Khuang Phra Chao Lanna Buddhist Park - Mae Rim.

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Situated on the canal road at the Huay Tung Tao turn off, & next to the Cowboy Army Riding Centre.

A new centre & park dedicated to Lanna Buddhism & Culture.

The kingdom of Lanna was once the most prosperous land of Buddhism, as said (by the Lord Buddha) in the ‘Tripitaka’, “Lanna will be the only place on earth where Buddhism flourishes for five-thousand years”. Khung Phra Chao Lanna2 locates in Chiang Mai, also known as ‘Nopburi-Sri-Nakorn-Ping’, the city with great power since the old days. The name “Khuang Phra Chao Lanna” represents a Buddhist ceremonial ground for the people of Lanna and for all Thai-Buddhists. It situates on a 12,000 square meters land area belonging to the Royal Thai Army.

291499=16240-IMG_6181.jpg


291499=16260-IMG_6190.jpg


291499=16242-IMG_6183.jpg


Phra Chao Lanna Ground (the Buddhist Holy Place of Lanna) was initiated by Ajarn Warin Buawiratlert, the great follower of the Old Kewalun3 of Himalaya. The construction was started on February 7, 2008 with supports from Buddhists around the world. This Buddhist Holy Place is said to be the only place in the history that does not acquire any funding from the government for its construction.
Source: http://arjarnwarin.net/en/
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Architect: Assistant Professor ChuraipornTumpasuwan
Landscape Designer: Ajarn Amnuay Intajak

Design Concepts:
1. The design is derived from the concepts of contemporary Lanna architecture.
2. The design is served as a live outdoor exhibition of the Life of the Lord Buddha. Each concept is expressed through different architectural buildings and scenes.
3. Based on Lanna beliefs, customs and traditions, the ground is served as a Buddhism site that publicizes the teachings of the Lord Buddha for the benefit of later generations as well as a means of preserving the Lanna way of life.

Phra Chao Lanna Image
Served as the principal image of the ground, this 99-inch wide bronze Buddha image in the ‘Subduing Mara’ posture is enshrined on a 5-meter high base with a Lanna style arch. This image is facing eastward. Behind the image, there is a large Bodhi tree. The ceremonial ground in front of the image is surrounded by sacred crystal walls holding 409 Buddha images, each of which represents the seven days of a week. These 9-inch images are situated beneath a Lanna style arch that has an inscription of the donor names at the bases. These donors are selected for their devoutness to preserve the Phra Chao Lanna Ground in their after-life when Buddhism has flourished for 5,000 years or until some other persons attain Nirvana. During this period of time, the donors, for their deeds in helping the construction of Khung Phra Chao Lanna, will be remembered and therefore anchor their souls to initiate new birth in heaven after they have departed this world. There are also two statues of guardian deities standing in front of the image of Phra Chao Lanna. Tung Radh-Dha-Na-Tri Lanna (Three Lanna Flags) situated in front of Phra Chao Lanna, representing the act of worshiping the Buddha, His Teachings, and His followers (Buddhist monks), believed to be a symbol of righteousness. Lanna people believe that by clinging to the flags their meritorious minds will pass into an existence that is free from suffering. The flags are not only the offerings that signify respects but also the preservations of Lanna custom and culture for later generations. At the front of Khung Phra Chao Lanna, two Naga statues are situated as the guardians of the sacred image.

291500=16259-IMG_6228.jpg


291500=16243-IMG_6233.jpg


291500=16274-IMG_6234.jpg


291500=16244-IMG_6229.jpg
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Dhamma Pavilion and Anodard Pond

Located in the north of Khung Pra Chao Lanna, it is designed to be a meditation hall for pilgrims. This modern Lanna style building houses “Phra chao Tan chai[1]”, a 59-inches Buddha image in arched shrine. This Buddha image was completed in only 7 days. Outside the building, there is a large pond called “Anodard Pond”.
The entrance is decorated with Twin Naga leading to the Dhamma Pavilion. The twin Naga, acting as the guardians of Buddhism, came from the underwater world to listen to the teachings of the Lord Buddha.
Within this Anodard Pond, there is a standing Buddha image, in a posture called “Rum Peung”, 169 centimeters in height appeared to be floating above a big beautiful waterfall.

