Wat Phra Prathon Chedi- Thailand

Address

Wat Phra Prathon Chedi- Thailand

120 Langpra Rd, Phra Prathom Chedi Sub-district,

Mueang Nakhon Pathom District,

Nakhon Pathom 73000,

Thailand

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

Phra Prathon Chedi (Buddhist stupa) is one of the oldest stupa’s in Thailand with the height of 50 meters (164 ft). The stupa is located in the Wat Phra Prathon Chedi Wora Viharn, a temple in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, 3 km east of Phra Pathommachedi. The name Phra Prathon Chedi means the holy stupa of Thona or Thanan, name of an ancient measurement. According to legend after the cremation of Gautama Buddha, his relics were equally divided amongst 8 royal families and his disciples by using a golden Thona. This golden Thona eventually sent to ancient Nakhon Chai Si in Suvarnabhumi and kept inside a stone stupa in 590. King of Sri Lanka wanted the golden Thona, so he sent a prominent monk to ask the golden Thona from the King of Nakhon Chai Si. The king agreed in exchange of one Thona of holy relics of Buddha and built a new stupa to keep the holy relics, which is Phra Pathommachedi. In 656 King of Lavo ruled Nakhon Chai Si and rebuilt the stupa and named Phra Prathon Chedi.

Puranic Significance

Wat Phra Prathon Chedi is one of the big historic sites from Davaravati era around B.E.13, located in Wat Phra Prathon Chedi, 78, 52nd kilometers, Petch Kasem road, Tumbol Phra Prathon, Amphoe Mueng, Nakhon Pathom. A distance of 2 kilometers east from Phra Pathom Chedi is the royal temple. Presuming it was first built during Davaravati era, far from current location of Phra Prathom Chedi in North direction. According to the evidence which say the Chedi was restored in B.E. 2456 so it’s supposed to built in B.E.2366-2370. This information also conforms to National Bhuddism Institution which says the Chedi was built in B.E.2324 and was given Visung Kamsima in B.E.2327.

Dvaravati Period

The original of Phra Prathon Chedi has no historical record, but according to archaeological survey findings date back to the 4th century. Modern Historians believe that the stupa was the principal stupas of ancient Nakhon Pathom, the largest settlement of Dvaravati culture together with the nearby Phra Pathommachedi during the 6th to the 8th centuries. Before excavation, archaeologists believed that the original structure of Phra Prathon Chedi was similar with the Great Stupa in Sanchi, India, with a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha with chatra, a parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, on the top of stupa. After excavation, the stupa was built in Dvaravati style with multi-tiers brick square shape stupa, similar with Borobudur in Indonesia, but in much smaller scale.

Khmer Empire and Bagan Invasion

After the Khmer Empire annexed Dvaravati settlements including ancient Nakhon Pathom, in the 11th century, the stupa had been modified with a Khmer style temple on the top of stupa. Anawrahta of the Bagan Kingdom invaded and plundered ancient Nakhon Pathom. Then the city and the stupa had been abandoned and later overgrown by the jungle.

Later Development

King Mongkut ordered the restoration of Phra Prathon Chedi. He also built Khmer style prang on the top of the stupa, as he believed the design of Phra Prathon Chedi was the same with Phra Pathommachedi. Also under his reign the Phra Prathon Chedi Temple also had a major renovation. Vajiravudh started excavation on Phra Prathon Chedi Temple ground, and found many historic artefacts. Phra Prathon Chedi has been registered as a national heritage site in 1931. However in 1962 after long neglect Phra Prathon Chedi partially collapsed, due to the lack of budget or any help from the central Thai government, the abbot of Phra Prathon Chedi Temple restored the stupa to prevent any further collapse. In 1999 Phra Prathon Chedi has been restored to its Dvaravati form for the first time by the Department of Fine Arts.