Wat Maheyong Buddhist Temple, Thailand

Address

Wat Maheyong Buddhist Temple, Thailand

2 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District,

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

Wat Maheyong is a Buddhist monastery located just outside and on the Eastern end of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. The monastery lies in ruins although it had been restored several times in history. Believed to have been constructed as a meditation center in the 15th century, the red brick walls remain visible from afar. It has been declared as a national historical site by the “Fine Arts Department” of Thailand with the Buddhist monks being encouraged to preside over religious ceremonies held at the ordination hall (ubosot) during auspicious periods.

The ruins of Wat Maheyong monastery are located at Hantra within the Phra Nakhon section of Ayutthaya near the famous Ayutthaya Floating Market.

Puranic Significance

The Buddhist shrine of Wat Maheyong is believed to have been constructed by Borommarachathirat II in 1438 with the name denoting it to be a “Monastery of the Mound.” The temple was destroyed by the elements of nature and was ruined almost completely when King Thai Sa decided to renovate it during his reign.

A Royal Palace was constructed adjacent to Wat Maheyong with the King preferring to spend a good part of his time at this residence in order to supervise the restoration at the temple. The monastery was remodeled and opened to the public after three years but managed to remain standing only for 6 decades afterwards before it was ransacked and demolished by the victorious Burmese Army in 1767 along with the rest of Ayutthaya.