Travelogue Ancient Ayutthaya Adventure - Buddha Head at Wat Mahathat (Part 5)

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Ancient Ayutthaya Adventure - Buddha Head at Wat Mahathat (Part 5)
Written by Shirley T   
Tuesday, 23 September 2008 07:14
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Does this Buddha image below look familiar to you? If you are looking for a postcard of Ayutthaya, you will never miss this picture - The famous head of sandstone Buddha image entangled with figs. Impressive!!!Head of Buddha under a Bodhi tree

Though the body is gone, the sandstone head is entrapped in the roots and lies beneath a Bodhi (Banyan) tree in the vicinity of Wat Mahathat. This piece of ancient antique is definitely too precious to let it just stay under a tree, hence there is a designated security personnel sitting nearby to watch us while we were busy taking photos. Well guarded!CoolCool
Under a big shady tree lies a Buddha head
The construction of Wat Mahathat begun during the reign of King Borommarachathirat I in 1374 A.D. but completed during the reign of King Ramesuan (1388-1395 A.D.).An old signboard of Wat Mahathat
The design of Wat Mahatat had several prangs of Khmer architecture and some octagonal chedis showed the influence of Ceylonese. The main prang in Wat Mahathat was believed built to house relics of Buddha.

The remain of some prangs and Buddha images without head
Also known as royal monastery, several restoration works took place before Ayutthaya was sacked. During the collapse of Ayutthaya, this wat was burnt and since then it remains as ruins.
One of the last few complete Buddha images
In 1956 A.D., Fine Arts Department discovered the relics of Buddha in a chedi/stupa besides some other antiques including Buddha image, votive tablets, covered boxes in the shaped of fish and gold plaques in the animals form. These objects were later transferred and kept in Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.
The Enligtened One!


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written by www.samyeap.com , October 07, 2008

now, I know where the Buddha head comes from.

thanks. smilies/smiley.gif

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