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Aasom Reusi Nen Thaat Phutthakhun (อาศรมฤาษีเณร ธาตุพุทธคุณ)
Thai. ‘Hermitage of
Reusi Nen, Essence of the
Buddha's Virtues’. Name of a contemporary spiritual complex located in Pho Taeng (โพแตง) Subdistrict of Bang Sai (บางไทร) District in
Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya Province. Although officially presented as a hermitage, the site functions primarily as a syncretic religious and cultural centre that blends elements of Thai ascetic traditions, popular
Buddhism, and modern devotional practices. It derives its name from Reusi Nen, an ascetic figure whose cult has grown in prominence within Thai spiritual culture, and from the concept of phutthakhun (พุทธคุณ), the perceived essence or qualities of the
Buddha that are invoked in various forms of worship. The hermitage is situated near the western ring road, Highway 9, which connects the Bangkok metropolitan area to
Ayutthaya, making it accessible to both local residents and visitors from surrounding provinces. Its architectural and sculptural landscape is characterised by large-scale devotional imagery, most notably an imposing statue of
Reusi
Phrommet
(fig.), considered one of the largest representations of this ascetic deity in
Thailand. Numerous other figures associated with Thai popular religiosity populate the grounds, including the nine-faced
Thao
Wetsuwan, the child-spirit
Kumaanthong in its Chao Sua Heng (เจ้าสัวเฮง) manifestation, and the
Hindu deity
Ganesha. These images reflect the pluralistic nature of religious practice at the site, where Buddhist,
Brahmanical, and
animistic elements coexist. The hermitage serves as a destination for a variety of ritual and merit-making activities. Devotees visit to receive blessings, participate in water-ritual ceremonies involving consecrated basins, and seek auspicious signs related to personal fortune, often in the context of lottery culture. In addition to its religious functions, the site has become a minor attraction within the broader landscape of spiritual tourism in Ayutthaya, drawing visitors interested in contemporary expressions of Thai sacred art and popular devotionalism.
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