Chao Brahmin Temple

Terrain

General Condition

Chao Brahmin Temple an abandoned ancient site Located in the southwest area within the city of Ayutthaya. has been restored Adjacent to Khlong Tho Road and Khlong Tho or Khlong Chakrai Yai (On the west side of the canal and road) in Somdet Phra Srinakarin Park It is about 450 meters north of the Chao Phraya River.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Chao Phraya River, Pa Sak River, Lop Buri River, Noi River, Khlong Muang, Khlong Tho, Khlong Chakrai Yai

Geological conditions

The Central Plains are caused by the movement of major faults, namely the Mae Ping Fault (almost connected to the Moei Fault), Uttaradit Fault (Nam Pat), and the Three Pagoda Fault. from the Late Cretaceous to the Tertiary This was followed by the opening of the southern Gulf of Thailand and the formation of the Tertiary Basin in the northern and upper western regions and was followed by the formation of the north-south fault line (Bunopas, 1981). up on land like a fan-shaped sedimentary hill sedimentary plains, waterways, lakes, and semi-waterways and lakes

Geological features Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Located in the southern central plains Make it deep under the ground of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province It is a source of large pebbles. Gravels and sand are large and rounded. Groundwater accumulates between gaps and grains of pebbles and sand. interspersed with clay layers resulting in multiple layers of groundwater and is a layer of water that spreads widely horizontally has unique hydrogeological properties which is a characteristic found in most of the groundwater layers of the South Central Plain, that is, each layer of groundwater There will be a layer of clay under support. and covered on top Classified as groundwater under pressure (Confined aquifer)

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Chao Brahman Temple or Brahmin Temple (Song Sri Prapatthong:MP) is located in the area of ​​Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park. Pratuchai Subdistrict Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province This area was originally the location of the College of Agriculture. Has been fined for planting a student's experimental garden in the past Later, the area was renovated to be Somdet Park. Dig the old canals near the temple area, which is adjacent to the iron road or the iron market road. Found metal sockets of various sizes. overwhelmed and a large canal Chakrai (Currently people call it Khlong Tho) through the front of the temple.

In the Chronicle Meeting, Volume 37, on the Old City, it said “Klong Patu Pak Tho Go straight out of the big Chakrai Gate. There is a wooden bridge called Taphan Khun Lok 1, there is a wooden bridge on Wat Kwid Road. (Wat Chao Brahmin) cross over to Wat Kudi Chalak 1 (Wat Som)” At present, some parts of the Chakrai Canal canal can be seen.

The Fine Arts Department conducted a survey of the surrounding temples around the beginning of 1991 in the area of ​​the original viharn on the south side. Appeared important antiques Details are as follows:

1. The left part of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is made of stone, remaining approximately 21.5 centimeters long, about 13.5 centimeters wide. On the body of the Buddha image is carved in meditation posture. Stacked in layers, seen on 4 floors, is the art of Lopburi. Age around the 18th Buddhist century, similar to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara radiating aura Found at Prasat Muang Sing Kanchanaburi Currently on display at the Bangkok National Museum and the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Pleng Rasmi. Found at Kosinarai Ban Pong District Ratchaburi Currently on display at the Ratchaburi National Museum, Ratchaburi Province.

2. Bronze sculpture of Lakshmi At the front of the pagoda, size 5.9 centimeters high, base 2 centimeters wide, South Indian art. Chola dynasty Age around the 18th-19th Buddhist century. Standing in a triphang style. (Left hip left) on a lotus base supported by a square base left arm hanging close to him right arm holding a lotus flower Wearing a garment hanging on his face, releasing the man on both sides, and frowning at the carry man, leaving the man on the right hand side. The garment is wrapped around the middle of the Buddha image, the Phra Phaha tree and the arm of the Buddha image, put a large bow The crown of the crown resembles a four-petaled lotus.

3. Nearby, a pair of bronze bracelets was found, made in the shape of a snake opening its mouth in scales. It is a small bracelet, probably a bracelet for children. All 3 artifacts are kept at Chankasem National Museum, Ayutthaya Province. Later, the Fine Arts Department excavated and restored this ancient site again in 1998.

Important archaeological sites of Wat Chao Brahmin that remain is the president It is a prang made of bricks. The base of the prang is brick lined on the lower base which is made of laterite. Stucco patterns are attached to the upper facade of the front entrance of the prang. The structure and stucco patterns that decorate the ancient site are the early Ayutthaya art. which may be compared with the pattern of stucco adorned pagodas in those days, such as the pagoda of Wat Som Later, there are traces that have been restored. by building a chopping block base over the original prang base to connect with the viharn in the last period which is probably in the late Ayutthaya period.

The Brahmin temple was originally a Hindu temple. However, inside the prang booths, a stucco hand piece was found. The appearance of the parts found here should be the hand of the Buddha image. therefore believe If this prang was built as a temple, it would be converted to a Buddhist place later. and found no Buddha images or anything else besides it. This may be because the area was demolished to become an agricultural office when the Agricultural College was located until nothing was left. But from the excavations of the Archaeological Bureau that found all three artifacts, it is assumed that Wat Chao Brahmin is a temple built in the early Ayutthaya period. Or it may be older to the days before Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya was the capital.