Buraparam Temple, Ubon Ratchathani Province
Wat Buraparam is located in Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. Originally, Wat Burapa was located in Saen To Village, Village No. 6, Pathum Subdistrict, Mueang District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. In 1982, the municipality expanded the area of Ubon Ratchathani Municipality. Therefore, Wat Burapa was in the area of Ubon Ratchathani Municipality.
According to the history of Wat Burapa, no one has clearly written it, so we only rely on the stories of the elders. They said that in the past, this land was a Song Seng forest (in Isan language), which means an open forest. It was home to many animals. People rarely went there, so it was suitable for practicing Dhamma. Luang Pu Thasri and Luang Pu Sao went there to practice Dhamma. At that time, it was just a hermitage.
Later, in 1915, Luang Pu Man Phurithatto heard the news. He traveled from Wat Boromniwat, Bangkok, to become a disciple and practice Dhamma at Wat Burapa. When Chao Krom Luang Sarap Sitthiprasong donated money and land to build Wat Burapa, Therefore, it is the origin of the Vipatana meditation line. Many monks from all over the country have come to practice Dhamma at this temple.
Important buildings of Wat Burapha
The original Sala Karn Parian was built in 1915. Originally, the area where the Sala Karn Parian was built was the place where a crematorium was built to cremate Luang Pu Sao. After the cremation was complete, a Sala Karn Parian was built instead. However, a fire broke out, so Luang Pho Phra Khru Amorn Sit built a larger Vihara (currently still under construction) with the purpose of placing the statues of the five Luang Pus: Phra Ajahn Sita Chaiseno, Phra Ajahn Sao Kantasilo, Phra Ajahn Man Phurithatto, Phra Yan Wisit Singh Khantanyakamo, and Phra Sitthithammarangsi Khamphi Methachan (Si Thammatharo).
The Ho Trai of Wat Burapha is a dormitory, built on the ground, with two wooden houses next to each other. Each building is a 3-room house with round pillars raised from the ground and a veranda connecting the two buildings (now the veranda has all collapsed). The southern building is very well-crafted with herringbone-shaped walls, carved wood with lotus petal patterns around the building, and wood in a lion's foot pattern supporting the window frames. The roof is gabled with wooden slats, the pediment is covered with wood in the shape of the sun, and the eaves are carved with wood all around. It is not clear what kind of gable is used because both of the Ho Trai buildings are very dilapidated, but the structural features can still be clearly seen. #WorldHeritage #SongkranTravel #MissingTheForests