HISTORY OF THUMMUANGNA

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HISTORY OF THAMMUENGNA ​

Cave Thammuengna is located to the east of the main path that was used by Thai and Burmese garrisons during the Ayuddhaya era. It is located in Thailand, approximately 1.5 km from the border with Burma. Currently, the area is used as a refugee camp for approximately 1,000 refugee families from the Thai Yai ethnic minority.

According to history, this was also the main route used by King Naresuan to move his troops to fight against the Angwa army that invaded Gnai and Saen Wi, which used to be colonies of Ayuddhaya. King Naresuan took his troops to Chiang Mai and stopped to worship to the Buddha image of Phra Puttasihing. After, he took his troops to set up camp in Muang Gnai City. From Muang Gnai, he took his troops past Muang Na, and arrived in Thung Kaew, which is a district of Muang Han City. (Now the city is located in Burma, called Muang Tuan City). In Muang Han, King Naresuan’s troops fought against the Angwa army. It was in Thung Kaew that the king is thought to have contracted small pox.

THEORY ​

When King Naresuan fell ill, his condition grew steadily worse. His general may have moved the troops back through the same route, past Muang Na, so that the king could cure himself at the main camp in Muang Gnai. On the way, his condition became much worse. The general halted the journey to find emergency care for the ailing king. At that time, the best place for this purpose was a cave, as they had no time to set up a temporary camp for his troops, who returned to Muang Gnai. It is thus that King Naresuan may have died in one of these caves where he is believed to have taken rest.

Muang Na Cave is located on a cliff next to the army route, about 8 meters above surrounding flatlands. The cave can hold between 20 and 30 people. Muang Na Cave has a flat floor and does not run through to other caves. Inexplicably, the cave entrance appeared to have been chiseled, so as to make it bigger. Also, many stones had been lain to create a walkable path to its entrance (without these, Muang Na Cave would be as inaccessible as the other caves in the area). The stones provided a walkway about 5 meters wide. Such a walkway may have accommodated groups of people wishing to come and go from the cave at the same time, an uncommon amenity for caves in this area.

The naturally eroded condition of the rocks at the entrance of the cave, and of the stone pathway leading to it, must have taken many hundreds of years produce. Projecting back this far, the area surrounding the caves was very likely covered in thick jungle. Such impressive modifications to the cave, and its walkway, suggests the work of many people, possibly even an army. Except for emergency cases, such modifications would not have been likely—since this is a small cave, with no through access to other caves. And, other than for an army, there would have been little need for a walkway, which appears to have been built to accommodate the easy passage of several people at the same time. There is no record that this may have been the center of any important historical activities; and there were no ancient cities, or big communities, in the area.

Is it possible that King Naresuan, who was stricken with small pox, died in this area, and in this cave rather than in the Burmese district of Thung Kaew, as the historical records state? It is conceivable that this is what happened. If so, then it may provide another explanation for the cave’s broken entrance and wide path leading to it: in a show of respect to the king, his garrisons may have staged a grand funeral procession, to bring his body to the main camp in Muang Ngai, and later to Ayuddaya. Other than King Naresuan, there is no record of any royalty, or landed nobility, having died in this area.

LAYOUT OF THE CAVE ​

Inside the cave are rock slabs big enough for people to sleep on. Now Thammuangna Cave, and the caves that surround it, have become a monastery. Wooden platforms were built on the rock slabs, where the cave’s many Buddha statues now rest. Cement was also poured to even out the surface of the cave floor. All of these changes improved on the cave’s original condition. According to the monks here, the revered monk, Luang Poo Doo (of Sakae Temple, Uttai District, Ayuddaya Province), never went out from his temple from the time he became a monk until his death in 1990. Ayuddaya residents believe Luang Poo Doo to have been one of the master monks of Ayuddaya. Due to the probable historical importance of Thammuengna Cave, Luang Poo Doo instructed his followers to build a monastery at the Muang Na cave complex. He sent his follower Pra Warongkoth Wiriyatharo to find the caves, and to commence Dhutanga (austere practices to remove defilements) in the area. A 60-year old man from the Thai Yai ethnic minority confirmed that from Thung Kaew in Burma to the Thai border, and all along the army route, on the way to Muang Gnai, he had never seen a cave like this, whose entrance had been enlarged, or where a wide walkway appeared to have been built, as with Thammuengna Cave. The man also said that from the time he was a young boy, he used to go to the jungle to gather food, and that he had never found another cave like Thammuengna.

