WAT NANTARAM A LOCAL GEM IN CHIANG KHAM



               In Chiang Kham some 20km. distant from Lana Thai Villa is the
               exquisite and  unique Shan style temple, Wat Nantaram.There
               is no precise date available  for the founding of a temple at this
               site which served the Thai Yai community.  Before, the temple was
               known as Wat Chong Kha. Chong in Tai Yai means temple. Also in
               ancient times the temple roof was covered with Ya Kha or woven
               grass.Pho Mong Pho Khin donated more than three rai in order to
               establish the temple. Tai Yai Buddhists established the temple on
               the orders of the chief Pho Thao Ubon.  The temple was to be a 
               monastery for the monks.  It became generally known as Wat Chong 
               Neua or temple of the north as it was located in the north of Chiang
               Kham municipality.
   
                In 1924 Mae Nang Cham Hoeng donated more than 5 rais to enlarge 
                the temple area. A Shan man named Pho Thao Nanta was an
                ancestor of the Wonganan family. He was very rich but believed in and  
                respected the Buddhism. He had the regular habit of spending the rainy
                season alone in the temple. He was greatly respected by the Thai 
                Yai and was given the name Pho Chong Taka Nanta. Pho Chong 
                means the creator and Taka is the man who was a good Buddhist
                and who participates in the rains  retreat. Pho Thao Nanta donated the
                money to repair the present viharn. Wang Anan created the new viharn
                to replace the one with the roof of Ya Kha. 

                Workers were employed to design and build the new viharn which was
                constructed entirely from teak wood in the Shan style. The temple has
                a series of superimposed  roofs covered with wooden tiles. The ceiling
                is decorated with colored glass patterns. The supporting pillars are
                rendered in black lacquer designs  over a  gold base color. At the time the
                budget for the project was Bt.45,000. 
 
                In  consequence of all his good works the temple was renamed
                Wat Nantaram to honor Pho Thao Nanta and his family Wonganan. As
                the area is now populated by a majority of people of Tai Lue ancestry                                   the overall Shan style of the viharn is overlaid with Tai Lue motifs such
                as the sun ray or peacock design over the front entrance.

                After completing the viharn, Pho Thao Nanta,  searched for a principal 
                Buddha image to install in the temple. In 1933 he found an image from 
                the deserted temple of Wat Chong Me Tha located in Ban Don Keao            

                Public Health Center, Oi,Amphur  Pong. The wooden image is in the
                position of subduing Mara sometimes known as the "earth witness"
                Buddha for when the demon Mara and his army tried to frighten and
                tempt the Buddha the demon Mara and his army tried to frighten and 
                from his meditation but the earth roared its witness to his not Mara's 
                enlightenment. This image is decorated in the Shan style. The Buddha is 
                sitting on a pedestal of wood with a perforated back piece decorated
                with colored glass which is interlaced with angels and mythic animals.
                As the image was located 50-60 kilometers  distant it took numerous
                villagers one week to transport the image both on foot and by boat.

                In 1934, 10 years after beginning the restoration Pho Thao Nanta made
                a celebration of 15 days from March 1 - 15. Many events were  held including                 donations,  entertainment and they have made donations of necessities to
                poor people.This was the first time for the new temple to engage in good
                works. 

                Also within the temple precincts are an ubolsot which is richly decorated 
                with colored  glass. Behind the ubolsot is a newly constructed chedhi which
                has been built over a smaller chedhi of older construction.  It should be noted
                that the viharn also houses additional Buddha images of interest as well as
                typical temple furnishings and ceremonial objects. A small museum is
                located in the rear of the viharn. Also on the grounds are a Chinese and an
                Indian shrine the latter featuring a statue of Ganesh.

                 The scale and presentation of the temple is unique in Thailand making a
                 visit to this temple a special experience. The grounds are quiet and are
                 well cared for. Lanna Thai Villa is only 20km. away making this a good
                 element of a day trip to local sites of interest.
                 
