Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit ( th, วัดมหาธาตุยุวราชรังสฤษฎิ์) is a

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

.Liedtke 2011, p. 58 It is one of the ten royal temples of the highest class ( th, พระอารามหลวง ชั้นเอก ชนิดราชวรมหาวิหาร) in Bangkok.

History

Built during the

Ayutthaya Ayutthaya, Ayudhya, or Ayuthia may refer to: * Ayutthaya Kingdom, a Thai kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767 ** Ayutthaya Historical Park, the ruins of the old capital city of the Ayutthaya Kingdom * Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province (locally ...

period (1351–1767), the temple was then known as Wat Salak. Soon after Bangkok was established as the capital of

Siam Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 mi ...

, the temple became strategically situated between the newly built

Grand Palace The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ban ...

and

Front Palace Krom Phra Ratchawang Bowon Sathan Mongkhon , colloquially known as the Front Palace ( th, วังหน้า, ), was the title of the ''uparaja'' of Siam, variously translated as "viceroy", "vice king" or "Lord/Prince of the Front Palace", as ...

(residence of the vice-king). As a result, the temple was used for royal ceremonies and funerals. Throughout the past two centuries, the temple has been renovated and elevated in status by many Thai kings and royalties. It became the Wat Mahathat of Bangkok in 1803 and was given its current name in 1996. The temple is also home to Vipassana Meditation centre.Emmons 2008, p. 66

University

Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) ( th, มหาวิทยาลัยมหาจุฬาลงกรณราชวิทยาลัย, ) is one of two public Buddhist universities in Thailand, as well as being the oldest Budd ...

, Thailand's oldest higher education institute for Buddhist monks, is on the temple grounds. This is one of the most important universities in Thailand, split into faculty of human sciences, social sciences, an international programme, and a graduate college. The first class was admitted in 1889 and by 1997, both universities became public universities.

Media

File:Buddhist monk in Wat Mahathat (Bangkok).jpg, Buddha idols along a walkway File:Wat mahathat bkk 05.jpg, Wat Mahathat temple building File:Watmahathatbkk0609c.jpg, Pagoda File:01 Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.jpg, Mahachulalongkornrajavi-dyalaya University File:Watmahathatbkk0609b.jpg, Temple roof File:MCU1.jpg, Thai PM at the time,

Phibul Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram ( th, แปลก พิบูลสงคราม ; alternatively transcribed as ''Pibulsongkram'' or ''Pibulsonggram''; 14 July 1897 – 11 June 1964), locally known as Marshal P. ( th, จอมพล � ...

(centre), joining the graduation ceremony of the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya's first class.

Notes

References

* * *

External links

Wat Mahathat Yuwarajarangsarit Rajaworamahavihara (Dhammathai)

Wat Mahathat Yuwarajarangsarit Rajaworamahavihara (Bangkok Tourist)
Mahathat Phra Nakhon district Thai Theravada Buddhist temples and monasteries Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok {{Bangkok-stub