INFORMATION OF MUANG NA DISTRICT ​

HISTORY ​

Muang Na District – According to legend passed down from the old old-timers in the area, the Buddha visited Muang Na as part of his travels, which are said to have been for the purpose of saving mankind. According to legend, he came to the mountain, which was the source of many rivers. This mountain is now called San Doi Touy. The Buddha dwelled under a big tree. The villagers knew about this and they, and even animals, came to pay homage to the Buddha. Among the animals, was a white elephant who had faith. He took some “na” (or a peach-like fruit) to offer to the Buddha. When the Buddha received it, it immediately turned into gold. The white elephant king gave himself to be the Buddha’s disciple, and to serve him. One day, the white elephant king went to play in the water in a nearby stream; but hunters found the elephant, and beat him to death. The body of the elephant king disappeared into the water. Later, the hunters happened upon the Buddha. The Buddha gave them a sermon, and after they stopped committing bad acts. The men settled in this area, and named it Muang Na, which name it retains to this day.

** The surface of this area is characterized by plateaus and valleys.
** It covers 486 s q u a r e kilometers (or approximately 303,800 rai).


TERRITORY

Muang Na borders Myanmar to the north.
The south borders Tung Khao Puang, Ping Kong District and Amphur Cheng Dao, in Chiang Mai Province.
The east borders Sri Dong Yen, Amphur Chaiprakan, Chiang Mai Province.
The west connects to Ping Luang District, Amphur Viang Hang, Chiang Mai Province.

The population is 26,825. There are 6,323 homes.



IMPORTANT PLACES IN MUANG NA

1. CAVE PA HOK
2. CAVE MUANG NA
3. CAVE MUANG DOI KLANG MUANG
4. CAVE PHA CHAN
5. TUNG KAEW WATERFALL
6. SRI SANG WAN WATERFALL
7. HUAY HOK WATERFALL
8. AUB PING

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Translate to English from
the Thai version by Dean & Jasmine​

Copyright © 2008. www.watthummuangna.com​

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From http://www.watthummuangna.com/english/​

 

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Short Biography of
Venerable Acariya Varongkot Virivatharo (Luangta Ma)

Wat Phrommapanyo (Wat Tham Muang Na)
Thambon Muang Na, Amphor Chiang Dao
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Early Life

Luangta Ma's original name is Varongkot Suwannakun. He was born on November 23rd 1934 in the Noraniwat district of Sakon Nakhon, a north-eastern province of Thailand. His father's name is Wandee Suwannakun and his mother's name is Sorpar Suwannakun. His parents had three children of which Vorangkot was the second.
Ordination

Luangta Ma has been a lay disciple of Luangpu Du and practised meditation under Luang Pu's guidance for more than 20 years. When his teacher was over 70 years old, he implored Luangta Ma to ordain as a monk. Luangta Ma complied with his teacher's wish. He was ordained on Sunday, July 24th 1988 at 10:06 AM at Wat Buddhathaisawan in the Ayutthaya province. Venerable Ajahn Pathrakit (Luangpor Huan), the abbot of Wat Buddhathaisawan, was the preceptor of the ceremony. Venerable Ajahn Suangthorn Dhammanithed (nicknamed Boonsong) acted as first ordination teacher and Venerable Ajahn Pichit Kitarthorn (nicknamed Sanae) acted as the second ordination teacher.

Pilgrimage and Ascetic Practices

After Luangta Ma spent one lent in robes, he went to pay respect to Luangpor Huan and asked his permission to leave the monastery in order to go on a pilgrimage. He also took the Thirteen Austere Practices, which constitute an ascetic practice considered helpful by the Buddha for removing the defilements. Luangpor Huan gave his consent, upon which Luangta Ma went to pay respect to Luangpu Du at Wat Sakae. He arrived at night time when Luangpu Du was the only person residing at the abode at Wat Sakae. Luangpu Du gave him a sermon and wished him well. He finally added:​

 

thank you.