Great Buddha of Thailand

Template:For Template:Infobox monument The Great Buddha of Thailand, also known as The Big Buddha, The Big Buddha of Thailand, Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin, and Mahaminh Sakayamunee Visejchaicharn (Template:Lang-th; Template:RTGS), was in November 2018 the tallest statue in Thailand, the second tallest statue in Southeast Asia, and the ninth-tallest in the world.^[1]

Located in the Wat Muang temple in Ang Thong Province,^[2] this statue stands 92 m (300 ft) high, and is 63 m (210 ft) wide. Construction commenced in 1990, and was completed in 2008. It is painted gold and made of concrete.^[3] The Buddha is in the seated posture called Maravijaya Attitude.

The statue was built following the order of Phra Kru Vibul Arjarakhun, the first abbot of Wat Muang temple, in order to commemorate the King Bhumibol of Thailand. The statue was built using the donated money from faithful Buddhists considering as the act of making merit. The budget spent on the statue was roughly 104,200,000 baht.

Names

The statue's formal name, Phra Phuttha Mahanawamintra Sakayamunee Sri Visejchaicharn (Template:Lang-th), was given by Phra Khru Vibul Arjarakun, and means "the Lord Buddha of Wiset Chai Chan, Built in Honor of King Bhumibol." The name is a blend of Sanskrit words: Phra Phuttha (Template:Lit, Sanskrit Template:IAST); Mahanawamintra (Bhumibol's royal title, Sanskrit Template:IAST), Sakayamunee (Sanskrit Template:IAST), and Visejchaicharn (Sanskrit Template:IAST)

The statue is also known as Luangpho Yai (หลวงพ่อใหญ่) or Luangpho To (หลวงพ่อโต); neither terms refer to any specific Buddha statue. The names literally mean Big Buddha, and are used for any colossal Buddha statue.