In the light of wisdom - Wat Prayun in Bangkok by Walter G. Allgöwer

In the heart of Bangkok, in the venerable Wat Prayurawongsawas Waravihan - also known as Wat Prayun - a scene of profound spiritual beauty reveals itself to the eye: a majestic Buddha statue in the Bhumispara mudra, the gesture of touching the earth, is enthroned in silent grandeur. This mudra symbolises the moment of Siddhartha Gautama's enlightenment - that sacred moment when he called upon the earth to bear witness to his truth. The golden lustre of the statue seems to reflect more than just light - it radiates wisdom, compassion and timeless tranquillity.
At the feet of the Enlightened One are smaller, also gold-plated Buddha figures in the Abhaya mudra - the gesture of protection, fearlessness and inner peace. It is a moving ensemble: the great Buddha, in silent contemplation, and the standing Buddhas, giving courage and comfort to the faithful.
Gilded decorations, ornate mosaics and sparkling chandeliers complete this atmosphere of awe-inspiring spirituality. The temple itself thus becomes a place of inner contemplation, a mirror of awakening in the midst of the pulsating metropolis. A sacred still life that invites meditation, devotion and realisation.