Phra Prathon Chedi (, ) is one of the oldest

stupa In Buddhism, a stupa (, ) is a domed hemispherical structure containing several types of sacred relics, including images, statues, metals, and '' śarīra''—the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns. It is used as a place of pilgrimage and m ...

s in Thailand with the height of . The stupa is located in the Wat Phra Prathon Chedi Wora Viharn (), a temple in

Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Pathom (, ) is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') in central Thailand, the former capital of Nakhon Pathom province. One of the most important landmarks is the giant Phra Pathommachedi. The city is also home to Thailand's only Bhikkhuni temple W ...

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

, 3 km east of

Phra Pathommachedi Phra Pathommachedi or Phra Pathom Chedi () is a Buddhist stupa in Thailand. The stupa is located in the Wat Phra Pathommachedi Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan (), a temple in the town center of Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. Phra Pathomm ...

. The name Phra Prathon Chedi means the holy stupa of Thona or Thanan (), name of an ancient measurement. According to legend after the

cremation Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

Gautama Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...

, his relics were equally divided amongst 8 royal families and his disciples by using a golden Thona. This golden Thona eventually sent to ancient Nakhon Chai Si in

Suvarnabhumi (; Pali: ') is a toponym, that appears in many ancient Indian literary sources and Buddhist texts such as the '' Mahavamsa'', some of the Jataka tales, the '' Milinda Panha'' and the ''Ramayana''. Though its exact location is unknown and remai ...

and kept inside a stone stupa in 590. King of

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

wanted the golden Thona, so he sent a prominent monk to ask the golden Thona from the King of Nakhon Chai Si. The king agreed in exchange of one Thona of holy relics of Buddha and built a new stupa to keep the holy relics, which is

. In 656 King of

Lavo Known as "Lavo" during most of its history, Lopburi Province is one of the most important cities in the history of Thailand. The city has a long history, dating back into the prehistory period since the Bronze Age of more than 3,500 years ago ...

ruled Nakhon Chai Si and rebuilt the stupa and named Phra Prathon Chedi.

History

Dvaravati Period

The original of Phra Prathon Chedi has no historical record, but according to archaeological survey findings date back to the 4th century. Modern Historians believe that the stupa was the principal stupas of ancient Nakhon Pathom, the largest settlement of Dvaravati culture together with the nearby

(Thai: พระปฐมเจดีย์) during the 6th to the 8th centuries. Before excavation, archaeologists believed that the original structure of Phra Prathon Chedi was similar with the Great Stupa in Sanchi, India, with a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha with chatra, a parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, on the top of stupa. After excavation, the stupa was built in

Dvaravati Dvaravati () was a medieval Mon political principality from the 6th century to the 11th century, located in the region now known as central Thailand, and was speculated to be a succeeding state of Lang-chia or Lang-ya-hsiu (). It was describe ...

style with multi-tiers brick square shape stupa, similar with

Borobudur Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur (, ), is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, near the city of Magelang and the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia. Constructed of gray andesite-like stone, the temple consi ...

in Indonesia, but in much smaller scale.

Legend of Phaya Gong and Phaya Phan

Since the origin of Phra Prathon Chedi is unknown, there are many legends about the stupa construction. The most famous legend is the legend of Phraya Gong and Phraya Phan (Thai: ตำนานพระยากงพระยาพาน). The story is about a king of Nakhon Chai Si, Phraya Gong, had a baby boy, Phan, but the court astrologer predicted that Phan will commit fratricide in the future. Phraya Gong then abandoned Phan. The orphan baby had been unknowingly adopted by childless Granny Hom. Granny Hom raised Phan in Ratchaburi, a vassal city state of Nakhon Chai Si. One day an elephant of the local lord was in rut and attacked people. Phan went to see the elephant and was able to subdue it. After Ratchaburi lord heard about heroic act of Phan, the lord adopted Phan as his son. Phan wanted to conquer Nakhon Chai Si of Phraya Gong, so he sent a letter to Phraya Gong for war elephant duel battle. Phan killed Phraya Gong, and demand Phraya Gong's wife to become his queen according to ancient custom. When the queen met Phan, she recognized him to be her son, and told him the truth. Shocked Phan, now became king and named Phraya Phan, executed old Granny Hom for not reveal the truth before he killed his father. After realised that he did a great sin by killing both father and a person who raised him, Granny Hom, in the year 26 BCE Phraya Phan consulted with a group of

arhat In Buddhism, an ''Arhat'' () or ''Arahant'' (, 𑀅𑀭𑀳𑀦𑁆𑀢𑁆) is one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved ''Nirvana (Buddhism), Nirvana'' and has been liberated from the Rebirth (Buddhism ...

s how to atone for his sin. The arhats recommended Phraya Phan to build a great stupa at great height that even the birds can not fly over. Phraya Phan then built

for his father and Phra Prathon Chedi for Granny Hom.

Khmer Empire and Bagan Invasion

After the

Khmer Empire The Khmer Empire was an empire in Southeast Asia, centered on Hydraulic empire, hydraulic cities in what is now northern Cambodia. Known as Kambuja (; ) by its inhabitants, it grew out of the former civilization of Chenla and lasted from 802 t ...

annexed Dvaravati settlements including ancient Nakhon Pathom, in the 11th century, the stupa had been modified with a Khmer style temple on the top of stupa. Anawrahta of the Bagan Kingdom invaded and plundered ancient Nakhon Pathom. Then the city and the stupa had been abandoned and later overgrown by the jungle.

Later Development

King

Mongkut Mongkut (18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama IV. He reigned from 1851 until his death in 1868. The reign of Mongkut was marked by significant modernization ini ...

ordered the restoration of Phra Prathon Chedi. He also built Khmer style prang on the top of the stupa, as he believed the design of Phra Prathon Chedi was the same with

. Also under his reign the Phra Prathon Chedi Temple also had a major renovation.

Vajiravudh Vajiravudh (1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VI. He reigned from 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts to create and pro ...

started excavation on Phra Prathon Chedi Temple ground, and found many historic artefacts. Phra Prathon Chedi has been registered as a national heritage site in 1931. However in 1962 after long neglect Phra Prathon Chedi partially collapsed, due to the lack of budget or any help from the central Thai government, the abbot of Phra Prathon Chedi Temple restored the stupa to prevent any further collapse. In 1999 Phra Prathon Chedi has been restored to its

form for the first time by the Department of Fine Arts.

Gallery

File:Chedi Phra Pathon-005.jpg File:Chedi Phra Pathon-004.jpg File:Chedi Phra Pathon-008.jpg File:Chedi Phra Pathon-2.jpg File:Chedi Phra Pathon-1-HDR.jpg File:Chedi Phra Pathon-006.jpg File:Chedi Phra Pathon-003.jpg

References

{{Dvaravati Historical Sites Buddhist temples in Nakhon Pathom province Stupas in Thailand Dvaravati