Wednesday, 21 January 2015  Revisiting Temples Across the Street

Wat Chedi Luang is across the street from the 3-Sis Guest House, where I am a staying. I do my morning meditation at the foot of the large chedi in the back area of the property (pictures in previous posts). The city pillar is also located at Wat Chedi Luang. Most cities in Thailand have a city pillar housed in a shrine. The shrine is believed to house Chao Pho Lak Mueang, the city spirit deity, and is highly esteemed by the citizens.

The city pillar shrine in Chiang Mai at Wat Chedi Luang, called Inthakhin, was undergoing a reconstruction and updating last year when I was here, and is now close to complete. This is the new sign announcing the Chiang Mai City Pillar pavilion or shrine.

The front of the city pillar shrine opens to the east, like most viharn (worship halls) and ubosot (special ceremony halls).

At the front, are new bronze statues of three men. At first, I thought they might be the Three Kings (Chiang Mai was founded by three Kings who were friends in the late 1100s), but they are from different times in history.

This man to the right of the entrance is dressed similarly to the Three Kings. He could be one of them, or a contemporary.

This man to the left of the entrance, is newer, possibly from the early 1800s.

This third man farther to the left of the second, also appears to be of the same time frame as the Three Kings.

Somewhere it will be documented who they are, but I have been unable to get the information.

There are two of these, both with swords, flanking the entrance to the building itself.

They have a similar look to a thewada (angelic being that lives in the heavenly realms). But thewada, being basically what western religions call an angel, would not have a sword.There is a story for this, too, that I will have to find out.

A challenge at Wat Chedi Luang is the entrance. Because this temple is visited by hundreds of people every day, The entrance can be a challenge with cars, motorbikes, and buses going in and out. As a pedestrian, it can be a little precarious.

A new pedestrian entrance has been constructed, and is close to complete.I have been watching the young man and young lady carving and painting the doors. I am pretty sure I saw these same two artists last year working on other parts of the detail by the new sign. They are detailed and meticulous, and work every day.

I leave in a few days, and will not see the new pedestrian entrance opened. I am told there will be a ceremony to bless the new entrance when it is opened. (The Thai people love a ceremony.)

Wat Pan Tao

Entrance to the teak viharn at Wat Pan Tao

Wat Pan Tao was built as an ancillary temple to the royal temple Wat Chedi Luang, right next door. Thus, it dates back to the late 1300s like Wat Chedi Luang. In the late 1800s, the viharn was built from teak recycled from the nearby royal palace. The palace was being replaced by a new incoming king.

The teak viharn is memorable. I do not understand the significance of the basket-like structures in line next to the viharn.

And in the back of the property is a larger version of the basket structures, looking like a basket chedi.

To the west of the back of the viharn is this chedi, currently undergoing restoration. It almost looks metal. In previous years, this chedi was painted white. It is not clear if it will be left silver-gray or whether preparations are being made to repaint the chedi. There is an intricate scaffold, but I never saw anyone working on this in the many times I walked past.

Inside the Wat Pan Tao viharn. The teak is dark and rich, very dignified and respectful.

Next: Walking To Wat Suan Dok Again