Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Rai

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File:WatPraSingh-CR-Ubsoth.jpg
The Ubosoth at Wat Pra Singh, Chiang Rai

Wat Pra Singh (Thai: วัดพระสิงห์) is a Buddhist temple located on Thanon Singkhlai in Tambon Wiang, Mueang district, Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand.

Wat Pra Singh was built by Pra Chao Maha Proma (P.E. 1345 – 1400), c. 1385 (B.E. 1928).

The Phra Singh image

File:WatPraSingh-CR-UbosothPraPuttarup.jpg
The Buddha images within the Ubosoth at Wat Pra Singh, Chiang Rai

The Ubosoth contains several replicas of the Pra Singh or Pra Buddhasihing image, a cultural landmark in the history of the Lanka wong Theravada Sect of Buddhism in Thailand.

An Ebony and Gold image

File:WatPraSingh-CR-UbosothPraSinghReplica-BlackAndGold.jpg
One replica of the Pra Singh image at Wat Pra Singh, Chiang Rai

The Pra Buddhasihing image, called the Pra Singh image in Northern Thailand, is said to have come from Sri Lanka to Nakorn Sri Thammalat to Sukhothai to Ayutthaya, Kamphaengphet, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai before ending up in Bangkok.

A Purple Jade image

File:WatPraSingh-CR-UbosothPraSinghReplica-PurpleJade.jpg
Another replica of the Pra Singh image at Wat Pra Singh, Chiang Rai

According to the Chiang Mai Chronicles Pra Chao Maha Proma attempted to usurp the throne at Chiang Mai upon the death of his brother Pra Nue Na but failed and withdrew to the protection of the king of Ayutthaya. When he later returned to Chiang Rai he brought the Pra Buddhasihing image with him.

Other Buddha images at Wat Phra Singh

File:WatPraSingh-CR-BodhiTreePraPuttarup.jpg
Buddha images beneath a Bodhi tree at Wat Pra Singh, Chiang Rai

There are several other interesting Buddha images at Wat Pra Singh, like these gathered beneath a Bodhi tree sent from India.

The Pali School at Wat Pra Singh

File:WatPraSingh-CR-SalaLankaFlower.jpg
Flower of the Sala Lanka tree at Wat Pra Singh, Chiang Rai

There has long been a Pali language school at Wat Pra Singh and a new building was dedicated on the occasion of the Queen's seventy second Phansa, on 22 July 2005 (22 กรกฎคม 2548).

According to Radhika Abeysekera, the Buddha's mother, Queen Mahaa Maayaa, decided to visit her mother so that she could be with her at the time of the birth of her baby.

On the way she stopped at the Lumbini Pleasure Garden to rest. Under a sweet-scented Sala Lanka tree, on a full moon day in the month of May, in the year 623 BC, the Prince was born.

Wat Pra Singh in Chiang Rai has a pair of Sala Lanka trees behind the chedi, in front of the kuti, or monks' quarters. They are sweet scented indeed.

The Buddha walked the earth for 80 years and passed into Nirvana in 543 BC. The P.E and the B.E. differ by 543 years.

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