Wat Mahawan (วัดมหาวัน)
Thai.
Name of an old
Buddhist temple
in
Chiang Mai
built in a mixture of
Lan Na,
Thai Yai
and Burmese styles, including
the presence of a hintha pillar, i.e. a
large freestanding column topped by an effigy of a
hintha (fig.),
believed to be an earlier incarnation
of the
Buddha
and said
to
publicize peace.
There is no evidence
of its construction, but it is believed to be one of the oldest
temples in Chiang Mai, built in the prehistoric era. It was
renovated during the reign of
Chao Kawila (fig.),
some time after this ruler in
1775 AD
restored independence from
Burma,
after its of occupation of over 200
years, whereas the principal Buddha statue in the main hall dates
from 1867 AD.
Akin to most temples in
Myanmar, this
temple also features
a statue
of
Shin Thiwali
(fig.),
a deified
Burmese
Buddhist monk, as
well as of
Shin U Pagok
(fig.), a
Burmese deity who presides
over any body of water,
while
both the
viharn
and the main
pagoda
are guarded by
Burmese-style
mythological
lions
known as
chintha,
which in Thai are referred to as
singha
(fig.).
See also
list of Thai kings,
TRAVEL PHOTOS (1)
and
(2), as well
as
MAP.
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