Note: Old forum thread from my forum at http://www.megaads.info/forum/viewthread.php?tid=2101&extra=page%3D2. Photo taken using DC.
Pedu, one of the most popular recreation spot of Kedah, or it to be well known as Pedu Lake, surrounded by an undulating terrain, this magnificent lake offers a serenity that is unmatched, a landscape that is beautiful beyond words, and a refreshingly cool environment...wait a minute, am i writing temple intro or tourism intro? lol, and dont get it wrong here, you cant do your vocation and visit the temple in the same area, ah-ah, nothing that perfect, Pedu is huge, temple and recreation park is actually located far from each other, you will reach the temple first (which is located just beside the road) then only Pedu Lake, but its on the route if you care.
So today's intro is about Wat Phikulthararam (Wat Pedu), 38KM from Alor Setar, not so far actually, country road, less traffic but before that you have to pass through a kinda long road which is still under construction in the area of Pokok Sena. This is how to reach there, use the route to Pokok Sena, if you ever visited Wat Gajah at Padang Sanai then you should be familiar with this route. Its a long straight way, when its about 30KM from Alor Setar, turn left and go ahead for about 2KM entering roundabout and take the first exit on your left, after that just drive ahead for about 4-5KM, the temple is on your left. As you can see, just 2 turn only you have to made. If you got GPS device, launch it and spell "Wat Pedu Thai Buddhist Temple", you should be GPSED to there accurately without wasting single drop of petrol.
Wat Phikulthararam
Chief Abbot: Ven. Phrakhru Silakthammakhun
Address: Kg. Tanjung, Mk. Pedu, 06300 Kuala Nerang, Kedah
Telephone: 04-7867975
There are celebrating the songkra festival today, and invited some super VIP to the event, but it start at 2:30PM. Lot of local helping around to prepare for the event.
An Ubosot under construction. According to the committee member, the initial estimated cost was RM1mil, but now they need more than that, RM3mil is required to get that Ubosot done. He said if anyone would like to sponsor for the development fund can visit this temple or during the Khatina event which is on November every year can sponsor the amount of RM15k to be honored as the head of sponsor. He told me that there are currently 200 houses with around 2000 of siamese in this village, majority of them are farmer working in rubber estate, paddy field and orchard. Its quite tough to raise enough fund for the development of ubosot especially now days all the material price are quite costly. He urge anyone who is kind enough to help on the fund raising.
Interview with Archan Dam
This is Archan Dam, the current abbot of Wat Pedu. Age 49 and he is from Wat Changhai, Thailand. Been here for 9 years already and he is the one who build that Ubosot. He can only speak in Thai, therefore i cant get more info from him, my conversation with him have to assist by the local committee member, which is quite troublesome for both 3 of us. The following is the simple form of interview between Archan Dam and me, with a local committee member who can speaks in Malay as the interpreter.
Me: I asked if Archan Dam specialize in any discipline
AC Dam: He told the other guy that basically he can do anything, such as car blessing, floral bath, fortune reading and etc.
Me: Any amulet or takrut at the moment to offer to devotees?
AC Dam: Too busy to create one, most of my time spent on the development of Ubosot. Back in Wat Changhai used to created takrut but now just dont have enough time.
Me: When you will create the takrut and how much it will be. Can i get 1 from you?
AC Dam: Its easy to create the takrut, just draw yant and consecrate on it, but have to wait when i got time the i'll create in numbers of quantity. As for the price, dont know yet.
Me: What can your takrut do?
AC Dam: Many things, such as kongkrapan, metta, luck and business.
Me: When you will create any amulet? If you are going to create amulet in the future, what kind of amulet it will be?
AC Dam: Again, dont have time yet. Maybe i'll create the LP Thuad amulet or the rian of the first former abbot of this temple.
Above is my simple Q&A with him, communication has become a problem for me to get more info of him, and today temple is having the songkra event, so i dont want to occupy more of his time. He looks nice, old, slow and calm, if you can speak in Thai i bet you can dig out more interesting story.
Some look inside the main hall where he meet devotees. But today when i reached there he is sweeping outside, didnt know he is the abbot until i ask around, a very hardworking monk i can see.
Temple area is not very big, connected with 2 main entrance to the village nearby, we can see that this temple has closed connection and served as the place of worship and gathering spot for local siam community.
This is the kuti of the first and former abbot of this temple, forgot his name, according to the committee, he used to be in quite high of ranking during his abbossy last time last time.
Very unique caving style of Lersi house.
That is it, they are having songkra event later, some super VIP is coming and temple get more and more crowded, i cabut after a while. I hope their ubosot get completed soon and if you keep to donate some feel free to contact or visit this temple by yourself. If you know more about this temple feel free to share it here.
Note: Old forum thread from my forum at http://www.megaads.info/forum/viewthread.php?tid=2101&extra=page%3D2
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