Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit Temple
Location: In the Ayutthaya Historical Park, adjacent to Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm every day
Reason to visit: To see Thailand's largest bronze sitting Buddha, and feel the peace and purity of the mind.
Transportation: Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit Temple is located in the Ayutthaya Historical Park, suitable for a day trip to Ayutthaya. If you depart from Bangkok, you can rent a car or carpool, which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours by car.
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit is a Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand, located in the Ayutthaya Historical Park, adjacent to the famous Wat Phra Si Sanphet. The main building of the temple is a huge square hall, which houses a 17-meter-high, 300-ton bronze sitting Buddha, one of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand and one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world.
History of Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
The history of Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit can be traced back to the 14th century, when Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand and the cultural center of Southeast Asia. According to historical records, this temple was originally built by the third king of the Ayutthaya dynasty, Ramathibodi I (1350-1369), as his private temple. The temple was named Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, meaning "the Buddhist temple with auspiciousness and blessings". The Buddha statue in the temple was designated by the king himself and cast by a craftsman named Supa. The style of the Buddha statue is Sukhothai art, showing the elegance and peace of the Buddha.
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit Temple was damaged by many wars and natural disasters in the later period of the Ayutthaya dynasty, especially in 1767, when the Burmese army captured Ayutthaya and burned many temples and Buddha statues, including Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit Temple. The head of the Buddha statue was struck by lightning and fell off, and the hall was also burned down. Later, Rama I of Thailand (1782-1809) ordered the restoration of the temples in Ayutthaya, and Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit Temple was also rebuilt. The head of the Buddha statue was reinstalled, and the hall was rebuilt, but on a smaller scale. During the restoration process, it was found that there were hundreds of small Buddha statues inside the Buddha statue, which may have been placed by the believers at that time to pray for the Buddha's blessing. These Buddha statues were collected and displayed on the corridors on both sides of the temple for visitors to admire.
In 1956, Thailand celebrated the 2500th anniversary of the birth of Buddhism, and Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit Temple underwent another major restoration. This restoration was funded by the Burmese government, as a sign of the friendly relationship between the two countries. The hall was expanded, and the Buddha statue was repainted, restoring its original glory. Since then, this temple has become an important attraction in Ayutthaya, attracting countless tourists and believers to visit and worship.
Highlights of the Temple
The biggest highlight of Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit Temple is of course the bronze sitting Buddha in the hall. The posture of the Buddha statue is Bhumisparsha Mudra, meaning "enlightening the earth", indicating that the Buddha touched the ground as a proof, proving that he had awakened. The facial expression of the Buddha statue is calm and compassionate, and the head of the Buddha statue has a circular halo, symbolizing the wisdom and light of the Buddha. There is a golden lotus pattern on the feet of the Buddha statue, representing the purity and nobility of the Buddha.
In addition to the Buddha statue itself, the hall of the temple is also very magnificent and gorgeous. The exterior of the hall is Thai architectural style, with a multi-level inverted triangle roof, with a golden spire at the top and many small spires around. The color of the roof is red and green, contrasting with the golden spires. The walls of the hall are white, with many exquisite reliefs and paintings, depicting the stories and scenes of Buddhism. The doors and windows of the hall are wooden, with gold decorations and patterns. There is a wide platform in front of the hall, with some stone lions and dragons, as the guardian gods of the temple. There are some green plants and flowers around the hall, adding some vitality and color.
The interior of the temple is an open space without any partitions or pillars, except for the statue of Buddha in the center, sitting high on a lotus seat, looking up at the visitors and devotees who come to the temple. Surrounding the statue are some offering tables and incense burners for people to offer flowers, incense and gold leaf. Gold leaf is a very thin sheet of metal that can be attached to the body of the Buddha statue as a way of invoking the blessings and gifts of the Buddha. The interior of the temple is not very brightly lit, but the gold color of the Buddha statue shines through the darkness, giving it a sense of sanctity and solemnity. The interior of the temple also has some murals and sculptures depicting the life of Buddha and the teachings of Buddhism. The interior atmosphere of the temple is quiet and peaceful, giving a sense of peace and purity of mind.
When you arrive at the temple, you can take pictures on the platform, admire the appearance of the temple and the surrounding scenery. Then, you can enter the hall, salute the Buddha statue, offer flowers, incense and gold foil, and pray for the Buddha's blessing.