Wat Phra Borommathat Chediyaram (วัดพระบรมธาตุเจดียาราม)

Thai. Name of a Buddhist temple in Kamphaeng Phet, situated on the west side of the Ping river. The temple's ubosot houses a large number of bronze Buddha images from the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. The principal chedi was constructed in 1357 by Mahadhammaracha Lithai (fig.), the seventh King of Sukhothai, in order to house relics of the Buddha. Initially, the main pagoda had a lotus bud finial, an architectural feature typical of the Sukhothai period, but was during the reign of King Rama V renovated by a Burmese log trader into the current Burmese style zedi, which is topped with a hti, i.e. an ornamental part in the form of a lacy umbrella. In front of the stupa is a plaza with a large stone Buddhist Wheel of Law with 24 spokes, representing the hours of the day, which is surrounded by 24 pillars, each also topped with a sandstone dhammachakka, smaller in size and each with 8 spokes, symbolizing the Eightfold Path of Buddhism. The large Wheel of Law is flanked by two statues of deer, one on either side, referring to the Buddha's first discourse which was held at Mrigadava, a deer park in Sarnath. To the west of the plaza are a number of traditional wooden buildings, the northern one being the Ancient Scripture Hall, known in Thai as Ho Kampie Boraan (หอคัมภีร์โบราณ). See also TRAVEL PICTURE, THEMATIC STREET LIGHT, and MAP. 回