Ganesha (Phra Pikkaned) statue Nuea Loha Rom Dam of the venerable Luang Pho Thiraphan Mettavihari (Phra Khru Kraisorn Virat), Wat Phutta Viharn (also Wat Buddhavihara), Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from the 7/16/2002 (B.E. 2545).
The statue was created by the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari from old holy metals. It shows Ganesha, on the base the stroke Wat Phutta Viharn (also Wat Buddhavihara) is to be seen.
The statue is approx. 6.7 cm high, approx. 4.0 cm wide, approx. 3.6 cm deep and approx. 220 grammes!
Ganesha gives to its owner success, luck and prosperity (literally: silver and gold). It repels all bad of its owner and protects him against misfortune, illness and accident. It gives creativity, mental strength and makes its owner a knowing one. Besides, it supports learners to understand what they have learned and to keep contents in mind fast. It helps teachers to impart the teaching material to the pupils / students and trainees successfully . It inspires artists and leads them to new ideas.
Ganesha (also Vinayaka, Ganapathi) which is called in Thailand Phra Pikkanet is the son of Shiva and Parvatis. Ganah comes from the Sanskrit and means diversity and Isha means lord, therefore, Ganesha is also called "lord of all beings".
Other names for Ganesha are Ekadanta (with the tusk), Vighneswara (destroyer of all obstacles), Varada (good giving) Sidhhita (donor of success at any work).
Ganesha is revered as a protector and divinity of the arts and apprenticeships. In particular intellectuals and students revere Ganesha! His special strength and his infinite knowledge make him an especially strong protection and luck bringer.
Among the Hindus it is one of the most honoured and mostly adored divinities. Also in Bangkok and other towns one can find to honour of Ganesha established shrines. These are visited daily by hundreds of believers, whom present to Ganesha joss sticks, floral wreaths, pork heads and other dishes to ask him for aid.
Luang Pho Mettavihari was a high revered teacher and master of the Vipassana-meditation. Still today he is high revered in the Netherlands and the USA. In the United States he founded in 1970 Wat Thai of Los Angeles in California and in 1971 Wat Thai Washington D.C. which belongs today to the biggest and nicest Thaitemples of the USA.
Phra Maha Mettavihari brought the Theravada Buddhism and the apprenticeship of the Vipassana meditation to the Netherlands in 1973. He informed at first numerous small meditation groups in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Groningen and Tilburg. Moreover, he founded the first Thai temple in the Netherlands, the Wat Phuttaram (also Buddharama) in Waalwijk, not far away from the German Belgian border. In the course of 3 decades he founded numerous meditation centres and informed hundreds of Dutchmen in the apprenticeships of Buddha and the Vipassana meditation. The Sangha Metta Meditatie centrum in the Saint Pieterspoortsteeg 29-1 in Amsterdam is one of his legacy.
Luang Pho Mettavihari was born as Thiraphan Nawang in the year of the horse, on Thursday, the 7/16/2485 (1942) in the Tambon Bang Pla Sroi, Amphoer Mueang, Changwat Chonburi, Thailand. His parents were Mr. Sooi and Mrs. Sa Nawang.
In the year of the cock, on Wednesday, the 12/18/2500 (1957), he ordained in Wat Ang Sila, Tambon Banbeuk, Amphoer Mueang, Changwat Chonburi, Thailand, to the novice (Buat Naen). Still before his ordination to the monk (Buat Phra), he attained the levels Naktham Chan Tree (1958), Naktham Chan Thoo (1959) and Naktham Chan Aek (1960).
In the year of the rabbit, on Friday, the 4/19/2506 (1963), he ordained at the age of 21 years in Wat Raht Bamrung, Tambon Makham Yong, Amphoer Mueang, Changwat Chonburi, to the monk (Buat Phra).
Short time after his ordination and "basic education" as monk, he was recalled in the USA, where he became Chao Kana of Los Angeles in the year B.E.2513 (1970) and founded Wat Thai of Los Angeles. At the request of the Thai municipality in Washington D.C., then he founded in the year B.E. 2514 (1971) Wat Thai Washington D.C.
In the year B.E. 2516 (1973) the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari was removed because of his excellent achievements in the USA to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. His "temporary temple" was - until a suitable place was found for the temple - first in the Thai embassy in Hague. Then some months later he began with the construction of Wat Phuttaram (also Buddharama) in Waalwijk whose abbot he remained for 8 years.
His holiness the 18th Supreme patriarch of Thailand, Somdet Phra Sangkarat Ariyavangsagatanyana, appointed the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari in the year B.E.2517 (1974) to the head of the Sangha in Europe (deputy of the Supreme patriarch for Europe). In the same year the consecration of Wat Phuttaram was also celebrated in Waalwijk.
Then, in the year B.E. 2525 (1982) he founded Wat Phutta Viharn (Wat Buddhavihara) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In the same year he decided to leave the office as an abbot of Wat Buddharama to be able to concentrate completely upon the instruction and education of Europeans in the Vipassana meditation. He has trained some of his pupils to the meditation teacher.
For his work the title "Phra Khru Kraisorn Virat" was conferred on him in 1987.
In the 2/28/2536 (1993) the first meditation centre was initiated in Groningen which was founded under his patronage and is managed by his former pupils whom he has trained to meditation teachers.
On Sunday, the 3/25/2007 the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari passed away absolutely unexpectedly as a result of a heart deficiency at the age of 65 years and after 44 Phansa as a monk.
