Wat Phra Ram
The Wat Phra Ram ( Temple of Saint Rama , Thai วัด พระราม ) is a Buddhist temple complex ( Wat ) in the Ayutthaya Historical Park in central Thailand .
location
Wat Phra Ram is located in the middle of the old town of Ayutthaya, east of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and southeast of the old Wang Luang palace .
Building history
The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya contradict each other when specifying the date of foundation of this temple complex. The “Luang Prasoet” version attributes the founding to the year 1369: “In 731 CS , a year of the rooster, the Phra Ram monastery was first built. At that time, King Ramathibodi died and Prince Ramesuan , the king's son, ascended the throne. ”All other versions place the date in 1448, when King Boromtrailokanat took office :“ The king donated the land on which his palace was built, so that Wat Phra Sri Sanphet could be built, then he built the Sanphet Prasat throne hall. ... And at the place of the cremation of King Ramathibodi, the king had a holy monastery built, consisting of a large, holy reliquary and a holy prayer hall, and called it Phra Ram Monastery. "
The oil painting Iudea of the capital Ayutthaya, painted in 1650 by a Dutch artist (today in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam ), as well as the atlas by J. Vingboons (1665) actually show a prang , some chedis and a viharn at the specified location . The city map of the unknown French engineer from 1687 even calls this place the Grande Pagoda .
However, a detailed description by Père Tachard from 1685 suggests that the temple had been significantly expanded between 1665 and 1685, which would fall during the reign of King Narai . During this time, the central prang was probably supplemented by another smaller prang in all four directions, so that the floor plan of a Greek cross resulted. At the same time, the gallery ( Phra Rabieng ) surrounding the central platform was built.
Another major restoration took place in 1741–1742 under King Borommakot : “The monastery of Saint Rama was also in ruins, so the king expressed his great sympathy by completely renewing it. This took over a year to complete. Then the king held opening ceremonies at all three holy temples, one after the other, presented the holy monks with appropriate offerings in large numbers, and celebrated a three-day festival in each monastery. “The expansion by King Boromakot are probably a second platform around ascribing the central prang, the great eastern and western viharns, and a series of chedis on the northern and southern sides.
In front of the temple there was probably a swamp area, which was called Nong Son (Thai: หนอง โสน ), before the city was founded. For the construction of the Wang Luang , the Wat Mahathat , Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Phra Ram, earth was dug out of this swamp to level the area. Later, a pretty lake with lotus flowers was created here , the Bueng Phra Ram ( บึง พระราม - Lake of Saint Rama ).
Attractions
Like all important temples in Ayutthaya, Wat Phra Ram faces east. The large prang stands on a square base. Steep stairs lead on all sides to the entrances, which are about a third of the total height. In addition to the main east entrance to the cella inside, there are three false entrances. On the east as well as on the west side there is a square vestibule, which was probably originally crowned by a miniature prang.
The main prang is comparable in shape to a corn cob, which is decorated with antefixes and garudas on several levels. The middle base is extended to the north and south, here were two smaller prangs, of which only the foundation walls remain today. At the four corners of the central platform there are four larger chedis, the edge of the platform is lined with the remains of around 40 small chedis. The four corner chedis are decorated with partially preserved reliefs of Buddha statues in different positions.
This building complex is surrounded by a small courtyard and a square, inwardly open gallery ( Phra Rabieng ) , of which only the foundation walls and some broken Buddha statues can be seen today. The two viharns mentioned are connected to the gallery in the east and west by their rear walls. There are also some small viharns, a small ubosot and numerous dilapidated chedis on the temple grounds .
The Phra Ram Park surrounding the temple with small lakes crossed by bridges is also charming.
literature
- Elizabeth Moore et al .: Ancient Capitals of Thailand . River Books / Thames And Hudson, Bangkok 1996, ISBN 0-500-97429-2
- Chaiwat Worachetwarawat: Interesting Temples and Ruins in Ayutthaya . Rajabhat Institute Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya 2001 (oh. ISBN)
- Piriya Krairiksh: A Revised Dating of Ayudhya Architecture (II). In: Journal of the Siam Society , Volume 80, Issue 2. Bangkok 1992, ISSN 0857-7099 , siamese-heritage.org (PDF; 1.4 MB), accessed on November 1, 2012.
- Richard D. Cushman (David K. Wyatt Ed.): The Royal Chronicles Of Ayutthaya . The Siam Society, Bangkok 2000, ISBN 974-8298-48-5 (literal translation and direct comparison of 7 chronicles available today, from the foundation to King Taksin)
- คู่มือ ท่องเที่ยว เรียน รู้ อยุธยา , Museum Press, Bangkok 2546 (2003), ISBN 974-92888-5-8
- Clarence Aasen: Architecture of Siam: A Cultural History and Interpretation . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1998, ISBN 983-56-0027-9 .
- Guy Tachard: A relation of the voyage to Siam. Performed by six Jesuits, sent by the French King, to the Indies and China, in the year, 1685 . J.Robinson and A.Churchil, London 1688 . Reprinted by Orchid Press, Bangkok 1991, ISBN 974-8304-30-2 (contains the detailed description of a visit to Wat Phra Ram).
Web links
Coordinates: 14 ° 21 ′ 15 ″ N , 100 ° 33 ′ 42 ″ E