The Dharma Chamber of Ban Loog

Location: 163 Moo 8, Tambol Muang Nga, Amphur Muang, Lumphoon Province

Occupant: Wat Ban loog

Year established: 1886

In the past, the Lanna people believed that the building of a Dharma chamber or a Tripikata chamber is a way to worship the Tripikata, which is regarded as the Lord Buddha’s own words. The Tripikaataa which has been recorded in the right way will become priceless and sacred. Therefore, it needs to be kept in high places and has to be separated from other buildings.

The Dharma chamber of Ban Loog Temple was built in 1886, with Guru Bahpunya, the fourth abbot of the temple, as the chaiman of the construction. The construction was done according to cosmological principles, having the character of a two floored Thai shaped building, with a rectangle plan and a high cellar. In order to enter the Tripikata storage room, a ladder has to be leant to climb in, which is the reason why there are no stairs construction to be found, both internal and external. From the outside, the building is decorated with sculptures, which have been used to decorate the Dharma chamber of Ban Loog Temple, consisting of four wooden carved sculptures of the Chatulokaban (the Four Guardians of the world according to Buddhist belief) standing in the four corners of the building, symbolizing the principles, belief and idea of the Dharma chamber construction.

The tile covered roof is decorated with hanging water boards. The roof ridges are embellished with wooden carved Hassadeeling birds dotted into Chinese glass. There are wooden carved sculptures decorated with Chinese glass in the front side. The gable and its apex are wooden carved and dotted with brass, a special style which can be found in art of the area nearby the Ping River (Chiang Mai – Lampoon). The windows have drawings of angels walking south painted on cinnabar. Within the upper floor of the Dharma chamber, lays a Dharma casket containing the Tripikata made of palm leaves, which is considered to be the Dharma casket with the most perfect condition. There is a mulberry paper made base to place the image of the Lord Buddha in the bottom floor, where other antiques of the temple are being kept.

With its unique and beautiful characteristic of the Dharma chamber of Ban Loog. Muang Nga municipality is presenting the exhibition to increase both students and enthusiasts’ knowledge and understanding of its local history and the Lanna beliefs.