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Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Ayutthaya, Thailand |
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Wat
Phra Si Sanphet was built in 1448 A.D. on the site which had served for
the royal palace from 1350 to 1448 spanning the reigns of King Ramathibodi
I to King Sam Phraya. King Borommatrailokanat ordered the wat built
to be utilized as a monastic area. His son, King Ramathibodi II
constructed two chedi, one to house the remains of his father and the
other for his brother, King Borommarachathirat III. A third chedi
was built by King Borommrachnophtthangkun for the remains of King
Ramathibodi II. A principal viharn (worship hall) was built in 1499
and, in 1500, King Ramathibodi II ordered the casting of a standing Buddha
image 16 meters high and covered with gold. This image was called
Phra Buddha Chao Si Sanphet and was the main object of veneration in the
royal viharn. From that time, the remains of all royal family
members were placed in small chedis built for that purpose on the site.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet was
used as the royal chapel and, therefore, did not have a Sangavasa (a
dwelling for monks). The wat was used for various royal ceremonies
and rituals. When the Burmese sacked Ayutthaya in 1767. the gold
that covered the Buddha image and other decorations was stripped away and
taken by the invaders. King Rama I (1782-1809) transferred the core
of Phra Buddha Chao Si Sanphet to Wat Phra Cetuphon in Bangkok. |
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Scenic
Photography by Gerry Gantt from Thailand, the land of Golden Wats. All images Copyright © 1999-2010 by Gerry Gantt, all rights reserved. |
