Part 2: Theoretical Frameworks and Relevant Documents
2. Wat Khun Inthapramoon
Moreover, within Wat Khun Inthapramoon compound, there are historical remains of basement, some parts of walls, and Buddha image in Luang Pho Khao Viharn. This assembly hall used to be an ordination hall before. Inside the all-purpose pavilion, there is a statue of Khun Inthapramoon and the skeleton found in the assembly hall of the reclining Buddha image in 1998 lying on his face with his hands and feet tied up. People believe that this skeleton is of Khun Inthapramoon, but some say it is not. According to the legend, Khun Inthapramoon was a revenue officer who secretly embezzled the government tax to build this reclining Buddha image as a holy object. When the king asked how he obtained the fund from, Khun Inthapramoon did not reveal the truth because he was afraid that his merit from building this image would be passed on to the king. He was finally sentenced to death and the temple later was called Wat Khun Inthapramoon.
Nowadays, the new ordination hall of Wat Khun Inthapramoon has already been built. It locates behind the Buddha image. This brand-new and million-dollar ordination hall is equipped with a lift and an escalator. It is huge and rather empty. The mural painting inside of the ordination hall shows Neo-traditional Thai art which is the same as Wat Thasutthawat. The painting is about the history of Wat Khun Inthapramoon and also including images of the temple’s donors. The murals have ever made headline news before because they testify to the times that they have been created. For example, Instead of wield traditional accessories, two mythical figures firmly grip Steve Jobs’ pride (iPad) and joy their slender hands. Even though the murals are beautiful and interesting but, they are not assessed as a heritage.
Figure 9 Mural painting at Wat Khun In (Panot Asawachai, 2014.)
Aesthetic Value
Nowadays, this temple is the main destination for domestic religious tourism im Ang Thong. The renovation of has been started since 2006 when Phra Kru Wiset Chaiwat or Luang Phee Savoey, the former abbot of Wat Chai Mongkon, became an abbot of Wat Khun Inthapramoon. Many new buildings have been built behind the reclining Buddha image.
However, there are some three buildings inside the temple which are not changed much from this renovation. The aesthetic value of these three buildings is described as following:
The reclining Buddha image inside the assembly hall
The reclining Buddha image inside the assembly hall illustrates the special characteristic of Sukhothai style. The Kingdom of Sukhothai had important contacts with Sri Lanka. Thai monks travelled to Sri Lanka for further religious instruction. Sukhothai religious art was thus influenced by Sri Lankan art. The Buddha images of Sukhothai era gained important distinguishing characteristics from the images during the Khmer and Mon era. The special characteristics of Sukhothai Buddha image style is a flame appeared on the top of the head of the Buddha image and the head is covered with fine curled hair. The face is oval, with high curving eyebrows, a hooked nose, a downward gaze, and overall displays a gentle smiling expression. The reclining Buddha image of Wat Khun Inthapramoon follows the concept popular during the Sukhothai era.
Figure 10 Reclining Buddha Image at Wat Khun In (Panot Asawachai, 2014.)
Viharn Luang Pho Khao and a bell-shaped stupa on octagon base
This assembly hall (viharn) used to be an ordination hall of the temple before.
Nowadays, it remains only of its basement, some parts of walls, and the Buddha image inside which is named “Luang Pho Khao”. There is one ruin stupa behind Viharn Luang Pho Khao. This stupa is a bell-shaped stupa on octagon base. It is believe that it was built in the same period of the reclining Buddha image.
Figure 11 The ruin of Viharn Luang Pho Khao.
(Panot Asawachai, 2014.)
Figure 12 The ruin of bell-shaped stupa (Panot Asawachai, 2014.)
Social Value
Nowadays, this temple is surrounded by 7 villages and the temple serves as the community’s center for worship and meetings. Moreover, as many Thai kings went to pay homage to this image at this temple so, this temple represents a memorial to the kings who came to pay homage at this temple for the communities. At present, this temple is one of the most famous tourist destinations for religious tourism of Angthong province as well. In 2006, National Office of Buddhism in Ang Thong Province promoted the temple’s compound of Wat Khun Inthapramoon to be a Phutthamonthon of Ang Thong Province. Phutthamonthon is a Buddhist park for setting Buddhists’ activities on the Buddhist days such as Visakah Puja day which commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. Furthermore, many special events for promoting domestic tourism in Ang Thong have been sat up on the temple’s compound by using the reclining Buddha image as the back-drop for the events. Thus, these make this Buddha image to be famous and become a landmark for tourism in Ang Thong Province as well.
Figure 13 Likay Festival at Wat Khun In
Source: https://sites.google.com/site/khuninthapramul/home