{{short description|Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Wat Ratchapradit | native_name = | image = พระวิหารหลวง วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร.jpg | image_size = 300px | alt = | caption = The Vihāra of Wat Ratchapradit | map_type = Thailand Bangkok | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = Location within Bangkok | location = | coordinates = {{coord|13|44|58.441217|N|100|29|43.87822|E|display=inline,title}} | religious_affiliation = [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]] | sect = [[Dhammayuttika Nikaya]] | country = [[Phra Nakhon District]], [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] | functional_status = | website = [https://www.facebook.com/Watrajapradit Wat ] | founded_by = King [[Mongkut]] (Rama IV) | year_completed = {{start date and age|1864}} }}
'''Wat Ratchapradit Sathit Mahasimaram Ratcha Wora Maha Viharn''' ({{langx|th|วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร}}) is a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[Buddhist temple|temple]] in the [[Phra Nakhon District]] of [[Bangkok]]. Wat Ratchaparadit was designated a first-class royal monastery in 1915, making it one of the most significant temples in [[Thailand]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1915-10-03 |title=Announcement of the Ministry of Public Instruction, Department of Buddhism Affairs on the Classification of Royal Monasteries (ประกาศกระทรวงธรรมการ แผนกกรมสังฆการี เรื่อง จัดระเบียบพระอารามหลวง) |url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2458/A/284.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109221110/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2458/A/284.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2011 |journal=[[Royal Thai Government Gazette]] |volume=เล่ม 32, ตอน 0 ก |pages=284}}</ref>
The temple is located on [[Rachini Road]], south of [[Saranrom Palace]], next to the Privy Council chambers and near the [[Grand Palace]], its main entrance is on Saranrom Road. Wat Ratchabopit is located diagonally across the Khlong Khu Mueang Derm (also Khlong Lot) on [[Rattanakosin Island]].
==History== The land on which the temple now stands was formerly designated by King [[Rama III|Nangklao]] (Rama III) as a [[Coffea|coffee]] plantation. However, after his death, his successor King [[Mongkut]] (Rama IV) decided to build a temple on the land instead.<ref name="Suksri">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PbSYPAAACAAJ |title=The Grand Palace and Old Bangkok |last1=Suksri |first1=Naengnoi |last2=Chakrabongse |first2=Narisa |last3=Limpabandhu |first3=Thanit |date=2013-09-25 |publisher=River Books |isbn=978-974-9863-41-1 |pages=275–277 |language=en}}</ref>
According to King Mongkut the three principal temples in the old capital city of [[Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city)|Ayutthaya]] were; [[Wat Mahathat (Ayutthaya)|Wat Mahathat]], [[Wat Ratchaburana, Ayutthaya|Wat Ratchaburana]] and Wat Rachapradit. Ever since the [[History of Bangkok|establishment of Bangkok]] as the [[capital city]] in 1782, only two temples with those names were built; [[Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit|Wat Mahathat]] and [[Wat Ratchaburana, Bangkok|Wat Ratchaburana]]. The king was determined therefore to build a temple with the name Wat Rachapradit for the people of Bangkok.<ref name="Suksri"/>
The king encountered a problem when he found the land too soft, being next to a canal. To solve this problem the king decide to host a public performance of [[Dance in Thailand|Thai traditional dance]] on the site. The cost of admission being an empty garlic jar per audience. These garlic jars were then collected and used by the king's workmen as the foundation of the main [[ordination hall]] of the temple.<ref name="Suksri"/>
Construction began in 1864 and was completed seven months later. The temple's full name as given by the king was ''Wat Ratchapradit Sathit Mahasimaram''. As the temple's first [[Abbot (Buddhism)|abbot]], the king appointed [[Ariyavangsagatayana (Sa Pussadeva)|Sa Pussadeva]], a monk from [[Wat Bowonniwet Vihara]]. A member of the [[Dhammayuttika Nikaya|Dhammayuttika]] sect, the abbot made Wat Rachapradit the sect's first temple. In 1893 King [[Chulalongkorn]] (Rama V) would make the abbot [[Supreme Patriarch of Thailand|Supreme Patriarch]].<ref name="Suksri"/>
