TriPakee Nakhon Si Thammarat.

It is one of the most ancient cities of Thailand, previously Kingdom of Ligor, and contains many buildings and ruins of historical significance. The capital city of Ligor became Nagara Sri Dhammaraja when Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka built a monastery there. In Thai, it was rendered Nakhon Si Thammarat, meaning City of the Sacred Dharma King.

Its origins are not fully known. Most historians recognize the Tambralinga kingdom of Chinese records as a precursor of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The kingdom of Tambralinga, was a major seat of Shivaism (devotional form of Hinduism) from the 6^th - 11^th centuries. Hinduism declined in the 12th century to be replaced by Buddhism.

It is thought to be approximately 1,700 years old and formerly part of the Srivijaya kingdom, whose capital was in Sumatra, part of what is known today as Indonesia. At the time the area was governed from Palembung City by King Srivichai.

We know this information from the numerous ancient artefacts discovered in and around the province. Discoveries of interest include ancient amulets called Phra Tri Pakee. These amulets consist of three distinct types:

1. Phra Prokbhoti Kru Wat Taruer
2. Phra Nak Prok Kru Wat Pra Nangtra
3. Pkra Yod Kunpol Kru Wat Nason

Pra Nak Prok Kru Wat Pra Nangtra	Phra Prokbhoti Kru Wat Taruer	Phra Yod Kunpol Kru Wat Nason

Phra Chao Sridharmasokaraj was crowned King and graciously established Pathumwong or Patamawong Dynasty with its empire covered all southern towns up to Malayan peninsular. At that time Nakhon Si Thammarat had a close relationship with Lanka or Ceylon and the Lankawong Sect of Buddhism was brought in to the extent that it bore great influence upon the local dwellers. Buddhism flourished and at one time there were as many as 12,000 Buddhist monks. hence Nakhon si Thammarat is known as ''muang phra'' or City of monks.

It was recorded that (King) Phra Chao Sridharmasokaraj planned to build a sacred chedi to house the relics of both Lord Buddha and Princess Supratra. He tasked the protection of the relics to his two princes, & ordered them to guard it with their lives. The King instruction was to quickly take the relics away by sea and head to Sri Lanka. Halfway through the journey, a thunderstorm struck and their ships were sunken. The two princes who survived were washed ashore and built a temple in Southern Thailand, what is now known as Wat Mahathat.

Ever since then, after a few centuries, many people had traveled to Wat Mahathat to locate the relics that were buried by the princes. Finally, they found a stone carving and the relics buried at the Wat. The stories of the two princes were found engraved on this stone. The two princes had done many great deeds and the greatest is by erecting the temple to house the relics. And they promised to guard the Relics with their lives.

The Princess Supatra created  a memorial temple to the lost vessels, and this is the temple that is known today as Wat Nangtra Supatra. The temple is thought to be the origin of many modern day style pims such as Pim Nakprok, Pim Paltai etc.

The temple was deserted for several hundred years, being renovated in BE 2490

The temple is more than 1,000 years old and is believed to be the origin of the most popular Pim of Nakhon Si Thammart Province called Pim Prok Bhoti Suem Ruen Kaew.

Apart from that there have been several other discoveries of ancient amulets in this temple such as Pim Wongken, Pim Paltai, Pim Bai Pusra etc.

The temple was built in the same period as the previous two temples and is respected as the origin of three Pims (styles) namely Pim Yod Kunpol, Pim Wongken and Pim Krarok Kratair.

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