                

Wat Nantaram Exterior

                                                                                  

Superimposed Roof Line

                                                                                  

Detail Showing Surviving Original Color of Wood

                                                                                  

Chinthe or Guardian Lion at Entrance

                                                                                  

Tai Lue Style Sun Ray

                                                                                 

Interior View of Wat Nantaram With Teak Columns

Main Altar

Principal Buddha Image

                                                                          

Decorated Panel Behind Buddha Image

                                                                                

Decorative Trim Around Base of Buddha Platform

                                                                             

Roof Detail

                                                                             

Roof Decoration

                                                                              

Roof Decoration

                                                                                

Ubolsot

                                                                                 

Ubolsot Window Detail

                                                                              

Old Chedhi Inside New Chedhi

                                                                                 

Decorations Inside Chedhi

                                                                                 

Chinese Oriented Shrine at Wat Nantaram

                                                                               

Statue of Ganesh at Wat Nantaram

  

  
    VISAKABUCHA CELEBRATIONS IN BAN NGAO

    May 13th was Visaka Bucha Day here in Thailand. The date changes according to 
       the lunar cycle and is figured as the full moon day of the 6th lunar month - usually
       falling in May. The celebration is one of the most important in the annual Buddhist 
       calendar as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, events 
       which are believed to have occurred on the same day of the same month. 
       Visaka celebrations began in Thailand about 700 years ago during a period 
       of active exchanges of monks from Sri Lanka and Thailand. 

       This years celebration was centered on a That or Chedi located on a hill only a few 
       hundred meters from Lanna Thai Villa. Nineteen villages or muban were invited.
       Preparations began several days in advance with groups of workers clearing the 
       grounds, painting buildings and placing ceremonial flags or tung and placing them 
       along the approaches to the That.  In addition villagers prepared donations and 
       constructed "money trees" to carry the offerings to be presented at the ceremony. 
       Some villages formed dance groups to provide traditional entertainment. Given 
       that the event would draw hundreds of participants who would need to be fed many 
       people cooked food to donate for free distribution as a way of making merit. The
       event began with participants parading to theThat with offerings and tung.  
       Offerings  included flowers, joss sticks and candles all symbolic of lifes 
       impermanence as flowers will wilt and candles and joss sticks will burn out.

       There were several aspects to the days events. One, a saloong nam that or the 
       washing of the That with scented water (nam san poy). A large  container was set up 
       and a pump and hose system would transport water placed into the container to the 
       top of the That where it would drain down over the structure. This activity was symbolic 
       of cleansing bad Karma. Prior to the ceremony day a string had been placed from 
       the principal Buddha image in the prayer hall down and around the entire village 
       with offshoots going to each home which in turn may have been surrounded with 
       the string or perhaps only an offshoot would go into the home's Buddha image. In 
       the prayer hall  an overhead lattice of strings was placed prior to the ceremony. 
       The lattice was also connected to the principal Buddha image. Hanging down 
       from the lattice were strings which could either be draped on the participants 
       shoulders or wrapped around their head. In this way both the village and the
       individual participant could directly receive the blessings from the monks chanting 
       which were to invoke peace and happiness for all concerned. Further merit was 
       gained via the cash and food donations.  Prior to the chanting villagers presented 
       traditional Lanna style dances. Circulating in the crowds during the day were lottery
       ticket sellers hoping to make sales from some o0f the many attendees.The day 
       ended with  lam vong dancing. 

  

THAT NEAR THE RICE FIELD

         

NAGA ON STAIRWAY TO THAT

MAKING TUNG OR CEREMONIAL FLAGS

PUTTING ON THE FINISHING TOUCHES

"MONEY TREE"