Based on the history of the Lord Buddha, this standing Buddha image represents the Lord Buddha when he recognized individual characteristics of people in the world. He compared an individual to four lotus buds.
The first lotus bud, called “Uk-kati-tanyu”, comes above the water; it gets the sunshine and blooms easily like a genius who can understand what she or he learns, easily.
The second lotus bud, called “Wi-paji-tanyu”, is in the water; it needs some time to grow out above the water and gets the sunshine then it blooms. This is like a person who does not understand at first when he tries to learn but he tries again and then he understands.
The third lotus, called “Ney-ya”, comes out under the water, it needs a long time to grow out above the water, and then it gets the sunshine, and blooms later. This is like a person who doesn’t understand when he tries to learn but he tries again and again, never giving up, then at last he understands.
The fourth lotus, called “Pata-por-rama”, is in the mud, it doesn’t have the ability to grow out from the mud. This is like a person who tries very hard in his study but has no ability to understand. The Lord Buddha determined that he would teach those teachable individuals until he could establish Buddhism for all mankind. This is the background of this standing Buddha image.

291513=16245-IMG_6192.jpg


291513=16263-IMG_6195.jpg


291513=16246-IMG_6201.jpg


291513=16261-IMG_6197.jpg


291513=16262-IMG_6198.jpg
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Sala Batra - Food Offering Pavilion

This modern Lanna style pavilion was constructed from bricks and gilded stucco, decorated with colored glasses. The pavilion houses nine Buddha images representing Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Wednesday night, Thursday, Thursday night, Friday and Saturday. These Buddha images are the same size of human beings and seated in Lanna style arches with decorated base. Traditionally, the food-offering pavilion was used as the place for placing monks’ alms bowls that people can put their offerings in (which later be given back to monks from the temples’ men, group of students residing in the temples). Inspired by this tradition, the architect placed the nine Buddha images in the pavilion to represent the Lord Buddha who will welcome all offerings offered in this pavilion. Therefore, whenever there is alms offering activity, Sala Batra is set up to accommodate this activity.

291523=16264-IMG_6185.jpg


291523=16273-IMG_6227.jpg


291523=16265-IMG_6202.jpg


291523=16266-IMG_6216.jpg

291523=16267-IMG_6219.jpg


291523=16268-IMG_6220.jpg

291523=16269-IMG_6221.jpg


291523=16270-IMG_6222.jpg

291523=16271-IMG_6223.jpg


291523=16272-IMG_6213.jpg
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Buddhist Holy Sites

These buildings were built to commemorate the Lord Buddha in terms of his birth, enlightenment, and Nirvana. On the ground in front of the arched door, there were eight pillars representing The Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Meditation.

The way to the Birth Pavilion displays the story of Prince Siddhartha and His Mother – a Child Prince was born on seven lotuses under big Sala tree.
The way to the Enlightenment Pavilion houses a 59-inches bronze Buddha image in a Lanna style shrine. In the back of the pavilion, there is a great Bodhi tree surrounded by a big lotus pond and a worship ground.
Then, the way leads to the Nirvana Pavilion, where a 5-meters long reclining Buddha is housed in. The Buddha lies on a 1-meter tall crystal base in a Lanna-style shrine. Outside the pavilion, there are twin Sala trees that make the area peaceful and beautiful.
There is also a model garden where the Lord Buddha explained his first Dharma, called “I-si-patana-maru-kata-yawan”, where 108 holy trees are planted. The Buddhist Holy Sites are aimed to be the places for learning the teachings of the Lord Buddha.

291524=16275-IMG_6239.jpg


291524=16276-IMG_6249.jpg


291524=16277-IMG_6250.jpg


291524=16278-IMG_6256.jpg


291524=16279-IMG_6252.jpg


291524=16280-IMG_6251.jpg


Check it all out sometime soon. It's new! A beautiful spot, relaxing, quiet & peaceful; & bound to get on the "tourist map" eventually.

Info source: http://arjarnwarin.net/en/

291524=16281-IMG_6258.jpg
 

Rod Page

0
Subscribed
Jan 7, 2010
823
74
28
I watched it being built 'brick by brick' as we often headed past for a sunset beer on the reservoir, or with friends for lunch over the water, even when heading back down to Chiang Mai on the dirt tracks behind the Royal Palace/Doi Suthep. It is indeed a wonderful part of Chiang Mai.

Thanks for the informative post - it added greatly to many fond memories of the area concerned as I'm sure it will to all those, & there are many, who head past the complex when heading north.