Temple Monuments and Imagery

I don't get a lot of chance to go to temples these days. I'm not a Buddhist, or even much for religion in general, although I think it's obvious that in the right hands religion can do so much good (and sadly vice versa).

Anyway my wife is a Buddhist, although she doesn't feel the need to overtly show this and only goes to the temple when it takes her, which quite suits me, as I do find them incredibly peaceful places.

Anyway, we ended up in a temple in Hua Hin, one we've not been before, and this place had some incredible statues and artwork, although most of these impressive monuments were quite chilling.

In this pic above, this pond lies just next to the temple entrance, and is hidden away so you probably would walk straight passed it. Aiden was wandering outside and so I noticed it. To me, the shadowy relaxed figure in the background has despatched three gruesome beasts towards you. The most intimidating for me is the submerged croc whose shoulders are poised in a jump position, it's beady cold eyes just above the water level.... This thing is about to pounce and eat you!

Then you have his two chillingly ugly associates to the left and right; the zombie-eyed snake / boa, on the right of the picture, and that awful scaly worm on the left, slithering across the sides of the pond heading right in your direction.. This pond is a nightmare! If anyone can tell me any real facts about the shadowy character at the back I would be interested, I'm sure there is a story...

Now I've seen this fella before, the seven headed snake, although admittedly my knowledge of it's character, meaning or significance are non-existent and so again if anyone knows anything interesting about this horrific beast, please share.

Finally (and the picture doesn't do it justice) we have this huge entranceway, currently being renovated. You'll notice the two huge elephants, supporting the weight of the entire building, and the multiple headed, Chinese dragons scaling the columns, with the huge figure of Buddha (i think) in the background. He himself is the size of a bus..... Of course you have the hunched Buddhist monk at the centre, himself shielded by a golden umbrella.

It really is impressive stuff. Although in this temple it seems that the many statues are incredibly war-like, and fear inducing, not something I'm really used to in most of the temples I've encountered.

Comments

[Mike]

The snake is a "naga", a sacred beast found in Sanskrit,Khmer,buddhist and hindu mythology. In the Sanskrit, if I remember right, 1 man had 2 wives, one of which wanted many children (which became the Naga you see everywhere) and the other only wanted a couple of children (one of which became the mighty Garuda). The Garuda and the Naga became mortal enemies over something or other....the garuda was the good guy, nagas were the bad guys.
In buddhist mythology they became the good guys when one of them sheltered the Buddha from the elements, thats why the "saturday" buddha is seated under a naga. http://www.pbase.com/mike_n/image/70732190

[Ben Shingleton]

Super, thank you for passing on Mike, interesting, I will look into the things you mention, particularly the 'Saturday Buddha'!