Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat ( th, วัดพระศรีรัตนมหาธาตุ; "Temple of the Great Jewelled Reliquary"), colloquially referred to as Wat-Phra-Sri ( th, วัดพระศรี) or Wat Yai ( th, วัดใหญ่; "Big Temple"), is a Buddhist temple ''(
wat
A wat ( km, វត្ត, ; lo, ວັດ, ; th, วัด, ; khb, 「ᩅᨯ᩠ᨰ」(waD+Dha); nod, 「ᩅ᩠ᨯ᩶」 (w+Da2)) is a type of Buddhist temple and Hindu temple in Cambodia, Laos, East Shan State, Yunnan, the Southern Provi ...
)'' in
Phitsanulok Province,
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 b ...
, where it is located on east bank of
Nan River
The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River.
Geography
The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The province ...
, near Naresuan Bridge and opposite Phitsanulok Provincial Hall. It is about 337 km (209 mi) from
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in 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 estimated populati ...
.
History
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, known among the locals as "Wat Yai", was founded in 1357 by King
Lithai of
Sukhothai. The temple was built at the same time as Wat Phra Phuttha Chinna Si and Wat Phra Si Satsadaram. During the reign of King
Ekathotsarot
Ekathotsarot ( th, เอกาทศรถ, , ) or Sanphet III ( th, สรรเพชญ์ที่ ๓); 1560 – 1610/11) was the King of Ayutthaya from 1605 to 1610/11 and overlord of Lan Na from 1605 to 1608/09, succeeding his brother Nare ...
of
Ayutthaya, its Buddha image was gilded and the temple was later developed by King
Chulalongkorn and King
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
of
Rattanakosin. The temple is located at the foot of Naresuan Bridge on the bank of the Nan River. It has an area of 36 rai (1 rai = 1600 m^2).
The temple is very famous because of its golden Buddha image called Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, which is considered by some Thais to be the most beautiful Buddha image in the country.
Father of Thai history Prince
Damrong Rajanubhab
Prince Tisavarakumarn, the Prince Damrong Rajanubhab ( Thai: ; Full transcription is "Somdet Phrachao Borommawongthoe Phra-ongchao Ditsawarakuman Kromphraya Damrongrachanuphap" (สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธ� ...
recorded this temple that.
''"The temple is a big and more important than other temples in Phitsanulok and is believed to be built in the Sukhothai period being renovated from time to time"''.
Phra Phuttha Chinnarat
The temple is famous for its gold-covered statue of the Buddha, known as Phra Phuttha Chinnarat (Thai: พระพุทธชินราช; "King of Victory"). It is considered one of the most beautiful and the classical magnificent Buddha figures in Thailand and receive the highest worship among
Thai people
Thai people ( th, ชาวไทย; '' endonym''), Central Thai people ( th, คนภาคกลาง, sou, คนใต้, ตามโพร; ''exonym and also domestically'') or Siamese ( th, ชาวสยาม; ''historical exonym an ...
, equivalent to Luang Pho Sothon of
Wat Sothonwararam in
Chachoengsao Province (not including
Emerald Buddha
The Emerald Buddha ( th, พระแก้วมรกต , or ) is an image of the meditating Gautama Buddha seated in a meditative posture, made of a semi-precious green stone (jasper rather than emerald or jade), clothed in gold. and about ...
).
This Buddha statue was cast together with other statues of the same Buddha, including Phra Phuttha Chinna Si (Thai: พระพุทธชินสีห์) and Phra Si Satsada (Thai: พระศรีศาสดา), which are currently enshrined in this temple.
According to the legends, there are still a controversy about the time of casting these statues. Some believed it was in the 10th century. Some said it might be in the 14th century. However, in the northern history (Pong Sawadarn Nuea; Thai: พงศาวดารเหนือ; "northern chronicle") had been registered that.
''"In the year B.E. 1900
Phra Si Thamma Tripidok or Phra Maha Thammaracha-Lithai, after the completion of building of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat wanted to cast three Buddha statues as the principal image in the
vihara. The king got five
Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (gur ...
s named Ba Indra, Ba Brahm, Ba Vishnu, Ba Rachasingh and Ba Rachakusol. The king asked for renowned sculptors from
Si Satchanalai town or
Sawankhalok together with the first class artisans from
Chiang Saen and
Hariphunchai to assist in the casting of the three Buddha statues"''
The first Buddha statue was a
Mara Vichai episode of 5 sok (1 sok = 50 cm) 1 kueb (1 kueb = 25 cm) 5 new (1 new = 2.45 cm) measuring from end of laps in sitting posture. The second Buddha statue was of a Mara Vichai period of 5 sok 1 kueb 4 new measuring from end of laps in sitting posture and the third Buddha statue of Mara Vichai period of 4 sok 1 kueb 6 new measuring from lap to lap in sitting position.
Architecture
The temple's large vihara has an immense main entrance with mother-of-pearl inserts donated by King
Boromakot in 1756. Beyond the wihan is a
Khmer style
prang, the inside of which can be accessed via a stairway. The prang is said to enshrine relics of the Buddha.
And front of prang is statue of Buddha image in standing position holding his right hand up. This Buddha symbol is called Phra Attharot (Thai: พระอัฏฐารส), a height of 18 sok (9 m). This place is called Vihara Phra Attharot (Thai: วิหารพระอัฏฐารส) or Phra Vihara Kao Hong (Thai: พระวิหารเก้าห้อง; "nine halls sanctuary").
Museum
The Phuttha Chinnarat National Museum, located on the temple grounds, exhibits various kinds of ancient objects and art objects which derived from not only excavation in ancient monuments, but also presented by Buddhits to be offering to Buddha. All high value objects reflect the history, archaeology, culture, customs and traditions of Phitsanulok and vicinity towns from the past to present. The significant objects displayed such as Buddha statues, votive tablets,
Sangkhalok ware,
Chinese blue and white ceramics, Chinese painted enamel ware, Thai ceramics with five colours (Benjarong) and with gold painted enamels (Lai Nam Thong), crystal glassware, miniature of threes with gold and silver leaves presented by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen
Sirikit
Queen Sirikit ( th, สิริกิติ์; ; ); born ''Mom Rajawongse'' Sirikit Kitiyakara ( th, สิริกิติ์ กิติยากร; ; 12 August 1932) is the queen mother of Thailand. She was Queen of Thailand as the wif ...
and all
members of his royal family.
Formerly, this museum was the museum under supervision of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, and then was proclaimed in the
government gazette
A government gazette (also known as an official gazette, official journal, official newspaper, official monitor or official bulletin) is a periodical publication that has been authorised to publish public or legal notices. It is usually establis ...
on November 14, 1961 to be the national museum 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 ...
.
Events
Festivals often take place on the temple grounds, including the annual
Phra Phuttha Chinnarat Fair. Also, on the first weekend of each October, the
Phitsanulok Dragon Boat Races take place outside the temple in the river.
Opening hours
The temple is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm, free of charge.
References
External links
* http://watyai.com/new/
* http://www.chumsang.net/Phitsanulok.php
{{First-Class Royal Monasteries
14th-century Buddhist temples
Phra Sri Rattanamahatat Woramahawihan
Thai Theravada Buddhist temples and monasteries