This bronze image of a seated Buddha is in the attitude of subduing evil. It has very fine characteristics. The lap width is 28 inches while the height from the base to the top of the finial is 41 inches. It is enshrined at Wat Pho Chai in Nong Khai municipal area. This sacred Buddha image has been enshrined since the establishment of the province. The history of this image relates to many parts of Thai history but it is unclear when it was cast or who cast it. HRH Prince Damrong Rachanuphap speculated on its origin in a book called ‘Histories of Important Buddha Statues’ which was published and distributed in a royal kathin ceremony in the year 1925.
Prince Damrong thought that Luang Pho Phra Sai was cast in Lan Chang Kingdom. According to legend, three princess were the persons who caused the casting. Another legend gives more derails, such as, King Chaiyachetthathirat’s princess daughters were named Serm, Suk, and Sai. They had the unanimous idea to cast their own personal Buddha images. They then asked their father for support, thus leading to the king’s command to cost three Buddha images having different sizes according to their ages, the oldest having the largest image. They were named accordingly, Phra Serm for the oldest and largest, Phra Suk for the middle sister and second largest size, and Phra Sai for the youngest and smallest image.
In the year 1776 King Tham Thewawong moved the three Buddha images to be enshrined in Vientiane. They were moved back to Thai territory again during the reign of King Rama III. However, a storm which caused the sinking of Phra Suk at the mouth of Nom Ngum River (Wern Phra Suk) did not affect the others. Phra Serm and Phra Sai were enshrined in Wat Pho Chai and Wat Ho Klong respectively. In the reign of King Rama IV, Phra Serm was moved to be enshrined in Bangkok while Phra Sai still remained in Nong Khai at Wat Pho Chai. On every full moon day of the 7th lunar month the people of Nong Khai celebrate Phro Soi by having ‘Bun Bong Fai’, the rocket contest ceremony or Wat Pho Chai.
Traveling from Nong Khai township, one can go by Highway No.212 beginning at KM 2.
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