Temples In Thailand

Wat Bowornniwet Vihara Rajaworavihara, Usually known as Wat Boworn, is situated near the Banglamphoo Market. This temple was built in between 1824 to 1832 by HRH Prince Maha Sakdipolsep, a son of King Rama III. At first the temple was called Wat Mai, but when king Rama III invited the future King Rama IV, who was then a monk, to be abbot of the temple, the name was changed to Wat Bowornniwet Vihara. King Rama IV stayed here after he was ordained, and founded the Thammayut Nikai, a more ascetic monastic order. The temple is of special importance because King Rama VI, King Rama VII, and HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej were all ordained here. Moreover, the temple is the residence of members of the royal family who enter the monkhood. It has been the residence of many the supreme patriarchs of the Buddhist Church in Thailand, and it is the site of Mahamakut Rajavittayalai, Thailand’s first Buddhist institution of the high education. Because the temple was built during the Third Reign, it was many examples of Chinese art, such as phra ubosot, vihara keng, vihara Phra Sassada and the door of phra ubosot where the Chinese deity ” Siew Kang ” is carved on the walls as a guardian spirit.

Within the phra ubosot there are murals that are the work of Khrua In Khong. Of special interest are the painting above the windows illustrating Dhamma teachings using European figures and scenes. The murals also employed perspective as in Western style paintings. There are two presiding Buddha images in the phra ubosot , namely Phra Suwannakhet or Luang Pho To, and Phra Buddha Chinasi, which was brought down from Phitsanulok.

In the monastic area there are important buildings such as the Phra Panya-a three story European - style building where King Rama IV resided when he was a monk, the Tamnak Phetch, built in the Sixth Reign, the lower floor of which is now used for gatherings of Buddhist monks and which also houses a life-size standing statue of King Rama IV, and another important building is the Phor Por Ror Building that houses a museum where provide the birth-death knowledge.