Description of the attraction
Temple Wat Ong Teu Mahavihan, also called the Temple of the Heavy Buddha, is one of the most significant in Laos. It was built by King Setthathirat I in the middle of the 16th century, which is known as the Golden Age of Buddhism in Laos. It is believed that the temple was erected on the site where the sanctuary of the 3rd century was already located. The temple got its name in honor of the massive bronze image of the Buddha, which is installed here. This is the largest Buddha sculpture in Vientiane. They say that the Siamese, who more than once plundered the Lao capital, could not lift and take out the Heavy Buddha, so it has survived to our time. The Wat Ong Teu Mahavihan temple, however, was destroyed in the later wars with the Siamese. It was restored and rebuilt only in the 20th century.
The monastery of Wat Ong Teu Mahavihan even during the reign of King Sethathirat I consisted of a ceremony hall, a bell tower, a drum tower, a stupa and living quarters for monks. Initially, at this temple, the local nobility swore their allegiance to the king. But in the 17th century, the ruler of Suligna Wongsa turned the temple into a Buddhist training center.
In modern times, Deputy Buddhist Patriarch Hong Sanghalat has chosen this shrine as his official residence. He heads the Buddhist Institute - a school for monks who come here from all over the country to study the Dhamma, that is, the sayings of the Buddha. There are especially many monks here during the rainy season. During this period, they must live at the monasteries, stopping their campaigns around the country, so as not to accidentally trample the rice crops and cause the anger of the peasants.
