If you've ever seen a photo of a Buddha statue trap in tree roots, I'm sure it's from this location: Wat Mahathat. A temple located in Ayutthaya, it's one of the most protected in Thailand.
The Buddha statue has been around for hundreds of years and serve as historical evidence of the Buddhist religious journey. To this day, this temple is visited by many people from all over the world. Interestingly, this temple holds many fascinating stories and is one of the traces of the power of the Siamese kingdom.
It's protected, and one proof of this is that taking a photo with the Buddha head is strictly prohibited. There are several requirements for taking a photo with it, including wearing appropriate attire, sitting in the designated area, and refraining from taking a photo with a mocking or insulting expression. So, have your camera ready.
Wat Mahathat is truly vast and grand. It feels like a time of its existence, a powerful imprint of power, but sadly, the temple has fallen into disrepair. The building didn't survive the destruction by Burma, along with earthquakes and other factors, leaving only a few ruins remaining. The Siamese kingdom restored it and expanded the area, but unfortunately, so many things happened that it now looks like this.
This temple is the oldest temple in Ayutthaya, built in 1300 by a reigning king. To this day, it remain intact and is use for royal ceremonies, rituals, and funeral.
The history of Wat Mahathat was so sad and so tragic when the Burmese destroyed everything in there, including the beheading of all the head of Buddha statues. That's why only the statues' bodies remain.
You can see the prang (conical structure), and only the main part remains. Almost entirely made of brick, it now looks like this. Also, the main building (read: Ubosot), which served as the main prayer hall, only remains of the floor.
In that section, traces of Buddha statues are still visible, some of which are headless, while others are still intact. There are approximately 40 remaining Buddha statues at Wat Mahathat. And this is one of the sacred ones:
So, can you imagine how vast and majestic the Ayutthaya Kingdom was in ancient times? I believe this is one of the proofs of the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism in Southeast Asia. One of the witnesses to history: the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
Interested in this place? You can reach Ayutthaya by train, bus, or taxi.
See you the next time hive friends!
Editing by Lightroom and VN iphone 11
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