Temple of Truth in Pattaya: The largest wooden temple in the world, where people come to fulfill their desires

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The Temple of Truth, located on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand, could be seen by many in the comedy "Love in the Big City 2", thanks to which the audience got acquainted with one of the legends associated with it. The construction of the temple was started several decades ago and is still not completed due to the prophecy associated with it. But it is here that you can ask Buddha to fulfill your cherished dream.

Grandiose long-term construction

The construction of the world's largest wooden temple was started in Pattaya back in 1981, but has not yet been completed. According to one of the versions, the entrepreneur Leka Viriyapana, who began to build the temple, was in no hurry to complete the construction himself.

This was due to the prediction that he should have died after the completion of the work. However, he died in 2000, before the temple was finished. The son of a businessman, who continued his father's work, is also in no hurry to bring what he started to its logical end due to the same prophecy. The final deadline for the completion of the construction is now 2025.

The construction of the temple is not funded by the state in any way, so its construction continues with the money received from the excursions. Many elements of the temple are already in need of restoration; compliance with the deadlines for the final commissioning of the temple remains in question.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that this temple is entirely composed of valuable wood and is built without the use of nails. Some tourists, however, find nails in the tree and try to convict the builders of insincerity. But these nails, as you can see, are not completely hammered in. They are used in those places where the destruction began, and they are not completely hammered in so that during the restoration work they can be removed without damaging the surface.

A masterpiece of wooden architecture

In fact, the temple is impressive in its size and appearance. Each element is hand carved from wood.

The Temple of Truth consists of four rooms. Indian is dedicated to the elements. Fire is symbolized by dragons spewing flame, earth - plants and animals, air - trees, carved in such a way that it seems that they move from gusts of wind, and water is reflected by the ocean waves embodied in the tree.

In the Chinese Hall, you can see several statues that depict different incarnations of Bodhisattvas. For Buddhists around the world, this is a being who has made the decision to become a Buddha for a better life for all living things. A distinctive feature of this hall is the octagonal columns.

In the Thai Hall, there are statues of seven avators, symbolizing the days of the week. The largest statue is a symbol of Sunday, the king's birthday. In this hall, mantras are constantly sounding and there are five steps in front of which believers perform their prayers.

The last hall is Cambodian, there is a wooden sculptural composition depicting a family with three children.

Around the main spire of the temple there are four more, which are a symbol of the path to truth. The spiers are decorated with figures of Thai maidens, and the main one is crowned with the figure of the horseman Pra-Shri, the fifth reincarnation of the Great Buddha. The figure of each virgin is endowed with a special meaning. One has a lotus flower in her hands - this is the embodiment of Religion, the other holds a book and symbolizes Philosophy, the third, with a dove, is the embodiment of Peace, the fourth with a baby personifies Life.

Since construction is still ongoing, while visiting the Temple, you can see how the craftsmen create their masterpieces, masterly carving the most unthinkable patterns and figures from wood.

Fulfillment of desires

Believers sincerely believe that in this Temple Buddha hears the wishes of mere mortals and even fulfills them, if a certain ritual is observed.

On the opposite side from the entrance, there are three iron objects that help to reach the Buddha. To make a wish come true, you must first greet the Buddha with three strokes on the triangle, three strikes on the central bell clear the karma of the beggar, and three strikes on the gong with thoughts of a request help convey the requests to God.

In no case should you change the sequence of blows, this will become an obstacle on the way to your dream, and if you randomly hit metal objects, you can get a fine. But even the fine is not as terrible as insulting the Buddha with such actions.

In the Cambodian Hall, at the sculptural composition depicting a family, you can ask for family well-being and help in conceiving a child. If you rub the right hand of the baby statue, it will help to conceive a girl, and the left - a boy.

The knees of the statues of adults, rubbed to a shine, remind us that here you can ask for the health and well-being of your parents. Some believe that by doing so, the petitioners are also asking for blessings for their marriage.

Another amazing temple is located in the north of Thailand. - the place is unusual in many ways. It is difficult to say what makes a greater impression in it: the dazzling exterior or the frescoes depicting modern movie characters.