chakkraphat and King Sai Setthathirat agreed to join forces to fight Burma. They made a pledge not to encroach on each other's territories. To commemorate their friendship, they jointly built Phra That Si Song Rak to be a witness at the midpoint between the Nan River and the Mekong River, which is the border of the two kingdoms.
In addition, inside the temple there is a Buddha statue in the reclining Buddha posture, Tibetan art. The head of the reclining Buddha is made of stone and the body of the Buddha is made of bronze. It has a lap width of 21 inches and a height of 30 inches.
Every 15th day of the 6th lunar month, the people of Dan Sai District or "Luk Phueng Luk Thian" will join together to organize a Phra That celebration. They will bring honey trees to offer to the Phra That, which is a sacred tradition that occurs every year.
Phra That Si Song Rak and interesting legends
Stop by to pay homage to the important sacred object of Dan Sai District, Loei Province, which is Phra That Si Song Rak, which was built since 2103 B.E. during the Ayutthaya period. It is considered very old. It was built to be a witness to the mutual assistance between the Great Emperor of Ayutthaya (Thailand) and King Sai Setthathirat of the Lan Xang Kingdom (Laos). Because at that time, Burma was powerful and invaded various territories to expand its power. The two kings therefore saw that they should join hands for stability. Therefore, they made an oath not to encroach on each other's territories. They jointly built a pagoda to offer to the King named "Phra That Si Song Rak" on the banks of the Man River, as a witness of the truth of friendship. And there will be a Phra That celebration on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 6th month of every year.
For this reason, those who come to pay homage to Phra That Si Song Rak must examine themselves a bit. They prohibit wearing "red" clothes or carrying red objects into the Phra That area because "red" can be compared to "blood" that is the result of war. Therefore, the ancient people prohibited those wearing red clothes from entering the Phra That area, which has become a tradition that has continued until today.
When arriving at Phra That Si Song Rak, you will find a long walkway. In front of it, there are columns about chest high in rows leading to stairs. Higher up, you will see the top of the Phra That Si Song Rak pagoda, which is majestically white, located behind the pavilion where the Buddha image of the Naga Prok is enshrined. It is made of stone. As for the Buddha image, it is believed to be made of bronze. It is 21 inches wide and 30 inches high. Luang Pho Kraisi opens it for worship on important occasions. Each year, there will be a gold leafing ceremony once, which is done one day before the Phra That Si Song Rak celebration and worship day.
In addition, there are other legends that say that Phra That Si Song Rak has “Mr. Man, Mr. Kong” devoted his life to be a servant to guard forever. And the legend of Chao Pho Kuan and Chao Mae Nang Thiam is that they are the spirits of a man and a woman who were prevented from love and died at this pagoda. The couple escaped into a tunnel during the construction of the pagoda, but the craftsmen did not know, so they built and closed the tunnel until they died. They became spirits who guarded Phra That Sri Song Rak until today.
From the legend, let’s talk about the architectural style of the pagoda. This pagoda is in the Lan Xang style, made of brick and mortar. The pagoda is 19.19 meters high, with a base 10.89 meters wide on each side. The base is square with twelve recessed corners. The bell-shaped body is “square lotus”, similar to Phra That Phanom, Phra That Luang (Vientiane), Phra That Sri Khotrabong (Khammouan Province), and many others in the Mekong River basin. Phra That Sri Song Rak was built as a Utesika Chedi (meaning a chedi built with the intention of dedicating it to the religion without specifying what it must contain). However, many people believe that the two kings probably enshrined sacred objects such as Buddha images and Buddhist scriptures according to Buddhist beliefs.
Around the Phra That, there is a carpet around the Phra That so that devotees can walk around and pray. The surrounding area is also shady with white Frangipani trees that match the atmosphere very well. In this area, you can see that there are continuous people coming to pay homage to Phra That Si Song Rak, both children, adults, teenagers, and the elderly. Seeing it makes you feel good indescribably.
If anyone wants to know the history of the construction of Phra That Si Song Rak in detail, you can look it up. It is recorded on the "Phra That Si Song Rak Stone Inscription" (old pillar) at Wat Phra That Si Song Rak. It is a Bodhi leaf-shaped stone inscription that records a brief history of Phra That Si Song Rak. You can contact the staff.
As for the Visakha Bucha Day (Phra That Si Song Rak Celebration) held every year on the 15th day of the waxing moon in the 6th month, the people of Dan Sai District The villagers will bring “Ton Phueng” or “Ton Dok Pheung” (in Isan language) made from bamboo frames in a triangular shape or a castle tower shape, about 2 feet wide and 2 feet high, covered with a pattern of carved palm leaf patterns, then decorated with “Dok Phueng” made from thin round candle sheets, dried in the sun and formed into petals, decorated with a tree of bees with everlasting flowers or small pieces of turmeric in the center instead of flower stamens, and then brought to worship and offer to the Phra That, which is attended by many Dan Sai and Loei people each year. Those who come to pray to the Phra That and make a vow with the tree of bees usually have their wishes granted.
****Note**** Children under 3 years old should not be brought to worship. Before doing or performing any ceremony related to the Phra That, please consult the staff guarding the Phra That first.
Location
Wat Phra That Si Song Rak is located at 86 Ban Hua Na Yuang, Village No. 14, Dan Sai Subdistrict, Dan Sai District, Loei Province, under the Mahanikaya sect.
Directions
Wat Phra That Si Song Rak is located on the banks of the Man River. It is approximately 1 kilometer from the district or 83 kilometers from the provincial city. Take Highway No. 203 and turn right at kilometer 66 onto Highway No. 2013 for another 15 kilometers until you reach Dan Sai District. Then turn right onto Route 2113 for another 1 kilometer. Look for the signs. They are posted at important turning points.