Wat Su-That, Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Su-That, Bangkok, Thailand Wat Su-That was built in the reign of King Rama I in 1807. He wanted a large temple at the heart of Bangkok as same as Sukhothai and Ayutthaya had Wat Maha That and like the one at Wat Phanan Choeng in Ayutthaya in order to contain a large sized Buddha image Phra Sri Sakayamuni was transferred to Bangkok, which was then given the name of Wat Maha Sutthawat. The construction were completed in the reign of King Rama III and renamed Wat Su-That Dephatharam which was later amended by King Rama IV into Wat Su-That Depvararam. The Vihan is a structure and the roof with two-tiered roof and front and back porches. The gable-ends of the vihan show God Indra on the Erawan but those of the porches show Vishnu on Garuda. The vihan is a great size. The tower over two levels of terraces each with enclosing boundary walls. On the boundary walls of the lower terrace are twenty eight Chinese pagodas while at each corner of the boundary walls stands a bronze horse, was cast in the reign of King Rama III in 1855 A.D. The upper terrace holds four small pavilions, each containing some Buddha images of King Rama III. Outside the boundary walls of the vihan are found stone figures and stone ornaments of Chinese. The door panels of the vihan is a single thick plank of 1.30 meter in width, 5.64 meters in length and 16 centimeters in thickness. The door panels are carved rocks, trees and shrubs interspersed cleverly with forest animals. The carvings are in five layers of difference depths, with the deepest at 14 centimeters, leaving only 2 centimeters of the solid base. The carvings on the original panels of the front door were partially the work of King Rama II. These door panels are kept at the Bangkok National Museum after being partially destroyed by fire in 1959 A.D. The window panels are carved wood, each window showing two deers in the forest on one panel and forest animals at a watering place in the other panel. The Principal Buddha Image Phra Sri Sakayamuni is the principal Buddha image house in vihan, cast in bronze in the attitude of subduing Mara with 6.25 meters in width at lap span and 8 meters in height. The image was cast in the reign of King Li Thai of Sukhothai and was formerly at Wat Maha That in Sukhothai. At the pedestal of the Buddha image contains the ashes of King Rama VIII or King Ananda. A stone bas-relief showing Buddha performing the multi miracles that is Dvaravati style, was placed at the rear of the principal image. Mural Paintings inside the vihan have painted on the pillars and walls in the reign of king Rama III. The paintings showing people in the four Dveep or world according to the Tepbhumikatha and the jataka stories. Buddha images in the Gallery are lined with 156 Buddha images in the attitude of meditation, were made of gilded brick and plaster structure in the reign of King Rama III. The Bot was built in the reign of King Rama III. The boundary walls enclosing the bot hold the eight marker stones in their sandstone pavilions. The marker stones are grey marble slabs decorated with picture of three head elephants holding lotus buds in their raised trunks. The boundary walls contain four “guey than” or raised platforms for distributing alms. The bot stands on a three level base, making it one of the largest bots. The roof has four tiers. The east gable-end shows a celestial standing on a chariot drawn by “gojasi” and the west gable-end shows celestial standing on a horse drawn chariot. The principal Buddha image is Phra Phuttha Trilokachet built in the reign of King Rama III in the attitude of subduing Mara, measuring 5.16 meters in width at lap span and 8.36 meters in height. The marble pedestal was the eighty disciples of Buddha so that the Buddha would appear to be seated in the midst of his disciples. Mural paintings were done by King Rama III, showing the traditional scene of the Mara threatening the Buddha, scenes of the Patjek Buddha and scenes from the heaven. The Monuments of seven Great places were built in the reign of King Rama III. These are represent the places connected with Buddha after he attained Enlightenment, he spent seven days at each of these places contemplating and rejoicing in the supreme happiness of Nirvana, the following symbols; The Bodi tree named Phra Rattana Banrang for the Buddha’s enlightenment. The Chinese pavilion named Phra A Nimit Chedi for the place where the Buddha sat contemplating the Bodi tree. The small platform named Phra Rattana Chong Krom chedi for the Buddha’s meditation walk. The Chinese pavilion named Phra Rattana Khara Chedi for the shelter conjured up by the celestials for the Buddha to sit while meditating on Dhamma. The Banyan tree named Phra Achapal Nikrote for the Buddha sat rejoicing in the bliss of Nirvana. The Jik tree (barringtonia) named Phra Mucharin Thapruek for the place where a naga coiled himself seven times and spread his hood over the Buddha to shelter him from the rain that continued for seven days. The ket tree (palu) named Phra Racha Yatana Pruek for the place where the Buddha enjoyed the bliss of uninvolvement in worldly senses. Salakarnparien was built by King Rama III in 1844 A.D., contains the Buddha image called Phra Phuttha Setmuni was cast from the brass of opium containers confiscated when opium smoking was outlawed. Thailand is abolition of opium in the reign of King Rama III. King Ananda’s Statue was cast in 1973 A.D. A life size statue of King Anada in a field marshal’s uniform stands at the northeast corner of the temple outside the gallery enclosing the vihan.