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Phra Ruang and Spirit of Sukhothai

Gnome
Mahathat Temple in the ancient city of Sukhothai. In front of the Attharot image enshrined on the right side of the pagoda of the principal Buddha image, at present, there is a cement base, originally a place of "gnome", the Khmer named "Decho" who had great magic. He traveled under the order of the King of the Khmer to assassinate Phra Ruang. At that time, Phra Ruang was ordained and stayed in Mahathat Temple and he was sweeping the yard. Phaya Decho just came up from the ground and asked for Phra Ruang. Phra Ruang knew his trick and stoned the body of Phaya Decho. When the villagers knew the news, they worshiped in his miracles. Sukhothai, at that time, had no ruler. Then, Phra Ruang was asked to leave the Buddhist monkshood and created as the ruler of Sukhothai afterward.

The stone called "Gnome", the Crown Prince Maha Vajiravudh (later King Rama VI) was photographed in 1907 as a rock shaped like a body without arms and head sunk in the ground, but later the people believed in the sacredness, they peeled off the stone. It was believed that mixing it with water or rubbing could be a treatment for insect bites. The stone became smaller. The government had to move it to preserve it at the town hall, Phra Mae Ya Shrine. Currently, it is displayed at Ramkhamhaeng National Museum.


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