VILLAGE DANCERS

PARADE OF WORSHIPERS

BRINGING SPECIAL ITEMS

JOY OF THE OCCASION IS ON THE FACES

CIRCLING THE THAT WITH A GOLDEN CLOTH

WORSHIPERS CIRCLE THE THAT THREE TIMES

DONATING SCENTED WATER

TAKING A MOMENT FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

STRING COMING FROM THE PRINCIPAL BUDDHA IMAGE

STRING GOING AROUND LANNA THAI VILLA

STRINGS IN MEETING HALL

YOUNG DANCERS PERFORMING

END OF THE DANCE

DANCERS FROM A DIFFERENT VILLAGE

YOUNG PERFORMER

WORSHIPERS WAITING FOR CHANTING TO BEGIN

DONATIONS

LIGHTING CANDLES AND INCENSE PRIOR TO CHANTING

MONKS PREPARING TO CHANT

OVERFLOW WORSHIPERS

DONATED FOOD FOR DISTRIBUTION

EVER PRESENT LOTTERY VENDORS

WATS UP 2

BUDDHA IMAGE CONSECRATION

In our village we have two temples Wat Salawat and Wat Buanak. At the latter a young monk Phra Taweepong Titayano (Phra James) has started an International Meditation Center. A focal point of this center is a Full Moon Meditation Garden. The garden is the site of a large white Buddha image which was constructed by artisans in Chiang Rai and then brought to the garden and consecrated in an impressive ceremony (ngaan bun) held in January, 2013.
After installation of the image it was necessary to have a religious ceremony  to consecrate the image. The actual ceremony was preceded by the volunteer work of many villagers and monks to prepare the necessary ceremonial items and offerings. 

VILLAGERS MAKING ITEMS FOR CEREMONY

                                       

DECORATING VEHICLE TO CARRY AUSPICIOUS ITEM

A small procession was organized and the ceremonial objects and "money trees" were 
brought to the garden in the evening. The following days events included a variety of 
traditional entertainments and the placing of the symbolic "heart and liver" inside 
the image. The days events included both sacred and secular elements. 
 
                                                                                    

MUSIC TO ACCOMPANY PROCESSION

                                                                             

"MONEY TREE" DONATION

                                                                              

SYMBOLIC BUDDHA HEART

                                                                                 

WELCOMING ARRIVAL OF PROCESSION

                                                                            

EVENING WELCOME DANCE

                                                                               

HOLE IN BACK SIDE OF BUDDHA IMAGE FOR RECEIVING "HEART"

                                                                           

BUDDHA IMAGE IN FULL MOON MEDITATION GARDEN

                                                                                 

OFFERINGS OF FRUITS AND FLOWERS

WELCOME DANCE

                                                                        

CONTAINERS OF DONATIONS FOR VISITING MONKS

                                                                                

DONATIONS INCLUDING FRAMED HAND PRINTS OF TEMPLE ABBOT

                                                                                  

VISITING MONKS

                                                                               

APPLYING GOLD LEAF TO BUDDHA "HEART"

                                                                             

ABBOT BLESSING HOLY OBJECT TO BE PLACED IN "HEART"

                                                                           

PLACING DONATED SACRED ITEMS INTO "HEART"

                                                                               

PHRA TAWEEPONG PLACING "LIVER" INTO BUDDHA IMAGE

                                                                             

DRUMS AND CONCH SHELLS USED DURING CEREMONY

                                                                                   

FLORAL AND FRUIT DONATION TABLE

                                                                                
                                                                           

PARTICIPANTS BEING BLESSED WITH WHITE MARK ON FOREHEAD

The ceremony to consecrate the Buddha  image was largely led by a secular adjarn or ceremonial specialist. Many of the procedures were accompanied by the drone of a 
large gong and the beat produced by small drums  overlain with the pulse of a conch 
shell horn. The large offering table was filled with a variety of fruits and flowers and 
other special offering items. Attendees were able to bring their own Buddha images 
or valuable precious or semi precious stones to be placed within the Buddha heart 
before it was placed on hooks inside the Buddha image. This was an extraordinary 
opportunity for villagers to make merit both by attending the ceremony and donating 
funds to help support the International Meditation Center. The Full Moon Meditation 
Garden is located adjacent to the Ngao River and is shaded by very old and large
trees and when completed will make an excellent venue for practicing Vipassana 
or insight meditation. Both short and longer duration meditation courses are open 
free to the public.