Talking at Length about Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem — Legend of the Mae Klong Waters (EP.1)

The Five Sibling Buddhas of the Waters

Speaking of sacred Buddha images that are the guardians of their towns, whose extraordinary miraculous legends are told, said to be the five sibling Buddhas that floated on the water, they are as follows:

1. Luang Pho Sothon, Chachoengsao Province

2. Luang Pho To, Samut Prakan Province

3. Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing, Nakhon Pathom Province

4. Luang Pho Wat Khao Takhrao, Phetchaburi Province

5. Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem, Samut Songkhram Province

The Sacred Form of Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem

Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem is a guardian Buddha image of the town, the only one of the five sibling Buddhas of the waters whose form is a standing Buddha image in the alms-bowl posture. It is cast in brass, standing 170 cm from the tips of the toes to the top of the ushnisha flame. Its Buddhist artistry blends late Sukhothai with early Ayutthaya. The ushnisha is shaped as a flame, the robe forms a panel at the back with a pointed ridge, and the saṅghāṭi robe is plain and drapes long down to the shins. Both forearms are made in two segments (removable and interchangeable). The upper part of the base is a blooming lotus, while the lower part is faceted with 12 recessed facets. It is now gilded and enshrined in the ordination hall of Wat Phet Samut Worawihan — or, as we commonly call it, Wat Ban Laem — and is an important Buddha image of the people of Mae Klong, or Samut Songkhram Province.

The Legend of Its Discovery

According to local legend, it is told that around B.E. 2307 (1764 CE) the people of Ban Laem, most of whom were fishermen, one day went out to cast their nets for fish at the mouth of the Mae Klong River, and their net snagged two Buddha images. One was a seated Buddha image, which the people of Ban Laem gave to their relatives to enshrine at Wat Khao Takhrao in Phetchaburi Province. The other was a standing Buddha image in the alms-bowl posture (though it had no bowl when found), so they invited the standing Buddha image to be enshrined at Wat Si Champa, an ancient temple of the town of Mae Klong. This Wat Si Champa later came to be called Wat Ban Laem, and was afterward elevated to the rank of a third-class royal monastery of the worawihan type, and was granted the name Wat Phet Samut Worawihan.

Miraculous Powers and Sacredness

When the people invited him to be enshrined in the ordination hall and held a grand celebration to honor Luang Pho with great festivity, they then asked for sacred blessings from Luang Pho to help protect and watch over them. Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem possesses a sacredness revered by the people beyond what can be described in detail. It has been recounted that in the old days, whenever anyone suffered illness or hardship of any kind, they would come to pay homage and make vows to Luang Pho. Some who were gravely ill and had lost all hope in life, abandoned by doctors with no one to treat them, came to seek Luang Pho's grace to save their lives; by taking the holy water and the flowers offered to Luang Pho to consume and to apply, their illness improved day by day and returned to normal in many cases.

Some who fell into hardship went to make vows, apply gold leaf, and pay homage, asking Luang Pho for help, and Luang Pho helped them as they wished. Through the miraculous powers and sacredness of Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem, which are so abundant that the people have honored him as the father of the home and the town (Father of Wat Ban Laem), he has supernatural power to protect and watch over all people by every name, is an object of worship, and has been the auspicious spirit of the people of Samut Songkhram down to this very day.

Royal Faith

The miraculous powers of Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem gave rise to reverence and faith not only among Buddhists, especially the people of Mae Klong and throughout the country, but even kings and members of the royal family held him in reverence, with royal faith, coming to pay homage regularly. For example, His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) offered the Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Order of Chula Chom Klao and a monk's belt embroidered with silver thread as an offering to the Buddha; and Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, Prince Bhanubandhu Wongworadej, offered a blue glass alms bowl, since the original bowl had likely sunk and been lost in the water before the fishermen found the image at the sea off the mouth of the Mae Klong estuary.

Closing

If I were to recount the miraculous powers and sacredness of Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem, telling it all in one go would surely never end. I will find another occasion to continue the tale for you. As for this morning, I must excuse myself to go to work, so I will leave it here for now. Farewell.