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| Buddhist and Thai flags |
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During Thai Buddhist temples fair, Buddhist flags are often pitched on the road
to show the path to the temple.
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| Buddhist and Thai flags |
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It symbolizes the wheel of Buddhist Law, the endless cycle of birth and rebirth.
They are round with eight spokes symbolizing the Noble Eightfold Path.
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| Dharma wheel |
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People in the old days built wooden Buddha images. It was commonly believed that building a replica of Buddha was a way to support Buddhism. The builder would also gain merit. Some believed that building a wooden Buddha image would bring them good luck, good health and prosperity. There is also a belief that a newly built Buddha image can help lengthen the lifespan of the sick or people whose luck is falling under a bad sign or influence.
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Phra Mai Isan images looks similar with two postures, standing and sitting.
Once built, the wooden Buddha image would be presented to the temple's abbot and kept in the temple
hall for people to pay homage.
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| Phra Mai Isan image |
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Nowadays a new, stronger and more modern style of Buddha image can be cast so these ancient carved images are replaced and moved out from the temple hall. They are placed outside the temple walls or under big trees, at the mercy of the weather.
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This sacred shrine contains a Buddha sacred footprint.
The text in Thai language on the right side stipulates
that women are allowed to go there.
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| Sacred shrine |
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The most famous Buddha sacred footprint in Thailand is located in Wat Phra Phuthabat in Saraburi.
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In Thailand, many Buddhist temples have a Buddha sacred footprint
(รอยพระพุทธบาท).
The footprint is often big and shows the 108 auspicious characteristics
of Buddha.
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| Buddha sacred footprint |
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Thais people make merit with Buddha by donation religious objects to temples. These are always
accepted. Temples are often jumbled with religious bric-a-brac.
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| Chinese lion |
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Thai temples are Buddhist but there are elements of Hindu beliefs in most
temples. Hindu gods may have their statues included. Thai people also combine Buddhism with
ancient Animist beliefs.
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| Apsara |
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Buddhist temples in Thailand have very strict dress codes but it is only really
applied in Royal Buddhist temples.
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| Deity |
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