Wat Phet Samut Worawihan ( th, วัดเพชรสมุทรวรวิหาร) or popularly known as Wat Ban Laem (วัดบ้านแหลม) is an ancient Thai Buddhist temple in Mahā Nikāya sect of Samut Songkhram Province.

History

Wat Phet Samut Worawihan considered as the third-class royal temple include provincial temple. It was built in the

Ayutthaya period The Ayutthaya Kingdom (; th, อยุธยา, , IAST: or , ) was a Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. The Ayutthaya Kingdom is conside ...

during the King

Prasat Thong Prasat ThongThe Royal Institute. List of monarchs Ayutthaya''. ( th, ปราสาททอง, ; c. 1600–1656; 1629–1656) was the first king of the Prasat Thong dynasty, the fourth dynasty of the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom. Accounts vary ...

's reign under the name "Wat Si Champa" (วัดศรีจำปา). According to royal chronicles, Ava troops attacked

Phetchaburi Phetchaburi ( th, เพชรบุรี, ) or Phet Buri () is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of Phetchaburi Province. In Thai, Phetchaburi means "city of diamonds" (''buri'' meaning "city" in Sanskrit). It is approx ...

in 1764, causing

Ban Laem Ban, or BAN, may refer to: Law * Ban (law), a decree that prohibits something, sometimes a form of censorship, being denied from entering or using the place/item ** Imperial ban (''Reichsacht''), a form of outlawry in the medieval Holy Roman ...

villagers from the area to flee here. They rebuild this temple and called its name according to their original settlements.

Principal Buddha image

The principal Buddha image of the temple named "Luang Por Ban Laem" (หลวงพ่อบ้านแหลม), which is Buddha image carrying alms posture, approx 167 cm high (5 ft 5 in), presumably built in the Sukhothai–early Ayutthaya periods. According to

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...

, this Buddha image was found floating in the river, along with four other Buddha images, namely Luang Por Sothon (หลวงพ่อโสธร) of

Wat Sothonwararam Wat Sothonwararam is a temple in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Located in the Municipality of Mueang Chachoengsao alongside the Bang Pakong River, it was initially named ‘Wat Hong,’ and was built in the late Ayutthaya Ayutthaya, Ayudhya, or ...

in Chachoengsao, Luang Por Wat Rai Khing (หลวงพ่อวัดไร่ขิง) of

Wat Rai Khing 250px, Luang Por Wat Rai Khing Wat Rai Khing ( th, วัดไร่ขิง, ; ) is another prominent and notable temple in Nakhon Pathom province in addition to Wat Phra Pathom Chedi, which is the provincial temple. Wat Rai Khing is locate ...

in Nakhon Pathom, Luang Por To (หลวงพ่อโต) of

Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai ( th, วัดบางพลีใหญ่ใน, ) is a Thai Buddhist temple in the area of Bang Phli Yai Subdistrict, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, outskirts Bangkok. The temple is classified as the thi ...

in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan and Luang Por Thong (หลวงพ่อทอง; also known as Luang Por Wat Khao Takrao–หลวงพ่อวัดเขาตะเครา) of Wat Khao Takrao in Ban Laem, Phetchaburi all of which are the principal Buddha images in the prominent temples of all central basin. Therefore, believed that all five were brothers. (some folklore tell that only three images were Luang Por Ban Laem, Luang Por Sothon, and Luang Por To). left, Luang Por Ban Laem Luang Por Ban Laem is regarded as one of the most sacred Buddha images and is highly respected by Buddhists both domestics and outsiders. There are many people coming to pay homage and blessings especially vowing to recover from illness.

Location

Wat Phet Samut Worawihan situated on Phet Samut Rd, Tambon Mae Klong,

Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram Mueang Samut Songkhram ( th, เมืองสมุทรสงคราม, ) is the capital district (''amphoe mueang'') of Samut Songkhram province, central Thailand. History The district was established in 1897, then named Lom Thuan and con ...

, Samut Songkhram Province near

Mae Klong River The Mae Klong (, , ), sometimes spelled Mae Khlong or Meklong, is a river in western Thailand. The river begins at the confluence of the Khwae Noi (Khwae Sai Yok) and the Khwae Yai River (Khwae Si Sawat) in Kanchanaburi, it passes Ratchaburi ...

and Mae Klong Railway Station. Presently, this temple is regarded as one of the most renowned tourist attractions of Samut Songkhram alike with

Don Hoi Lot Don Hoi Lot ( th, ดอนหอยหลอด, ) is a sandbar off the coast of Samut Songkhram Province at the northwestern tip of the Bay of Bangkok. The sediments of the Mae Klong River together sediments from the sea form a system of mudfl ...

, Mae Klong Railway Market, and Amphawa Floating Market.

Pop culture

Wat Phet Samut Worawihan or Wat Ban Laem include other places in Samut Songkhram are mentioned in the lyrics of least two luk thung (Thai country song), titles ''"Mon Rak Mae Klong"'' (มนต์รักแม่กลอง; literally: Mae Klong love spell) and ''"La Sao Mae Klong''" (ลาสาวแม่กลอง; farewell Mae Klong girl). For La Sao Mae Klong describes a young seaman who must leave Mae Klong (Samut Songkhram) went to get service at Phra Chulachomklao Fort, Samut Prakan. It has been popular since 1966, with new recordings by many singers, but original version by Panom Nopporn.

References

External links

*{{cite web, url=https://uk.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Wat-Ban-Laem-or-Wat-Phet-Samut-Worawihan--5198, title=WAT BAN LAEM OR WAT PHET SAMUT WORAWIHAN, work= TAT Buddhist temples in Samut Songkhram Province Ancient monuments in Thailand Tourist attractions in Samut Songkhram province