Luang Pho Sothon: The Sacred Buddha of Chachoengsao
Wat Sothonwararam Worawihan • Bang Pakong River, Thailand
Locals simply call him Luang Pho Sothon — a serene, meditation-posture Buddha (dhyāna mudrā) seated in the heart of Chachoengsao. The image measures roughly 1.65 m across the lap and 1.48 m in height: originally bronze, later encased in cement and gilded by devotees during unsettled times so that thieves and invaders could neither seize nor damage him. The protection remained, and over generations the gold leaf layered into a radiant skin.
The temple that keeps him, today known as Wat Sothonwararam Worawihan (once “Wat Hong”), dates to the late Ayutthaya period. Its story is inseparable from the river. On a season of turmoil, villagers spotted a Buddha image floating against the current of the Bang Pakong. Ropes were cast, boats pushed out — nothing budged. The abbot then led a quiet rite on the bank: chants, offerings, and a simple request for refuge. Only then did the current slacken. The image drifted ashore as if choosing its own home, and from that day on it was enthroned at Wat Sothon.
In Thai memory, Sothon belongs to a family of “floating Buddhas” who appeared on waterways during upheaval — Luang Pho Ban Laem (Samut Songkhram), Luang Pho To of Bang Phli (Samut Prakan), Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing (Nakhon Pathom), and Luang Pho Thong (Phetchaburi). Each came ashore where the community was ready to care for them; each left a trail of answered vows.
Ask devotees why they come and the answers are steady: healing in sickness, protection in danger, prosperity for work and trade. Gratitude takes familiar forms — trays of boiled eggs, bright garlands, and the joyful rhythm of ram thon dance troupes performing before the shrine after wishes are fulfilled. The relationship feels practical and devotional at once: you make merit, you keep your word, and life untangles a little.
The present ubosot is a landmark in its own right: an 84-meter spire, traditional Thai lines meeting modern strength, clad in pale Italian marble that glows in late afternoon light. Pilgrimage peaks during the fifth lunar month, when the river procession and merit-making events recall the image’s arrival by water and the town’s promise to keep the Dhamma close.
At a Glance
Formal title: Phra Phuttha Sothon
Posture: Meditation
Size: 1.65 m lap × 1.48 m tall
Material: Bronze core, cement sheath, gold leaf
Why Devotees Come
- Healing and recovery
- Protection from misfortune
- Success in business and livelihood