Saturday, March 21, 2009

WatPho :Temple of the Reclining Buddha



The principal Buddha image is “Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn” in a gesture of seated Buddha on a three tiered pedestal called Phra Pang Smardhi (Lord Buddha in the posture of conoentration), and some ashes of King Rama I are kept under the pedestal. The mural paintings in the hall depict Mahosatha Pandita (The Great Bachelor of Mithila City), The heavens, and Phra Etadagga a disciple. On the middle tier there are two images of the Original Disciples, while the eight effigies of the Holy Priests stand on the lowest pedestal. Inside panels of the windows are decorated with lacquer work of the seals of these monastery dignitaries (in the reign of king Rama III).

The 2 nd Buddhist architecture is called Phra Uposatha, (the main chapel or Bot or the Assembly Hall – a hall used for performing the monastic ritual). For Buddhists, the main chapel is the heart of the monastery, as without a main chapel, it would be a monk center and not a monastery.

No comments: