Wat Phothivihan Explained

Wat Phothivihan
Native Name:Malay: Wat Phothivihan
Thai: วัดโพธิวิหาร
Location:Tumpat
Coordinates:6.1302°N 102.1376°W
Religious Affiliation:Buddhism
District:Tumpat District
State:Kelantan
Country:Malaysia
Founded By:Phra Krurasapia Chakorn[1]
Established:1973
Architecture Type:Thai temple

Wat Photivihan (Thai: วัดโพธิวิหาร;) (also called as the Phothivihan Buddhist Temple) or Wat Yamu (Thai: วัดยามู), is a Thai temple in Tumpat District, Kelantan, Malaysia. It is one of 25 temples found in Tumpat and is one of the most popular in the country.[2] [3]

History

The temple was established in 1973 by abbot Phra Krurasapia Chakorn which attracts thousands of Thai pilgrims every year.[1]

Features

The temple houses a 40-metre statue of a sleeping Buddha, which is considered as the largest and longest in the state since its construction in 1975.[1] [3] [4] Upon its completion in 1979, the statue is recognised as one of the two reclining Buddha statues in Malaysia and also the largest in Southeast Asia until being surpassed by the 66-metre statue in Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple of Myanmar.[5] The devotees of this temple are mainly ethnic Thais since the temple itself is a typical Thai Buddhist temple of Theravāda Buddhism. Despite this, there is also a Chinese Pavilion, Tibetan style hall featuring a statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara with 18 arms and Phra Phrom, the four-faced goddess.[5] The compound also includes accommodation for monks and visitors. There is plenty of free parking and entrance to the temple is free with any donations from the visitors are always welcomed.

References

  1. Book: DK Travel. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Malaysia and Singapore. 15 January 2016. Dorling Kindersley Limited. 978-0-241-25431-8. 154–.
  2. Web site: Shop, shop, shop: Big on bargains. Shanti Gunaratnam. New Straits Times. 8 May 2006. 21 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20060520084330/http://www.nst.com.my/Weekly/Travel/article/FeatureStory/20060508104737/Article/. 20 May 2006. dead.
  3. Web site: Tumpat's iconic tribute to Buddha. Sira Habibu. The Star. 28 August 2017. 21 March 2019.
  4. Web site: Thai goods shopping in Kelantan. Mariah Doksil. The Borneo Post. PressReader. 28 August 2016. 21 March 2019. Wat Phothivihan located in Tumpat, is a famous temple for its reclining Buddha statue. It is Malaysia's biggest reclining Buddha with a length of 40 metres..
  5. Web site: Tumpat - Finding Buddha in the backwaters of Kelantan. Dan's on the Road. 23 December 2014. 21 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321053229/http://www.dansontheroad.com/2014/12/23/tumpat-finding-buddha-in-the-backwaters-of-kelantan/. 21 March 2019. dead.