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Situated at Mu 10, Tambon Phraek Si Racha, which is
about 23 kilometres off the provincial town of Chai Nat, Wat Phra Kaeo
is another ancient temple housing a beautiful square-based stupa.
Within the temple ground also houses a high stupa in a harmonious blend
of the Lawo and late Dvaravati styles, as well as a relic chamber with
a recessed base in the Sukhothai and Sri Vijaya styles.
In front of
the stupa stands a Buddha image hall known as Wihan Luangpho Chai,
where a delicately carved sandstone lintel was found at the back of the
image. This lintel depicts an image of the God Indra riding the
elephant named Erawan inside a stylized shelter in a distinctive Khmer
style, which dates back to more than 1,000 years ago. It is believed
that at the decline of the Khmer empire, someone must have taken this
artefact from somewhere and carved the Buddha image out of it. However,
the head of the elephant is overturned, its trunk pointing upward, as a
riddle that in order to be enlightened like the Lord Buddha “one must
overcome greed, hatred, and ignorance to find true happiness.”
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