Phrapathomchedi Homepage, the great pagoda in Thailand. history, and legend of Phrapathomchedi.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHRA PATHOMCHEDI

Phra Pathom Chedi is the oldest Buddhist monument in Thailand. It is located in a region where Buddhism was first introduced here by Sona Thera and Uttra Thera in the fourth Buddhist century. The present shape of Phra Pathom Chedi differs from the original one which was that of an overturned bowl in the Indian stupa style.

"Phra Pathom Chedi" was in ruins for a long time until King Mongkut (Rama IV), still a monk, went on a pilgrimage to Phra Pathom Chedi which was 84 meters high at that time. When he ascended the throne, he decided to restore the Chedi by covering it with a new one. The four wiharn and the cloister were built during his reign: work began in 1853 and was completed during the reign of King Rama IV who added a new structure, the "Belfry" to this monastery; then the royal wiharn was restored as well as the replica of the former chedi and the mural paintings and a new one was erected to house a standing Buddha image named Phra Ruan Rojanariddhi Sri Indradhit Dharmopas Maha Vajiravuth Raj Pujaniyapborpit. Finally the new ordination hall was built during the reign of King Rama VII.

Phra Pathom Chedi, which is 120 meters high, contains relics of the LordBuddha. During the twelfth Lunar month which is in November, there is an annual fair within the walls of this monastery and Buddhists congregate to pay homage to this holy chedi

WHAT IS A PAGODA ?

In Buddhism, the Pagoda or Chedi is a place for Buddhists to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. a solid tapering tower, usually round and broad based, rising to a point. Important chedi normally house relics of the Buddha, royalty or some other
prominent persons. Smaller chedi are like tombstones and hold the ashes of normal people.

Phra Pathom Chedi is the tallest Buddhist pagoda both in Thailand and in the world.On approaching the city, the first glimpse of towering Phra Pathom Chedi is already impressive. The Chedi is one of the largest in the world and the holiest Buddhist structure in Thailand. Reaching to the sky for 115.8m (half an inch less than 380 feet), the cone shines like pure gold in the sunlight. The highly glazed tiles covering the dome are golden brown in color and were brought from China.

FOUR VIRARAS AROUND THIS PAGODA
At the four points of the compass in the outer courtyard are four Viharas (depository of Buddha Images) each containing an image of Buddha in a different posture. The eastern Vihara shows the image of Buddha beneath a delicately painted Pho tree which covers the entire wall behind the image. The inner room is a Royal chapel containing an altar where the King pays homage. The southern Vihara shows the image of Buddha protected by a mystical Naga serpent. The western Vihara contains an image of Buddha in a reclining posture, just before his death, surrounded by disciples; a further inner room contains yet another reclining image. The northern Vihara, directly in front of the entrance and across from the frame building where the guides are, contains a standing image of Buddha. The ashes of King Vajiravudh are buried at the base of this image.

WHAT IS SOMETHING INSIDE THIS PAGODA ?

The original Chedi which is inside the outer Chedi was most probably built by
Indianized Mon people. It resembled the Indian Stupa of the third century, the era of King Asoke. During his reign, the first Buddhist missionaries were sent to spread Buddhism in the Kingdom of Suwannaphum. The first capital of that kingdom was on the site of present-day Nakhon Pathom.

Later, when the area came under Khmer control, the Stupa was built over with a Brahmin Prang, 39.7m (130ft) high. During the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV) in the middle 1800's, it was again built over to get its present Chedi-style structure. A replica of the original Stupa stands south of the present Chedi.

SOMETHING ABOUT THE GREAT CHEDI

Foreigners to the country often wonder about the Southeast Asian habit of overbuilding old religious sites when the artistic value would be greater if the structures were left unchanged. The answer is simply that these structures were and are not built for their artistic appeal but for a religious purpose. Religious beliefs
command that Images and religious structures are, if possible, taken care of. Images, for example, are commonly believed to be animated, and religious structures like Bots and Viharas serve the purpose of providing Images with a house that ought to
be comfortable, and not in ruins. Chedis, on the other hand, function as crypts for remains, either of the Buddha or of anyone holy - and this "anyone" includes Images which, as mentioned above, are widely believed to be alive as spirits. Accordingly, throughout Thai history, broken sculptures have been orderly buried in Chedis - a religious necessity also in so far as broken Buddha Images were and are widely believed to bring bad luck. In common Buddhist belief, broken Images and ruined structures in general gain in importance if they are orderly housed, and this often means, built over.

WHO BUILT THIS OUTER CHEDI AS SEE IN CURRENT ?

While still a Buddhist monk, King Mongkut (Rama IV) had made a pilgrimage to Nakhon Pathom to visit the old ruined Prang. When he came upon the old structure he was deeply impressed realizing that this was the spot where Buddhism was first
taught in Thailand. He assumed that there must be a Buddha's relic inside and decided to have the Prang rebuilt. When he became King, he immediately ordered restoration and work started in 1853. He passed away before the structure was fully restored but kings following him carried on the task.