Naga of Phayao—Phayao City, Thailand - Statues of Religious Figures on Waymarking.com

Phayao City, capital of the northern Thai province of the same name, is located on the pleasant eastern shore of the freshwater Lake Phayao. On this shore, near the city centre is a statue of two Naga.

These two Naga are maybe 3m long, facing each other, and are white in colour. They are well crafted, and elaborate in design. At night they are illuminated (though I did not see this). Between the two Naga is a chedi, a repository for the cremated bones of the deceased. This chedi holds (most likely metaphorically) the bones of the Naga, or a Naga.

Naga, are a religious identity found throughout southeast Asia. In appearance they are a large snake, a serpent, however, they vary widely in form. They derive from the Hindu religion, though they have been fully incorporated into Buddhist belief. There religious roll is ambivalent, playing sometimes a benign creature, sometimes not. In Buddhism they are revered, as a Naga protected the Buddha from a rainstorm while he was meditating.

This statue represents the Naga that lives in Lake Phayao. This serpent is widely recognised in the city and province, but it has something of a checkered history. According to the local legend: The Buddha visited Phayao at one time, thirsty, he dispatched his attendant to fetch water from the Lake, however, this serpent refused this request. Then the Buddha sent the Naga to the bottom of the Lake. Information obtained from local sources.

Regrettably, there is not a great deal of English language information available online about this legend, thus, I am sure I am missing something in the translation.

Associated Religion(s): Buddhism, Hinduism. Statue Location: Lake Phayao Entrance Fee: none Artist: Unknown Website: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the statue. A waymarker and/or GPSr is not required to be in the image but it doesn't hurt.

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