Phutthamonthon (, ; also spelled Buddha Monthon; from Sanskrit ''Buddha Máṇḍala'', 'Buddha's sphere') is a Buddhist park in

Salaya subdistrict 250px, Phutthamonthon, a Buddhist park, Salaya Subdistrict Salaya ( th, ศาลายา, ) is a ''tambon'' (sub-district) of Phutthamonthon district, Nakhon Pathom province, central Thailand, to the west of Bangkok and part of the Bangkok Me ...

of Phutthamonthon district, Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand. The park is situated just outside the western border of Bangkok. It is highlighted by a high statue of Gautama Buddha by

Corrado Feroci Silpa Bhirasri ( th, ศิลป์ พีระศรี; ; ), born Corrado Feroci (15 September 1892 – 14 May 1962), was a Tuscan-born Thai sculptor. He is considered the father of modern art in Thailand and was instrumental in the foundi ...

. The park was created in 1957 (the year 2500 in the Thai Buddhist Era) on the basis of an idea of Thailand's prime minister,

Phibunsongkhram 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 � ...

. The park covers an area of about 400 hectares, which in traditional Thai units is 2500 rai. Construction started 29 July 1955, and the park was inaugurated on the

Vaisakh Bucha Vesak (Pali: ''Vesākha''; sa, Vaiśākha), also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day, is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia as well as Tibet and Mongolia. The festival commemora ...

day, 13 May 1957. After a long pause, construction on the park resumed in 1976. The main Buddha statue was built after that time. Already designed in 1955 by art professor

Silpa Bhirasri Silpa Bhirasri ( th, ศิลป์ พีระศรี; ; ), born Corrado Feroci (15 September 1892 – 14 May 1962), was a Tuscan-born Thai sculptor. He is considered the father of modern art in Thailand and was instrumental in the found ...

, the statue was cast in 1981. The

Leela Attitude Leela attitude ( th, ปางลีลา; ) is an attitude of Buddha in Thai art of which the Buddha is stepping with his right foot and his right hand swinging and the other hand put towards to the front. The attitude is sometimes called the ' ...

statue, 15.875 m high and at the centre of the park, was given the name ''Phra Si Sakkaya Thotsaphonlayan Prathan Phutthamonthon Suthat'' ( th, พระศรีศากยะทศพลญาณ ประธานพุทธมณฑลสุทรรศน์, literally 'the Graceful Statue of the Shakyamuni who was of the Tenfold Power, the Presiding Buddha of the Beautiful Phutthamonthon') by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Around the statue are sites memorialising the four main stations in the life of Buddha: his birth symbolized by seven

lotus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

flowers, his Bodhi, enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, his first sermon, and his death. Another important building is the marble viharn, which contains the entire Tripitaka, Buddhist canon engraved in 1418 marble stelas.

References

{{Thailand-struct-stub Buddhism in Thailand Outdoor sculptures in Thailand Geography of Nakhon Pathom province Parks in Thailand 1957 establishments in Thailand Tourist attractions in Nakhon Pathom province Statues in Thailand