Wat Phra Prang Muni (วัดพระปรางค์มุนี)

Thai. ‘Temple of the Hermit's Stupa’. Name of a Buddhist temple in Singburi, which is believed to have been built in the late Ayutthaya period and is named from its golden prang. It is one of at least three Golden Temples in Thailand, the others being Wat Pahk Nahm Choloh in Chachengsao (fig.) and Wat Pluak Ket in Rayong (fig.). The temple's compound has a large reclining Buddha and a yak or giant that stands guard in front of the main stupa, as well as golden statues of two elephants, Phra Sangkatjaai, and a rather rough statue of the Chinese goddess of mercy Kuan Yin. There is also a large black-golden statue of the legless demon Rahu, the god of darkness, who causes the eclipses of the sun and moon, and a large golden Buddha image seated in the pahng pah leh laai pose, besides plenty of smaller Buddha mages. On the southeastern corner of the stupa is a golden parasol with underneath it a statue of the Hindu god Ganesha. Further to the north is a bodhi tree with beneath it some golden Buddha statues and a tamarind tree with underneath the statues of the hermit or reusi Narod (fig.) and of the brahmin doctor Jivaka Komarabhacca, the Buddha's personal physician. Beyond this is a pond with a fountain, where visitors can make merit by feeding the fish and turtles. See also EXPLORER'S MAP, TRAVEL PICTURE, and WATCH VDO. 回