Buddha Statues & Gestures: June Exhibition at Skiptvet Library
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Featuring: Phra Buddha Sothorn (The Buddha seated in a Medition gesture) — A symbol of "Cleanliness" and "purity"
For this June, we present another renowned Buddha image from Thailand: Phra Buddha Sothorn, a name signifying "cleanliness" or "purity." This statue depicts the Meditation posture, also known as the Enlightenment posture (Dhyana Mudra), which symbolizes "awakening."
The Meditation Posture (Samadhi / The Enlightenment)
Iconographic Characteristics:
The Buddha image is in a seated position, cross-legged in the "flat" meditation style.
Hands: Both hands rest palms upward on the lap, with the right hand placed over the left hand.
Legs: The right leg is placed over the left leg.
The Histroy of Phra Buddha Sothorn
Phra Buddha Sothorn is one of the most highly revered and sacred Buddha images in Chachoengsao Province and throughout Thailand. Depicted in the Meditation posture, the story of Luang Phor Sothorn has been passed down through local folklore, detailing the following miraculous events:
Floating Along the River: According to legend, the statue is one of three brother Buddha images (some accounts say five) that miraculously floated down from the north through various rivers, until Phra Buddha Sothorn eventually entered the Bang Pakong River.
Enshrining the Statue: In the past, local villagers invited and enshrined the Buddha image at "Wat Hong" (currently known as Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan) around 1770 (during the late Ayutthaya or early Thonburi period).
The Origin of the Name "Sothorn": Originally, the temple was named Wat Hong. Later, after a swan (Hong) sculpture on a pillar broke and fell, villagers renamed it "Wat Sao Thong" (Flagpole Temple). When strong winds broke the flagpole, it was changed to "Wat Sao Thong Thon." Finally, when the Buddha image was enshrined here, both the statue and the temple were renamed "Sothorn" to match, an auspicious name signifying "cleanliness" or "purity."
This June, we are delight to present Phra Buddha Sothorn in three styles of casting: green resin, clear resin with an Emerald Buddha image inside the body, and gilded with gold leaf in a glass casket.
Featured Statues This Month
For this month’s exhibition, we are pleased to feature three distinct statues representing this mudrā.
A Meditation Buddha image in the Kandy style of Sri Lanka. The flame-like topknot (ushnisha) symbolizes the wisdom of enlightenment, while the lotus base symbolizes purity. (Right)
📍 Location: Skiptvet Library, Storveien 31A, 1816 Skiptvet
📅 Date: 1 – 30 June 2026
🕒 Opening Hours*:
Monday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Wednesday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
Join us to explore the deep symbolism and peace behind these sacred gestures.
*Please visit the Skiptvet Library website for the latest updates.
