Luangpho Yai

Luangpho Yai (Thai: หลวงพ่อใหญ่), also known as Phra Phutta Rattana Mongkhol Maha Munee (Thai: พระพุทธรัตนมงคลมหามุนี; RTGS: phra phuttha rattana mongkhon maha muni), and The Great Buddha of Roi Et, is the fourth-tallest statue in Thailand.

Luangpho Yai

พระพุทธรัตนมงคลมหามุนี (Phra Phuttha Rattana Mongkhol Maha Muni)
Location	Wat Bhurapha Piram, Meaung, Roi Et, Thailand
Type	Buddha statue, standing pose
Material	Concrete
Height	59.2 metres (194 ft)
Completion date	1973
Dedicated to	Gautama Buddha

Located in the Wat Bhurapha Phiram temple in Roi Et Province, this statue stands 59.2 m (67.55m, including the base)[1] high. Construction was completed in 1973.[2] It is covered with mosaic and made of concrete.

The statue depicts the Guatama in standing pose. The statue stands as the province's landmark, as being cited in the province's official quote; Leu nam phra yai (ลือนามพระใหญ่), meaning "famed for its colossal Buddha". The statue was built by the order of the 5th abbot of the Wat Bhurapha Piram temple, Phra Ratcha Preechayana Munee, and took 8 years with the spending of approximately 7,000,000 baht.

The sculptor was believed to be a local sculptor. The overview of the Buddha was criticised as "not to the ratio" of any ordinary Buddha. It's assumed that the local sculpture focused on his faithful belief rather than the outside beauty.

The informal name Luangpho Yai (หลวงพ่อใหญ่) means, literally, the Big Buddha. The formal name, on the other hand, Phra Phuttha Rattana Mongkhol Maha Munee (พระพุทธรัตนมงคลมหามุนี) means

• Phra Phuttha (พระพุทธ-) = the Great Buddha
• Rattana (รัตน-) = precious, prestigious gems
• Mongkhol (มงคล) from Sanskrit मङ्गल (maṅgala) = to bring good wills towards all
• Maha Muni (มหามุนี) = the Great Guatama

Together, the name is translated as the Great Guatama Buddha, the precious one who brings good wills to all.

The term Luangpho Yai (หลวงพ่อใหญ่), by the way, does not refer to any specific Buddha statue. The name means Big Buddha, so it has been used to call any colossal Buddha statue. The same thing goes to the term Luangpho To (หลวงพ่อโต), which means exactly the same.