Wat Yaichai Mongkol, Ayutthya

Wat Yaichai is one of the wats which does not form a part of Ayutthhaya Historical Park in Ayutthya. The central chedi which is 60 meter high can be seen from places in Bangkok. If you go to Suvarnabhumi airport via the old route, on the right side you see the brightly lit main chedi at night.

view from the road

Historical background:
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon or Mongkol means the Great monastery of victory and was built by King Ramathibodhi I, also known as U-Thong, meaning "a golden cradle". He got this name after his father gave a cradle of gold to him. He belonged to Chiengsaen dynasty and was the first ruler of Ayutthya in 1900 B.E or 1357 A.D. His two sons died of cholera and he built a chedi in 1363 and viharn in their honor. The name of the wat changed many a times. It has been named Wat Pa Kaeo, Wat Chao Phraya earlier.

It has the highest main chedi and it comes as no surprise that if you are going to the Suvarnbhumi airport at night, if you look towards your right, you can see the lighted main chedi.

The wat was built primararily to accomodate monks who after studying under Phra Vanaret Maha Thera returned from Sri Lanka. The sect was known as Pa Kaeo or Pakaew which was a new sect of Thervada and focussed mainly on meditation. This school became popular very soon and the wat came to be known as Wat Pa Kaeo.

Since the abott or the patriarch lived here, it was also called Wat Chao Phya-thai, meaning "temple of the Supreme Patriarch".
In 1592, Burma attacked Ayutthya and King Naresuan fought bravely suppressing Burmese forces. The central or the main chedi to commemorate this victory. The chedi came to be known as Phra Chedi Yai Mongkol or chedi of the great victory but was popularly known as Phra Chedi Yai or the Great Pagoda.

model of Wat Yaichai Mongkol

Most of the wats in Ayutthya have a model which gives some idea about how they must have looked at that time.

After entering, turn left to see a huge image of the reclining Buddha.

The 15 meter reclining Buddha image on north-east side of the complex was probably built by King Naresuan. It was used for his meditation purposes. The image was restored in 1905 A.D.
Just behind the reclining Buddha, are two pillars of Sarnath or commonly known as the Ashoka pillars.

Devotees praying

Mostly, Buddha is seen with closed eyes in this posture but here, his eyes are open.

Rakahng or the bell tower is rung to inform monks about the prayer time.

Ubosoth

The ubosoth has two rabbits at entrance

Sema stone outside ubosot

Khmer style statue

The architecture in Ayutthya was highly influenced by Khmer style and you see a lot of common features between the two countries.

Steep steps lead inside the large chedi

Large Buddha images in mondop on one side

There are two mondops on two sides, the walls and roof do not exist now.

The steps lead to a central room inside the chedi. Bronze images surround a reliquary in the center.

reliquary

People were throwing coins in the reliquary.

view from above

There is a square gallery which surrounds the main chedi with images of Buddha in Bhumisparsh mudra.

This was one of the wats where I saw complete Buddha images. At other places most of the images were either broken or without head. It seems a pity to see a sight like this.

 images all face the main stupa

this was once a part of vihan

Such chedis surround the main chedi

Sri Lankan style chedi

The chedis show a reflection of Sri Lankan bell shaped architecture.

Notes:

• entry is 20 Bahts
• While coming down from central chedi, go to the first level terrace to get a good view of the surrounding.

I now am heading towards Wat Sri Sanphet, Ayutthya, Wat Mahathat, Ayutthya, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Ayutthya, Wat Rachaburana, Ayutthya