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Buddhism has been major religion in Thailand
Temples play important roles in Thai's everyday life
such as religious, educational, and cultural purposes
Apart from being the great spiritual and social important place
Thai temples show much of the country's artistic and cultural prowess
However, Thai temples recently have adopted a new role as a tourist attraction
Today I am going to introduce you to one of ancient temple dates back to Ayutthaya era
which is Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan
or in short, Wat Saket
where Phu kao Thong or Golden Mount is located
Today we are going to explore how this place is significant
not only because there is a golden mount located right at the heart of the city
But also in term of history,art,and religion and how those elements change as the time goes by
First of all, let's start from knowing a little bit about this temple to see its significant roles in the past.
As mentioned before, the history of this temple can be dated back to the time of Ayutthaya,
which once served as the capital of the kingdom.
During the time, the temple was actually called Wat Sakae which for thai people sound very ordinary.
Until it was restored and renamed to Wat Saket by King Rama I of Jakri Dynasty
after the capital of Thailand had been moved to the current location.
The meaning of Wat in Thai is temple, but actually this term refers to the overall temple complex.
The word Sa means washing or cleaning and the word Ket means hair.
The cause of changing the temple’s name was at the end of the war between Thailand and Cambodia
The king Rama I came back and had a shower at Wat Saket before entering to the city.
The restoration of Wat Saket wasn’t on the temple itself alone.
as Mahanak Canal was also dredged for a benefit of the community around the temple like the way Ayutthaya people did.
Another significant event of Wat Saket is about Wat Saket’s vultures.
During the reign of King Rama II, the plague caused 30,000 people to die within 2 weeks.
The corpses were everywhere that there was no more place to cremate
so the bodies were left in the temple for so long that thousands of vultures were attracted here.
This temple was also known for being the place
where the bodies of dead-sentenced prisoners were usually brought because of its tradition
during the early Rattanakosin period that corpses could not be cremated in the city wall
and the nearest temple from the gate is the one we are here.
According to Buddhists’ belief, the ordination hall is a very important religious place as it represents the perfection of a temple.
It is also the place where monks do religious practices.
The ordination hall is located on yellow rectangular ceramic court,
surrounded by classic wall, corridor and monastic boundary arch
which were created by Chinese sculptors and were complemented that it should be a model of the other temples.
Both sides of the hall’s pediment were sculpted with Thai patterns, decorated with elaborate ceramic and strained glass
and the picture of Narayana riding on the Garuda, which symbolizes Jakri dynasty.
They were also decorated with guilded black lacquer on the windows arch.
Looking at the inside part of the hall, Principle Buddha Image with golden glitters is located.
It is said that there is another smaller Principle Buddha Image containing in it.
Principle Buddha Image is placed at the level of the eyes of the worshippers so that they feel calm and comfortable.
There are fresco paintings decorated on the wall around the hall which reflect the Buddhists’ beliefs
such as the Ten reincarnations of the Buddha,
the Three World which is Heaven, Earth, and Hell, Angels and Demons, and other religious legends.
Despite being a great symbol of Rattanakosin Island due to its beauty and its history significance,
Wat Saket also has been an important place for Buddhists in Thailand.
Right behind me is the Golden Mount or Phukaothong
which is the main attraction of Wat Saket.
In order to reach the top where the golden pagoda is located
we need to climb 344 steps, so let’s go!
Since it takes quite a while to get to the top.
People have believed that there are some deeds that enhance mental performance.
First, it is believed that by ascending an exhausted 344 steps to reach the top of the Golden Mount,
you’re going to fly high and be successful.
Second, by sweeping the patio in the temple , you’re believed that in your next life
you will be born with aesthetic beauty.
Third
if you ring all the bells from the starting point all the way to the end
you’re believed to be prosperous and be successful in life.
Fourth, as you walk up to the top of the Golden mount,
If you walk with a calm and serene mind, and you wish, all your wishes will come true.
Golden Mount was built during the reign of King Rama 3 to symbolize the former capital city,
Ayuthaya, where similar pagoda was located.
The first construction of the Golden Mount failed due to the subsidence,
Because of the canal around the temple, which made the ground underneath swampy.
It was reconstructed again during the reign of King Rama 4
and completed in the reign of King Rama 5, by changing the structure.
King Rama 5 made an artificial hill,
and constructed the pagoda on top of it to avoid the swampy ground underneath.
That is the reason why we have a small artificial mountain right in the plain area of Bangkok.
Enshrining within the pagoda is the relic of the Buddha,
believed to be from India.
It is not something that you can easily find
and therefore considered very sacred in Buddhism.
Every day, a lot of Buddhist as well as tourists come up here
to worship the relic of the Buddha for prosperity and fortune.
Nowadays, the temple is open more for tourism
and no longer serves as a spiritual place only anymore;
therefore its roles in broader fields have increased.
Now, we are going to ask people regarding the question
First of all, since the temple has increased in the involvement of tourism,
how its roles have changed
since then and what are the effects of the changes?
In the past, most people who came to the temples are mainly Buddhist.
Their objectives were to worship principle Buddha image or Golden Mount,
which both are related to Buddha.
Owing to their faith in Buddhism and desired pleasure,
they did not mind about the distant between their places to the temples.
Even some people who used to live around the temple areas
came to the Golden Mount in any special occasions such as annual carnival,and New Year celebration.
Consequently, monks ourselves had a lot of things to do during activities time.
We had to manage religious rituals and provide accommodations for visitors.
As the time goes by, this place is globally publicized.
The temple plays the new role as a tourist attraction.
Then, several foreigners come and visit this place.
According to the fact that we arrange activities throughout the years for both Thais and foreign visitors,
we generate income for the nation, for example, visitors participate in temple restoration by donating their money.
Besides, monks like us have more chances to give a sermon
and spread Buddha’s doctrines to both Thais and foreigners.
Now we are going to look in term of traveling significance,
why would a tourist choose to visit here?
What part in this temple that attracts them to come?
And how this temple is different from the rest that they have been?
Reading from the tour guide, we bought tour guide from Germany and we found it.
It was our point to do this in Bangkok, so we have seen every other thing.
We have seen big palace, Arun, we’ve made a tour to Ayutthaya.
We have seen all the points you have to visit when you come to Bangkok and now we’re here too.
I think every temple has its special thing, and here is to climb the mountain,
and to have a view around the city, over the city.
So it’s a very special destination here.
And then an artificial hill, I think it’s made by hand,
so it is completely by hand right?
Yeah.
In this temple, the terrace is huge as I can see it,
and it is on the mountain, so it’s very nice and very calm here.
So that is why it is very nice for us, very nice experience.
From time to time, the aspects of people toward temples have changed
and Wat Saket is not an exception.
We can see that this temple has played various important roles
along its historical timeline starting from being the place
for people in Ayuddhaya period to attend religious activities
as it was where people in the community usually gathered together.
At the beginning of the Rattanakosin period,
the temple served as the place where the king took a shower
before entering the city
and later on became a major place for cremation.
In term of Buddhism, a relic of the Buddha was brought from India
and placed in the pagoda at the top of the outstanding Golden Mount.
Recently, tourism has also taken part
as an important role of the temple
which is now a popular Bangkok tourist attraction
and has become one of the symbols of the city.
From all of the above, Wat Sakat exemplifies the Buddhist magnificent culture
and art as well as architecture and its memorable history.
Therefore, it is undeniable that this beautiful place should be preserved for our future generations.
