Chonburi Province
If anyone has been to the Siam Niramit show then they would see the end scenes of Heaven and hell, these are represented through sometimes quite imaginative but also in some ways disturbing visual scenes of life after death.
This temple depicts the other side of Nirvana or the more beautifully played out scenes from the Himmapan forest. The Himmapan is part of the Thai legend that is heaven and is the forest that surrounds the mountain called Meru.
Located in the Himalaya’s, it features creatures who frolic wildly and have a famous hermit tree that grows maidens which only the hermits are allowed to frolic with. Mythical half monkey and half bird folklore to Serpents and snakes whose imagery was possibly taken from old manuscripts as well as plenty of imagination.
Greeted by a giant fat Buddha and a sign welcoming you to hell, you start your wander through what at first appears to be normal depictions of peace and spiritual harmony. Walking on brings you to the garden of hell where starved looking statues with extended necks await. These cement and plaster statues are not like a waxworks where images are moulded to perfection. The statues here are as grim looking as the scenes they try to imitate. Two figures greet you with 21 tortured souls laying around looking, well looking tortured I guess.
Lots of inscriptions lay around which in basic terms mostly translate as do good or make merit whenever possible otherwise this one day will be your new home. I must say it’s enough to have you trying to find a fish to save and put into the nearest canal you can find. The 21 tortured souls each have different animal heads that reflect the nature of what got them all in trouble to start with.
Each sin or act of religious betrayal has its own punishment from dogs using you as their dinner to women being crushed in vices. I will say here some of the punishments seem a bit harsh for the crime and have me seriously concerned as to my own future Nirvana. Conveniently you are able to also make merit here at the temple itself to earn back some bonus points.
This may not be a temple that most will see as in any way traditional, yet it is. The story when taken side by side with the tales from the Himmapan forest leave you with a pretty good idea of which one you would prefer when that time comes.
If you are into Mythology then this and the forest are worth reading up on or look up the Siam Niramit show when Thailand opens again, (tickets from us of course ) to see it all acted out in one go.
If not head to Chonburi.
Photo credits.
- Fai Wichuda
- Chuti Chu
- Jah Jah
- รักสั้นๆ ขอคำเดียว
- Tom Palmy
- Noknoi Sommai
Author: Gary C.
Editor: Katie K.