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The goddess "Phra Soontree Wanee" (Thai: พระสุนทรีวาณี) is a deity appeared uniquely in Wat Suthat Thepphawararam. Phra Soontree Wanee grants good fortunes and wealth attractions, and brings properity and advancement for companies.
The representation of Phra Soontree Wanee was gained by the former abbot Somdej Phra Wanrat Daeng who obtained the inspiration from one sutra in Phonetics in Buddhist Scriptures and had the "Phra Soontree Wanee Picture" taken by an artist during the reign of King Rama IV. The artist, part Chinese, used both Thai and Chinese elements in the picture, like the Chinese-style lamp held by the deities in the cloud.
Phra Soontree Wanee sits on a lotus flower standing straight in the water, with withered flowers and leaves by the side. Phra Soontree Wanee's left hand, placing on the lap, holds a crystal ball, which means "eternal life", and her right hand, raising high, displays a beckoning gesture ("Praying for Rain" posture, Thai: ปางคันธารราฐ) like calling people to see the crystal ball on her left hand.
On both sides of the goddess sit a male and a female putting palms together, which represent bhikkhu and bhikkhuni respectively. Dieties standing in the cloud take differnt Buddhist instrumens. Those in the upper cloud are heavenly dieties, while those in the lower cloud are worldly dieties. The river in the picture is the symbol of reincarnation. Two nagas and other animals in the water mean worshippers.
Picture／http://www.sarasdevalai.com
King Rama V got so interested in Phra Soontree Wanee Picture and had the pattern carved on a stone tablet, which is now placed in Wat Benchamabophit, Bangkok, in memory of Somdej Phra Wanrat Daeng.
On October 23 (King Chulalongkorn Day), 2471 BE (AD 1928), King Rama VI had the goddess picture printed on small cards and gave them to worshippers.
At first there was only Phra Soontree Wanee picture for people to worship; later, Than Chao Khun Mongkolrat Munee, a junior of Somdej Phra Sangaraj Pae, the 12th Supreme Patriarch, made a Phra Soontree Wanee statue with remained material of Phra Kring statues made by Somdej Phra Sangaraj Pae.
Phra Soontree Wanee statue in Wat Suthat
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