Wat Pho - Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimol Mangklararm Rajwara Mahawiharn

 Wat Pho - Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimol Mangklararm Rajwara Mahawiharn         

open 8.00 AM - 5.00 PM everyday                                 

address :  2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakhon District,

Bangkok 10200        

 

Reclining Buddha Image

 

The Chant for Reclining Buddha Image

Na-mo-tus-sa-pa-ka-wa-to

Ah-ra-ha-to                   

Sum-ma sum-pood-ta sa (Repeat 3 times)

Yat-sa-noos-sa-ra-ne-na-pi  Aun-ta-lick  Khe-pi   Pa-ni-no   Pa-ti-thi-tha-ma-thi

Kat-cha-ti   Poom-mee-young    Vi-ya   Sub-pa-ta    Sub-pu-pat-ta-wa   Cha-lum-ha

Yak-kha-jo-ra-ti   Sam-pa-wa   Ka-na-naa-na-ja

The first classed Rayal Monastery of Ratchaworamahawiharn, was originally an old temple from

Ayutthaya period named Wat Photharam.  But people always call it Wat Pho, King Rama I had the 

entire temple restored in 1788 and ordered to bring all the buddha images from desterted temples 

in the countryside to enshrine in Ubosot (teh ordination hall).

after the temple celebration wal held in 1801.  It was renamed to Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalawat.  in the reign of King Rama III..  The monastery received another Grand Renovation.  The King also ordered to gather scattering as Thailand's and texts to be inscribed on Marble Slabs aroung the Temple, which people could read and learn from.

As a recsult, It was regarded as Thailand's first University.

In King Rama IV's reign, the temple was partly restored and renamed to Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawiharn. in the Temple, which is considered to be 

King Rama I's favourite temple there are plenty of religious buildings and objects worth to observe

and to study form, such as the reclining Buddha, Phra Mana Chedi of the 4 reigns, statues of hermit 

demonstrating the various positions of massge, and several Chinese stone dolls.

Nuad Thai, traditional Thai massage

Inscribed in 2019 (14.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

UNESCO

Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon

Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajworamahavihan  

Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon, the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthaya period and then almost completely rebuilt in 1781 by King Rama I. 

It leatures the largest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and was the earliest centre for public education.       

Phra Buddhasaiyas

Viharn Phranorn

Wat Pho is the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage.

Sightseeing in Bangkok

Wats or Temples
Wat Pho (Temple of The Sleeping Buddha)
or Wat Phra Chetuphon, the oldest and largest Temple in Bangkok, was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthaya period and then almost completely rebuilt in 1781 by King Rama I. It features the largest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and was the earliest centre for public education.

Location : South of Wat Phra Kaew, entrances on Chetuphon and Thiwong Roads
http://smiling-holiday.blogspot.com/2008/09/wat-pho.html

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of The Emerald Buddha)
Wat Phra Kaew in the official name Wat Phra Si Rattanasatsadaram or The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, adjoins the Grand Palace on common ground, which was consecrated in 1782, the first year of Bangkok rule, The 945,000 square metre compound encompasses over 100 buildings that represent 200 years of royal history and architectural experimentation. Most of the architecture can be classified as Bangkok or Rattanakosin style.
Location : Within the Grand Palace compound on Naphralan Road near Sanam Luang
http://smiling-holiday.blogspot.com/2009/01/wonderful-palaces-and-temples.html
Wat Arun (Temple of The Dawn)
The Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun is named after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna. It appears in all the tourist brochures and is located on the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya River. King Tak Sin chose this 17th century Wat for his royal temple and palace as it was the first place in Thon Buri to catch the morning light. The Emerald Buddha was housed here, after it was recaptured from Laos, before being moved to Wat Phra Kaeo in 1785. Even without the sacred statue, Wat Arun continued to be much revered, and the King Rama II and Rama III reconstructed and enlarged it to its present height of 104 metres, Today, Wat Arun has a long, elongated, Khmer style, Prang, the tower, and four monor towers symbolising Mount Meru, the terrestrial representation of the thirty three beavens. the Prang are covered with pieces of porcelain, which Chinese boats coming to Bangkok used as ballast.
Location : To reach Wat Arun from Bangkok side, catch a cross river ferry from Tha Tien at Thai Wang Road.
http://smiling-holiday.blogspot.com/2008/07/wat-arun.html
Wat Traimit (Temple of The Golden Buddha)
Buddha image made of 75 per cent gold weighing 5.5 tons and stading 3.5 metres high. The image of the Golden Buddha is believed to have been found by accident inside a larger statue. People believe the image was covered with plaster when the Burmese were attacking Ayutthya in the 18th century. Inside the hall of the Golden Buddha, evidences that led to the discovery of the image in 1954 are exhibited. The Golden Buddha is one of the most Famous Buddha images in the World.
Location : Traimitr Road, near Hual Lampong Railway Station
Wat Saket and Golden Mountain
Wat Saket is an undistinguished temple except for the Golden Mountain or Phu Khao Thong, on the West side of the grounds. The steep climb up the Golden Mountain puts everything back in perspective and offers views over Rattanakosin Island that are simply stunning. The artificial hill was created when a large Chedi under construction by King Rama III collapsed because the soft soil beneath would not support it. the resulting mud and brick hill was left to sprout weeds until King Rama IV built a small Chedi on its crest. King Ramai V later added to the structure and housed a Buddha relic from India in the Chedi. The concrete walls were adds during World War II to prevent the hill from eroding. Every November a large festival, held on the ground of Wat Saket, includes a candlelight procession up to the Golden Mountain.
Location : Intersection of Rajadamnoen Avenue and Klong Banglampoo
http://smiling-holiday.blogspot.com/2009/01/wonderful-palaces-and-temples.html
Erawan Shrine
San Phra Phrom or Erawan shrine is one of the most visited sites in Bangkok. The beautiful golden shrine, laden with garlands of sweet scented jasmine, marigold and roses. The golden shrine is of Lord Brahma and is always filled with the strains of Thai music. Thai classical dances perform around the asrine for a small fee, offering prayers to make merit for wishes granted by the deity to his devotees.
Location : Corner Rama I and Rajdamri Road
http://smiling-holiday.blogspot.com/2009/03/erawan-shrine-ratchaprasong.html
credit : Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

Wat Pho (Wat Po)

Wat Pho 'Wat Po'

This is possibly the most interesting temple in Thailand as it combines history, medical science and is a center for meditaion and traditional massage training. Its official name is Wat Phrachetuphon Vimon Mangkararam Ratchaworamahawihan, although it is commonly called Wat Po.

Founded during the 16th century, Wat Pho is most famous for the golden reclining Buddha that measues 46 metres and has feet inlaid with mother-of pearl. This is the main attraction that draws visitors to the temple. In more modern times, Wat Pho has gained international recognition as a meditation centre and for the traditional Thai massage that is both practiced and taught here.

Traditionally, temples were the schools as there was no formal education system, with monks providing basic lesson in both spiritual and secular subjects. King Rama III turned Wat Po into a major centre for learning in botany, geography and history.
Bas reliefs around one of the main buildings depict the story of the Ramakian which is the Thai adaption of the Indian Ramayana.

For those interested in traditional Thai medicine, there is a pavilion that serves to both impart knowledge and provide treatment. The walls have marble tablets describing basic anatomy and treatments. In the late afternoon, traditional medicine practitioners are there to dispense herbal mixtures. Nearby, there is a cloister where you can have a traditional Thai massage for a very small payment. In 2008, the historic marble inscriptions in Wat Pho have been registered with UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MOW) as MOW documentary heritage for Asia and Pacific Region

- Tourism Thailand.org