Wat Na Phra Men, also written as Wat Na Phramen ( th, วัดหน้าพระเมรุ) is a historic active

Buddhist temple A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...

in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Considered as part of Ayutthaya Historical Park and known as a very beautiful temple.

Overview

The temple is located along Khlong Sa Bua on the north bank of the Khlong Khu Mueang (the old course of

Lopburi River The Lopburi River ( th, แม่น้ำลพบุรี, , ) is a tributary of the Chao Phraya River in central Thailand. It splits from the Chao Phraya river at Tambon Bang Phutsa, Singburi. Passing through Tha Wung district and the town of ...

) just opposite the Ayutthaya Royal Grand Palace. Its location can be considered outside the Ayutthaya Island. Previously known as "Wat Phra Merurachikaram" (วัดหน้าพระเมรุราชิการาม). The temple was built since the time when Ayutthaya was the capital without knowing who built it and the exact year of creation. The name "Na Phra Men", literally translated as "in front of royal cremation", hence it is assumed that it was built as a cremation site for nobility or royal family in the Ayutthaya period. Wat Na Phra Men is one of the few temples in the Ayutthaya Historical Park that were not burned by the Ava troops during the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. The temple is therefore still able to maintain its exquisite condition after many renovations during the Rattanakosin period. The outstanding construction is the ''

ubosot The ordination hall is a Buddhist building specifically consecrated and designated for the performance of the Buddhist ordination ritual ('' upasampada'') and other ritual ceremonies, such as the recitation of the Patimokkha. The ordination hall ...

'' (ordination hall)'s gable is featuring Lord

Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...

mounted on

garuda Garuda (Sanskrit: ; Pāli: ; Vedic Sanskrit: गरुळ Garuḷa) is a Hindu demigod and divine creature mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. He is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. Garuda is a ...

, on top of the demon

Rāhu Rāhu (Sanskrit: राहु, 16px, ☊) is one of the nine major celestial bodies (navagraha) in Hindu texts and the king of meteors. It represents the ascension of the moon in its precessional orbit around the earth, also referred as the ...

placed between two nāgas and flanked by 26

devas Devas may refer to: * Devas Club, a club in south London * Anthony Devas (1911–1958), British portrait painter * Charles Stanton Devas (1848–1906), political economist * Jocelyn Devas (died 1886), founder of the Devas Club * Devas (band), ...

. The ubosot faces south and measures approximately by . Inside there are octagonal columns. The top of the columns were made in the form of closed lotuses to support the large roof. The ceiling was decorated with carved wood and coloured glasses showing the meaning of beautiful stars in the celestial. The principal Buddha image is seated in the gesture of subduing Māra, and wears royal attire. The Buddha full name is "Phra Buddha Nimitr Vichit Maramoli Sisanpeth Boromtrailokanat" (พระพุทธนิมิตวิชิตมารโมลีศรีสรรเพชญบรมไตรโลกนาถ; abbreviated as Phra Buddha Nimitr) with the lap of wide and high. Its name was given by King

Rama III Nangklao ( th, พระบาทสมเด็จพระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว, ; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), birth name Thap ( th, ทับ), also styled Rama III, was the third king of Siam ...

. Another principal Buddha image is "Phra Khanthararaj" (พระคันธารราฐ), which is enshrined inside the ''viharn noi'' (chapel) beside the ubosot. It is a green stone Buddha image that is presumed to be more than 1,500 years old, from the

Dvaravati The Dvaravati ( th, ทวารวดี ; ) was an ancient Mon kingdom from the 7th century to the 11th century that was located in the region now known as central Thailand. It was described by the Chinese pilgrim in the middle of the 7th ce ...

period. Considered as one of five seated Buddha images in this type in Thailand which is worth preserved. The temple is now a recognised ancient monument since 1935 by the

Fine Arts Department The Fine Arts Department ( th, กรมศิลปากร, ) is a government department of Thailand, under the Ministry of Culture. Its mission is managing the country's cultural heritage. History The department was originally established ...

Gallery

File:รูปปั้นพระพุทธเจ้าที่วัดหน้าพระเมรุ - Phra Khantharat Statue of Buddha at Wat Na Phra Meru.jpg, Phra Khanthararaj File:Phra Phuttha Nimit Wichit Mara Moli.jpg, Phra Buddha Nimitr File:Wat Naphrameru.JPG, Ruined chedis File:วัดหน้าพระเมรุ Wat Na Phramen (8).jpg, Mural painting File:วัดหน้าพระเมรุ Wat Na Phramen (15).jpg, The temple

References

{{reflist Tourist attractions in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province Registered ancient monuments in Thailand Buddhist temples in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Thai Theravada Buddhist temples and monasteries

Overview

Gallery

See also

References