Tham Wat Sila At [Tham Phu Phra] [CH0048]

Martin Ellis - 19/06/2019

Within the monastery grounds there is a cave whose entrance has been developed into the mouth of a Naga. The cave is formed in sandstone and consists of a single, straight passage. This passage has an average width of 3m at ceiling height and 1.2m at ground level. The average height is 3.5m. The cave ends at a lake with variable water levels. The passage continues, but Mouret's team stopped in the lake, immersed to the neck. There was a lot of gas being released from the bottom of the lake so they retreated. Mouret recommended a return late in the dry season and on a February visit John Dunkley found that the cave ended soon after the point reached by Mouret. Within the compound of the temple is a rock shelter where the bas-relief Buddha images were engraved. It is the source of the name Phu Phra and has been respected among the locals for a long period of time. At present, there is a roof covering the bas-reliefs, comprising of a large Buddha image, sitting in the meditation posture with the width at its lap of 1.52 metres and the height of 2.13 metres. Its right palm is placed on his lap, while his left one is on his shank (the opposite of the subduing Mara posture). The large image is called Phrachao Ong Tue. Moreover, there is a small 17- centimetre high sandstone Buddha image in the similar posture at its front, while nearby are situated another 7 images around a sandstone column, 5 in the meditation posture and 2 in the same posture as Phrachao Ong Tue. These images possess the same characteristics as those of the U Thong style during the 13-14th century or at the beginning of the Ayutthaya period. There are ceremonies to pay respect to the images at Phu Phra twice a year and 3 days a time, on the 1st day of the waxing moon in the 3rd lunar month and the 13th day of the waxing moon in the 5th lunar month.