For those who are seeking a spiritual journey, a boost in luck, or a unique tourism experience, we recommend visiting Sukhothai province, home to the revered Phra Mae Ya Shrine - an integral spiritual monument of the Sukhothai community. Every day, people visit the shrine to pay their respects and ask for blessings.
The image of Phra Mae Ya was first discovered on a stone outcrop atop the highest peak of Khao Luang, the stone outcrop is now known as the Phra Mae Ya Cave. Locals believe that if you pay respects and pray at the Phra Mae Ya shrine, your wishes will be fulfilled in every respect. During the Songkran festival, a procession called 'Naen Phra Mae Ya' is held to induce rainfall in accordance with the season. Every time the procession is held, rain astonishingly pours down. There's no definitive evidence on who 'Phra Mae Ya' is, but locals have been calling her "Phra Mae Ya". Professor Thongjeua Suebchomphu theorized that she might have been a queen or a significant figure, possibly Phra Nang Sueang, the royal consort of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, and the queen mother of Li Thai.
Later, in 1943, the governor of the province, fearing that frequent processions might cause damage to the original statue of Phra Mae Ya, had a replica made and placed in the Phra Mae Ya Cave, and had the original statue moved to the meeting room at the Sukhothai Provincial Hall. The Phra Mae Ya Shrine was then built and a new shrine was later constructed to replace the original one, which had significantly deteriorated.
Those who wish to pay respect to the Phra Mae Ya Shrine in Sukhothai can visit daily from 09:00 to 16:00 at Thani Subdistrict, Mueang Sukhothai District, Sukhothai Province.
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