==Structures== The main structure is the ''Phra Viharn Luang'' ({{langx|th|พระวิหารหลวง}}), it is both a [[Vihāra]] and an [[ordination hall]]. Situated on a raised platform the Phra Viharn Luang is covered on the outside with grey marble tiles. The pediment depicts a golden [[Great Crown of Victory|royal crown]] on a blue glass background, the crown was the emblem of King Mongkut. The central door and two windows on either side are framed in gilded teak. Above them are [[Makuṭa|traditional crown]]-shaped pediments, an allusion to the king's emblem.<ref name="Suksri"/>
Inside are murals painted in the reign of King Chulalongkorn, depicting royal festivals of the twelve months. The main [[Buddharupa|Buddha image]] is a replica of the [[Phra Phuttha Sihing]], underneath it are interred the ashes of King Mongkut. On the wall opposite the Buddha image is a mural depicting King Mongkut watching the [[Solar eclipse of August 18, 1868|solar eclipse]] at Wakor village, [[Prachuap Khiri Khan Province]] on 18 August 1868.<ref name="Suksri"/>
The ''Pasana Chedi'' ({{langx|th|ปาสาณเจดีย์}}) or the 'Stone Chedi' is a large Sri-Lankan style [[stupa]], which is situated behind the Phra Viharn Luang. The stupa is covered in grey marbles tiles and was built by King Mongkut.<ref name="Suksri"/>
On either side of the Phra Viharn Luang are two almost identical white shrines, with a [[Prang (architecture)|prang]]-style spire on the top, these are termed [[Prasat (Thai architecture)|prasat]] and denote specially royal or sacred buildings. The eastern shrine is the ''[[Ho trai|Ho Trai]]'' ({{langx|th|หอไตร}}) or the library of sacred texts. The pediment features scenes of the Buddha's birth and his passing into [[Parinirvana|Parinibbana]]. To the west is the ''Ho Phra Chom'' ({{langx|th|หอพระจอม}}), decorated with the faces of [[Brahma]] on four sides. Inside the shrine is a life-sized statue of King Mongkut in gilded bronze. around these main buildings are smaller stupas containing relics of various monks including the temple's first abbot. Like the two shrines, these smaller stupas were built during the reign of King [[Vajiravudh]] (Rama VI), in the early 20th century.<ref name="Suksri"/>
==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> File:วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (39).jpg|Through the gate of the temple and the front of the Phra Viharn Luang File:วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (36).jpg|The pediment depicting a royal crown, the symbol of King Mongkut File:Phra Phuttha Sihing in Wat Ratchapradit.jpg|Principal Buddha image inside the Phra Viharn Luang, a replica of the sacred [[Phra Phuttha Sihing]] File:จิตรกรรม รัชกาลที ๔ ทอดพระเนตรสุริยุปราคา King Rama IV seeing Sun Eclipse.jpg|A mural depicting King Mongkut looking through a telescope File:Stupa in Wat Ratchapradit.jpg|The Pasana Chedi covered in grey marble tiles File:Watrajpraditbkk0605c.jpg|Ho Trai pediment depicting the birth of the Buddha File:วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (28).jpg|Ho Phra Chom with the faces of Brahma File:พระบรมรูป รัชกาลที่ ๔ วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมาราม Statue of King Rama IV.jpg|The life-sized statue of King Mongkut File:วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (17).jpg|A statue of [[Ariyavangsagatayana (Sa Pussadeva)]], the first abbot of this temple </gallery>
==See also== {{Commons category|Wat Ratchapradit}} * [[List of Buddhist temples in Thailand]] * [[Mongkut]] * [[Ariyavangsagatayana (Sa Pussadeva)]] * [[Dhammayuttika Nikaya]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.dhammathai.org/wateng/dbview.php?No=4 Dhammathai: Wat Ratchapradit Sathitmahasimaram Rajawarawiharn] * {{url|https://readthecloud.co/wat-ratchapradit/ |The Cloud: วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมาราม}} (Thai)
{{First-Class Royal Monasteries}} {{Tourist attractions in Bangkok}}
[[Category:Buddhist temples in Bangkok|Ratchapradit]] [[Category:Phra Nakhon district]] [[Category:19th-century Buddhist temples in Thailand|Ratchapradit]] [[Category:1860s in Siam]] [[Category:1864 establishments in Siam]] [[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1864]] [[Category:Dhammayuttika Nikāya temples in Thailand]] [[Category:Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok]]