Wat Phra Sri Sanphet

The royal palace was located here from the establishment of Ayutthaya in the reign of King Ramathibodi 1 (1350 A.D.) to the reign of King Sam Phraya (1448 A.D.). Later King Borommatrailokanat ordered a wat to be built on this site in 1448 A.D. to be used as a
monastic area.



After the reign of King Borommatrailokanat, his son King Ramathibodi II,ordered the construction for two chedis, one of which was kept theashes of his father and the other those of his brother, King Borom-marachathirat III. Another chedi was built by order of King Borom-rachanophuttangkun. It was similarly used to house royal remains those of King Ramathibodi II.

In 1499, a principal viharn was built. The following year, in 1500 A.D.,King Ramathibodi II commanded the casting of a standing Buddha image 16 meters high and covered with gold. This image, Phra Buddha Chao Si Sanphet was the main object of veneration in the
royal viranra (hall of worship). After that time the ashes of membersof the royal family other than the kings were placed in small chedis constructed at the site.


Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the royal chapel and as such did not have a Sangavasa (no monks dwelt there). It was used for royalceremonies.

When Ayutthaya was sacked in 1767 A.D. the gold which coveredwas taken by the invaders. During his reign King Rama I (1782 -1809 A.D.) of the Ratanakosin Period ordered the transfer of the inner core of Phra Buddha Chao Si Sanphet from Ayutthaya to Wat Phra Chetuphon in Bangkok, and had it placed in a chedi specially built for the purpose. Another Buddha image of importance called Phralokanat was also brought to this wat at about the same time.

(Information is from the Department of Fine Arts)

source: www.bangkoksite.com

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