Wat Phra Sri Sanphet (วัดพระศรีสรรเพชญ์)

Thai. ‘Temple of the Glorious All-knowing Buddha’. The remains of a royal temple in Ayutthaya with three distinctive pagodas or stupas, which in Thai are called chedi. At the foundation of Ayutthaya, the ground belonged to the royal palace and this remained so during the rule of King Ramathibodi I (fig.) in 1350 AD until after the reign of King Sam Phraya in 1448 AD. Only then, in 1448 AD, King Borommatrailokanat built a temple on this location and after his reign, his son and second successor in line, Ramathibodi II, had two chedis erected: one for the ashes of his father, the other for the ashes of his brother, King Borommarachathirat III. A third chedi was later built by order of King Boromrachanophuttangkun and was used for the remains of King Ramathibodi II. The temple's vihaan was built in 1499 and in 1500 King Ramathibodi II had a standing Buddha image cast. This image, 16 meters high and covered with 171,6 kilogram gold, was the main object of worship. The smaller chedis on this temple compound contain the remains of other members of the royal family. Since the temple was a royal temple it was only used for royal ceremonies and didn't have a Sanghavasa. After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 the gold of the Buddha image was looted by the invaders, but the inside of the statue was later moved to Wat Phra Chetuphon by Rama I, where it was placed in a specially built chedi. The three chedis used to have wooden door panels, which are now on display at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum (fig.). See also wat, Phra, Sri, Sanphet, LIST OF THAI KINGS, MAP, POSTAGE STAMPS (1) and (2), and TRAVEL PICTURES. 回