วัดถ้ำตลอด

Wat Tham Talot

Useful Information

Location:	Village No. 6, Khao Daeng Subdistrict, Saba Yoi District, Songkhla Province, 90210. (6.523701145911755, 100.82191170575574)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=50 m, W=15 m, H=6 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Wat Tham Talot, Village No. 6, Khao Daeng Subdistrict, Saba Yoi District Songkhla Province, 90210, Tel: +66-.
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History

1676	cave temple established.
1732	cave temple consecrated.

Description

วัดถ้ำตลอด (Wat Tham Talot, Wat Tham Talod) which roughly translates as a cave open at both ends. The cave is a through-cave which crosses the karst tower, and it was used by the locals to get to the other side. It was transformed into a cave temple of the Mahanayana Buddhist congregation, There are numerous buddha statues inside, but the most spectacular is a shiny golden Reclining Buddha. The cave passage is wide and rather low, only 6 m high, so the size of the statues is limited. The cave temple has a level floor, partly with tiles, partly concrete. As the cave is not very long, there is light from outside, so a lamp is actually not needed.

The cave is one of the stops on the journey of Luang Pho Thuat (*1582-✝1628). His name is หลวงปู่ทวด which was transliterated as Luang Pu Thuad, Luang Por Tuad, and Luang Phu Tuad. He was a revered Buddhist monk who lived in Thailand and is said to have performed miracles. He is mentioned in the early regional histories of southern Thailand, but his life is mainly preserved in oral traditions. The legends of the famous monk were passed on by word of mouth for centuries, and as a result there is an enormous number of such legends. They are a mixture of early signs, alleged magic, travel, study, meditation, and eventual “sainthood". He is said to have saved countless lives of people, on the battlefield, at armed robberies, or healing sickness with his sacred amulets. There are several versions of this story, one says Luang Pho Thuat was buried here after his death before was enshrined at Wat Rat Buranara (Wat Chang Hai) in Pattani, where he had been the abbot. There are even different versions where and when he dies. Some say he died in 1628, others say he died on 06-MAR-1682, some say he dies at age 112, othes say he died at age 350. But all agree that the amulets with his image help against anything.

Despite numerous small caves along the southeastern side of the temple district, there is a spectacular rock formation on the northern tip of the karst tower. A temple was built on top of the rock and a wide staircase leads up. One of the cave entrances is guarded by a 4 m high turquoise giant named Thao Wessuwan is one of the Thao Chatulokaban or Four Guardians of the World. According to local legends, they protect Buddhism and its spiritual secrets. Other statues show angels, Garuda and Naga carved from the stone by local craftsmen.