Phra Mongkhon Bophit, Phra Nakorn Si Ayutthaya Province

Phra Mongkhon Bophit

History of Phra Mongkhon Bophit   

Phra Mongkhon Bophit is one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand.  The image measures 9.55 metres at the widest point across the lap, and 12.45 metres high without the base.  This Buddha image is seated in the position of subduing mara and situated on the west side of the old palace compound in the Vihara of Phra Mongkhon Bophit temple.  The image is believed to have been condstructed in the early Ayutthaya period between 1448 to 1602 A.D. and was originally situated at the east side of the old palace compound.  Later, during the reign of King Song Tham it was moved to the west side and a Mondop was built to shelter it.  During the reign of King Phra Chao Sua (1706 A.D.) the top part of the Mondop and the head of the image were damaged by lightning.  The Mondop was converted into a Vihara and the main restoration of Phra Mongkhon Bophit was completed during the reign of King BoromaKote (1742-1743 A.D.).

During the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, the roof of the Vihara was damaged by fire and the head and the right arm of the image were broken.  Later the image was repaired and the Vihara was completed again in 1956.

On 23 March 1990, The Supreme Patriarch presided over a candle lighting ceremony in front of the image and amounced that people could honour the image by convering it with gold leaf H.M.Queen Sirikit auspiciously paid homage to the image a donated Baht 70,000 to the restoration fund.  Henceforward the Mongkhon Bophit Foundation undertook to cover the image with gold leaf in celebration of the 60th birthday of H.M. Queen Sirikit.

credit :  signed board Courtesy of Shangri-la hotel

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.

The Eight Chinese Deities

Li Tie Guai, the Deity of Medicine and Medical Treatment, is a young, intelligent and robust man.  He is  a vegetarian, follows religious precepts and leads and austere life.

Han Zhong Li, the Deity of Fortune, is plump and of huge stature, with a broad forehead, long, thick eyebrows and a large nose.





Lu Dong Bin is the Deity of Industry, Trad and Business, Intellectual People and eyebrows and elongated eyes like those of the swan.  His left eyebrow is marked with a black mould.  His fae features a large, round nose, chubby cheeks, a wide mouth and a long, slender neck.  this eight foot two inch Deity is clever and has a very good memory.

Zhang Guo Lao is the Deity of Stability, Long Life and Good Health.  The Zhang Guo Lao legend has it that a white bat lived on the sunlight and the moonlight for over a thousand years until it was made into the deity.  He can transform himself into an aged man and he has a white donkey as his vehicle.

Lan Cai He is the Deity of Flowers and Abundance.  According to legend, this Deity was given a mirculous fruit that enabled him to maintain his youthful looks and complexion forever.  There is nothing to show whether this Deity is male or female, but in Taoism, he is taken to be a male.

He xian Gu is the Deity of Virtues, Loyalty and Gratitude.  He is knowledgeable, articulate and his words are endowed with reason.   He is graceful and tender in his manner.  He loves to help the deprived with his magical  powers and he is able to give solid predictions.

Han Xiang Zi is the Deity of Fortune Telling.  He is regarded as a prophet and a music lovers.  Having a special interest in people who had megical power he took lessons in magic and pracised penance wiht Lu Dong Bin.

Cao Guo Jiu is theDeity of Status and Prestige, Royal Duties, Employees and Loyatty.  He was a member of the royal family and was blessed with a great fortune, yet he decided to sacrifice his luxurious and easy life for meditation.

The Eight Chinese Deities Stamp

Date of Issue :  February 1, 2011



Credit :  Thai Stamp Bulletion Vol 2011 issue 1

Madame Tussauds Bangkok Part II

Madame Tussauds Bangkok

 

Ludivig van Beethoven

Albert Einstein

Devid Beckham

Khaosai Galaxy

"The Left hand tht drills intestines"

Muhammad Ali

"I am the greatest"

Tony Jaa

Ronaldinho

Michael Jackson

Jim Carrey

Oprah

Tata Young

Britney Spears

Madonna

Nicole Kidman

Shayne Ward

Leonardo Dicaprio

Angelina Jolie & Brad Piec



Madame Tussauds Bangkok - Part I

Madame Tussauds Bangkok
The World's Favourite wax museum
10th attraction in Bangkok, with over 70 wax figures
at 6th Floor Siam Discovery, Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

Born :  Surat Thani Province, Thailand

The Dalai Lama

Born : 6th July 1935 in North-East Tibet

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Born : Elizabeth Alexanda Mary on 21st April, 1926 in London,United Kingdom

Diana, Pricess of Wales

Michelle Obama & Barack Obama

Obama in the Oval Office

General Prem Tinsulanonda

Having served His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej as Precident of the Privy Council

since 1998

Born : Songkhla Province,Thailand

M.R.Seni Pramoj

As a co-founder and a leader of Democrat Party,

M.r. Seni Pramoj served as Prime Minister of Thailand, the youngest Prime Minister

at the age of 40 in 1945

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore

Hu Jintao

He is now serving as the 4th and current precident of the People's Republic of China

and General Secretary of the Communist Party

Born :  Jiangsu Province, China

Mahatma Gandhi

Born : Mohadas Karamchand Gandhi 2nd October 1869 in Gujarat, India

Died on 30th January, 1948 in Delhi, India

Aung San Suu Kyi

She was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1991

Born :  Rangoon , Burma

Dr. Porntip Rojanasunan

is Thailand's most senior forensic pathologist,author and human rights activist.

Sunthorn Phu

The Great post of the Ratanakosin Era

Born : Thon Buri Palace (Phra Racha Wang Derm) in Bangkok

Pablo Picasso