Travel

Wat Phrammani: Home of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the Red-Lipped Buddha of Nakhon Nayok

Wat Phrammani, better known as the temple of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, is a century-old temple in Nakhon Nayok where locals come to pray for blessings and luck.

Wat Phrammani: Home of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the Red-Lipped Buddha of Nakhon Nayok

Quick answer

Wat Phrammani is in Moo 5, Ban Yai, Mueang Nakhon Nayok. Built in the reign of King Rama V and over 100 years old, it houses Luang Pho Pak Daeng, a bronze Lan Xang-style meditating Buddha with red-painted lips that people visit to ask for blessings. It also has a memorial to the Japanese 37th Division. Open 07:00–18:00.

Key takeaways

  • Century-old temple built in the reign of King Rama V
  • Luang Pho Pak Daeng: bronze Lan Xang-style meditating Buddha, 49-inch lap width
  • Legend says it is a sibling image of Luang Pho Phra Suk and Luang Pho Phra Sai
  • Also has a Japanese 37th Division memorial, a Luang Pho Pho shrine and a Guanyin hall
  • Open 07:00–18:00

Today Meeting Point is taking you to Wat Phrammani, also known as Luang Pho Pak Daeng. Anyone into spiritual sites should not miss it. It is an old temple deeply respected by locals and famous for answered prayers and good luck.

Wat Phrammani: Home of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the Red-Lipped Buddha of Nakhon Nayok 1

The name Wat Phrammani may not ring a bell, but say Wat Luang Pho Pak Daeng and most people will know it right away. The temple houses an old Buddha image locals call Luang Pho Pak Daeng, famous for lucky lottery numbers. A steady stream of people come to pay respects and ask for numbers and blessings, and in the days before a lottery draw the car park is almost full.

Wat Phrammani: Home of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the Red-Lipped Buddha of Nakhon Nayok 2

Wat Phrammani is an old temple built during the reign of King Rama V and is now more than 100 years old, one of the oldest in Nakhon Nayok. It is best known for the sacred principal Buddha image in its ordination hall, the widely revered Luang Pho Pak Daeng.

Wat Phrammani: Home of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the Red-Lipped Buddha of Nakhon Nayok 3

The history and legend of Luang Pho Pak Daeng

Luang Pho Pak Daeng is a sacred meditating Buddha image revered by the people of Nakhon Nayok. It is cast in bronze, with a lap width of 49 inches and a height of 1 meter, in Lan Xang style, with a robe patterned with bullet-wood flowers and a gently smiling mouth clearly painted red, which gives it the name Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the red-mouthed Buddha. According to elders, the lips have been red like this for hundreds of years and were not added later, which amazes many visitors.

Besides lucky numbers, the image is considered sacred. Locals believe that praying to Luang Pho Pak Daeng helps you succeed in what you wish for, and its reputation has grown because so many people say their wishes came true.

Wat Phrammani: Home of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the Red-Lipped Buddha of Nakhon Nayok 4

The legend

Phra Khru Sophon Phromkhun, or Luang Pho Tueng, the abbot of Wat Phrammani, says that according to legend Luang Pho Pak Daeng is a sibling image of Luang Pho Phra Suk and Luang Pho Phra Sai, which is enshrined in Nong Khai.

The three images were brought from Vientiane. When they reached Thailand, villagers took them to different temples, and Luang Pho Pak Daeng was carried here and rested on the open land that is now Wat Phrammani.

Wat Phrammani: Home of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the Red-Lipped Buddha of Nakhon Nayok 5

Offerings for praying to Luang Pho Pak Daeng

  1. Flowers
  2. 3 incense sticks
  3. 1 candle
  4. 9 hands of nam wa bananas
  5. 9 sets of betel nut and leaves
  6. 9 garlands
  7. Anything else you wish to offer, such as red soda

The temple also has a memorial pavilion for the former Japanese 37th Division. During the Greater East Asia War, or World War II, many Japanese soldiers died in Nakhon Nayok, so the 37th Division veterans' association built a memorial in their honor. There is also a Luang Pho Pho shrine and a Guanyin hall where you can pay respects.

Wat Phrammani: Home of Luang Pho Pak Daeng, the Red-Lipped Buddha of Nakhon Nayok 6

After praying, if you want to buy something to take home, local vendors sell goods around the temple. If you are ever in Nakhon Nayok, stop by and make a wish.

Wat Phrammani (Luang Pho Pak Daeng)

Address: Moo 5, Ban Yai, Mueang district, Nakhon Nayok

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/GSkuEFU7KHxjrPg28

Hours: 07:00–18:00

Facebook: Wat Luang Pho Pak Daeng Nakhon Nayok

FAQ

Where is Wat Phrammani?

Moo 5, Ban Yai, Mueang district, Nakhon Nayok.

What are the temple's opening hours?

07:00–18:00.

What offerings do people bring to Luang Pho Pak Daeng?

Flowers, 3 incense sticks, 1 candle, 9 hands of bananas, 9 sets of betel nut, 9 garlands, and anything else you wish, such as red soda.

Why is it called Luang Pho Pak Daeng?

Pak Daeng means red mouth. The Buddha's smiling lips are clearly painted red, and elders say they have been that color for centuries.

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Meeting Point Management Team
Author Meeting Point Management Team, MBA มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ MBA University of Technology Sydney (UTS) DBA มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ Editorial Team

The Meeting Point management team loves eating, travelling, temple visits and lifestyle. We pick the restaurants, cafes, stays, attractions and temples we have visited ourselves and write about them honestly.

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