A 700-year-old replica of "Luang Pho Ngern" from Pak Nam Temple in Ubon Ratchathani Province was enshrined for tourists to pour water on at the "Sook Siam Fun Songkran Ban Chan" event held at Iconsiam.
9 April 2026 GMT+7 Phra Sri Wisutthimuni, Deputy Provincial Chief Monk of Ubon Ratchathani and abbot of Pak Nam Temple (Bung Sar Phang), revealed that on 8 April 2026 GMT+7, Iconsiam had enshrined "Luang Pho Ngern" a 700-year-old replica from Pak Nam Temple, Ubon Ratchathani Province, for tourists to pour water on during the "Sook Siam Fun Songkran Ban Chan" event.
This year's event highlights were presented under the concept "Great Faith of the Mun River to the Sacred Land of the Chao Phraya River Basin." The main goal is to elevate the Songkran tradition and promote Thailand's Soft Power internationally. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mrs. Chotika Akarakitsopakul, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.
The enshrinement of the 700-year-old "Luang Pho Ngern" from Pak Nam Temple, Ubon Ratchathani, for both Thai and foreign tourists to pour water on marks the first time the temple has allowed the statue to be taken outside its grounds. This serves to share the story of the faith flowing from the Mun River basin connected to the Chao Phraya River basin, the heart of Bangkok.
Regarding "Luang Pho Ngern" the statue enshrined from Ubon Ratchathani at Iconsiam is a silver Buddha in the Mara Vichaya posture, crafted in the Chiang Saen Lan Chang style, approximately 700 years old. It is the 'Victory Buddha on Elephant Back' of the Isan region, associated with the Phra Wo-Phra Ta army during the establishment of Ubon Ratchathani Sri Wanlai city. According to history, it fought alongside the army of Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kasat Suek during the transfer of the Emerald Buddha to Thonburi. It was discovered at Wat Pa Phra Phikanet in 1972, following a vision by Luang Pu Chao Khun Phra Mongkol Thamawat (Yha Than Boonchan Jattasalo), when a beam of light shone from the Ganesh forest at Wat Pa Phra Phikanet near Pak Nam (Bung Sar Phang), Kut Lat Subdistrict, Mueang Ubon Ratchathani District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. This led to its discovery and enshrinement in 1972, now 54 years ago.
Luang Pu Phra Mongkol Thamawat, also known as Yha Than Boonchan Jattasalo, who had the vision and led the enshrinement of Luang Pho Ngern in 1972, studied the five Maha Thip mantras from teachers tracing back to Ban Don Mod Daeng camp, Ubon Ratchathani Sri Wanlai. The lineage of succession is as follows:
Yha Than Thao was a great monk who migrated with the Phra Wo-Phra Ta army from Ban Don Mod Daeng camp, Ubon Ratchathani Sri Wanlai. He led teachings of the five Maha Thip mantras and the arts of craftsmanship to the people of Ubon. He is believed to have led volunteer soldiers to build Phra That Pha Kaeo (Phra That Phra Kaeo) stupa and was the teacher of Kruba Thamwong of Wat Ban Pha Kaeo (Ban Phra Kaeo).
Kruba Thamwong studied the five Maha Thip mantras at Ban Don Mod Daeng camp, succeeding Yha Than Thao. He lived to 135 years old and was the teacher of Phra Kru Wiroj Rattanabon (Rod Nandaro), also known as Luang Pu Dilo of Wat Thung Sri Muang, who restored Phra That Phanom and was also the teacher of Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong (Ouan Tisso).
Phra Kru Wiroj Rattanabon (Rod Nandaro) studied the five Maha Thip mantras and the unique craftsmanship of Ubon Ratchathani Sri Wanlai, succeeding Kruba Thamwong. He was the teacher of Luang Pu Chao Khun Phra Mongkol Thamawat (Boonchan Jattasalo), who had the vision and enshrined the 700-year-old Luang Pho Ngern, the Victory Buddha on Elephant Back of the Isan region, from beneath the earth at Ganesh forest, Wat Pa Phra Phikanet.