Phatthalung Lak Mueang—Phatthalung, Thailand. - Buddhist Temples and Public Shrines on Waymarking.com

A Lak Mueang or 'City Pillar Shrine' is a public shrine, usually in the shape of a pillar, which represents the tutelary diety of each province of Thailand. The pillar is housed in a structure, which often reflects the historical background of the province. Each Shrine has great religious, social, and political importance, and are held in high regard by the local inhabitants. Most Thai provinces have an official Shrine, and some districts within a province have their own, smaller shrine.

There are several different styles of lak mueang, however, they are normally located close to the centre of their town, usually in or near the governmental precinct. There is a belief that the height of the pillar was the height of the founder of the city, and its diameter a multiple of his fist size. Some shrines contain historical records of the town, region, or the shrine itself.

The shrine for the town and province of Phattalung is found a short distance to the east of the provincial hall, near the town centre. To my eye the shrine looks new. There is also a unique development to date, in my experience of these shrines, the actual pillars (there are two) are not located inside the main shrine, but in a much smaller, open structure outside the main entrance. The centrepiece of the shrine is a statue of the Buddha. The information signs at the shrine go part of the way to explaining this situation.

The sign states that in 1968 the King of Thailand commissioned four statues of the Buddha, which were to be distributed to four provinces at the four cardinal points. Phatthalung was one of these four provinces, however, I have visited Saraburi, another, and the Saraburi shrine contains a pillar and not a Buddha image.

As for the existence of two pillars, possibly one is the newer, a re-dedication perhaps. There are a series of photographs at this smaller shrine showing the manufacture of one of the pillars.

Open to visitors?: Yes Photography Permitted Inside?: Yes Statue of the Buddha present?: Yes Related Website: Not listed

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