Sala tree in Vientiane
Two sal trees or sala trees have been planted side by side at Wat Keopa Xayaram, Vientiane, Laos. Since Salat posted about sala flower, I asked my relatives in Vientiane if they have seen the flower in Laos. Only one of my aunts has seen such a tree at the height of the blooming season. Aunt Kian went to a funeral at Wat Keopa Xayaram many years ago and saw thon sala and its flowers.
To my relatives’ knowledge, this is the only temple in Laos that has sal tree or sala tree on the ground. A man from the US brought two young trees from India during his visit to his hometown in 1982. The official name of the tree is either Thon Sala or Thon Hung India.
There are not much flowers when Aunt Kian went to the temple last month on June 23 to take the photos for us. If you are ever in Vientiane, please stop by Wat Keopa Xayaram and check out the two sala trees and hopefully you will see lots of blooming flowers.
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This flower captures my attention just as much as orchids. But more so, because it was a part of Buddha’s life.
It was very nice of Aunt Kian to document the only known sala trees in Laos for us too. And thank you to Darly for keeping us posted.
I thought the leaves look like dok champa’s leaves, I also like the flower, it’s real pretty.
My dad mentioned Phatou Nark (Nark door or gate) which I’ve never seen or heard. Do you know if the arch of the first and second photos is Phatou Nark? My dad said that it marks the entrance of the temple.
[...] attraction in Vientiane, it is quite an interesting place to visit, at least to check out the sala trees. Check out the wall murals depicting the story of the Lord [...]
Yes, I agree with Ginger about the leaves. They really look like leaves from the frangipani or “dok champa” flower.
Hi Ginger,
I asked aunt Kian about Phatou Nark for Wat Keopa Xayaram and she told me the entrance to the temple or the main gate is usually not marked as Phatou Nark. The marking is usually at the entry to Kouti or Sala as seen by the carving above the doors and buildings and steps with Praya Nark holding the steps.
At Wat Chanh in Vientiane, there is a Phatou Nark on the temple’s ground because it is where Praya Nark would guard the temple. He is the protector of Wat Chanh. That is how the name of Muang Sisatthanak (Sisatthanark) or Sisattanak (Sisattanark) got its name.
According to tradition, the actual Phatou Nark that was used by Praya Nark when he entered this world is located at Paxsan, at Ban Hai. This is where Praya Nark left his cave and came through the gate because he wanted to be a Buddhist monk. When Lord Buddha told Praya Nark that he could not be a monk, Praya Nark pleaded with Lord Buddha that he would be associated with the temple and that anyone entering into the monk’s hood would use the term of “Buad Nark”. Praya Nark’s devotion is seen in the designs and artworks of the temple as we have known.
So, you have to go to Paxsan to see the Phatou Nark.
Thanks Darly, my dad must have seen the Phatou Nark in Paxsan because he has an adopted sister that lives there. I’ll look for photo, but if anyone find it first, please do post, I’d love to see it.
Hi Ginger,
What a small world it is. Paxsan is where my Grand-Papa lived for many years with his last wife. We went to pick up his wife on the way to Pakse for Boun Loy Vanh.
Then today I found out we have some relatives in Savan too. Who knows these relatives might even know of Dallas’ family.