Wat Mahathat

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Mahathat is located on the inside of the Chiang Saen Gate. which is the main city gate of the city Currently, it is in an abandoned temple condition. Inside the temple, there are large trees that grow everywhere, shady conditions, and the ground is planted with grass. On the west side, next to the temple is a tourist information center. Wiang Chiang Saen Subdistrict Municipality

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mekong River

Geological conditions

Chiang Saen is located on the west bank of the Mekong River. in the Chiang Saen Plain, which is a large plain formed by the deposition of sediments especially sand gravel In the Quaternary Era

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Mahathat is an archaeological site within the city of Chiang Saen. It is now an abandoned temple. There is no evidence of the construction of Wat Mahathat. But there is another name called Wat Phra Rod, important historical sites inside such as Viharn and Mondop, dating from the art form around the 20th-21st Buddhist century.

From the study, there was no history of the construction of Wat Mahathat. Originally, local people called this Wat Mahathat as “Wat Phra Rod” in 1966 when the city of Chiang Saen had a great flood. Kanthakudi Wat Mahathat was greatly damaged. Later, after the water receded, it appeared that only the southeast corner of the bow was still in perfect condition. The Fine Arts Department has renovated. by taking that line as a model.

Important antiques within Wat Mahathat consist of a viharn and a house of relics at the end of the Viharn or Mondop or Gandhakudi.

The Temple The present appearance is the brick base of a square building, 5 meters wide, 12 meters long, with a broad front facing east. There is a staircase leading up to the front. The back or west side connects the entrance to the Mondop.

Mondop It is a brick building with mortar. square layout Similar to Mondapamulkanthakudi Buddha's private residence Width 4.5 meters on each side, 8.4 meters high, inside enshrines a stucco Buddha image. But now it's broken.

Archaeological sites that can be found in Chiang Saen, such as Wat Phra That Pu Khao or Phra That Phu Khao And Wat Pa Daeng Luang, etc., in Sukhothai, this mondop is behind the viharn. facing east when considering the art form This temple is probably built around the 20th-21st Buddhist century.

Kanthakudi is an old Buddhist construction found in Sukhothai and Lanna. It looks like a narrow brick building. size fit the president often connected to the end of the temple in front Above the building, Gandhakudi has different forms. But all are built with heavy objects like bricks or stones only.

For the purpose of creating a bow that to be used as a private place for the Lord Buddha as it appears in the commentary of the Kasi Sutra Upasaka paragraph 2 that the Lord Buddha His Majesty has five daily activities as follows:

One of the activities in Purebhat He got up early in the morning after spitting his mouth He made time pass at the secluded seat until the time of the monks. and please animals eat food He waited until my monks So he entered the royal gandhakudi.

One of the missions in Patchaphat in time after If His Highness had a wish, he had attained consciousness for a moment. By that Priest on the right, having a rejuvenated body, he got up and preached the Dharma to the companies that were in the meeting.

One of the activities in the Purim Yam Soroja took his body in the altar and sat down at a certain place before the monks came to ask questions, listen to the Dhamma, etc., and gave the monks an instruction.

One of the deeds in the middle when all the wishes have returned. It was about midnight. It was the time when he prophesied many problems with the angels.

One of the last long missions when the angels have returned. He divides the rest of the time into 3 parts, namely, round the 1st part.

Part 2 His Highness went to Phra Gandhakudi. His Highness was conscious and able to achieve reclining. by Phra Prasaw on the right.

Part 3 He stood up and examined the enlightened beings. And that still shouldn't be enlightened

From the Buddha's work, there are some periods that are private time within Gandhakudi. during that time both gods and humans who should not interfere with the Buddha Even Brahma had to hide by the door. dare not interfere can only gossip and discuss the Dharma with others beside that door

For that purpose, Gandha Kudi was built as a private room for the Lord Buddha. therefore used to enshrine the president (Buddha) alone Visitors are not allowed to worship in the room. because it disturbs the Buddha But if you want to worship, you can only do it within the temple located in front of Gandhakudi.

for in Lanna Kanthakudi has developed into a small castle. Located within the viharn such as Wat Phra That Lampang (Lampang), Wat Phra That Chom Thong (Chiang Mai) or Wat Doi Sak (Uttaradit), etc. Another form of development of Gandhakuti is to develop into a house of garrison. which are small buildings located alone in the outdoors, such as Wat Chang Kham (Nan) and Wat Xieng Thong (Luang Prabang, Lao PDR), etc.