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Wat Rajadhiwas Viharn | Bangkok

Wat Rajadhiwas Viharn | Bangkok
Take a pilgrimage to Wat Rajadhiwas Viharn
Wat Rajadhiwas Viharn is an ancient temple located in Wachiraphayaban Subdistrict, Dusit District, Bangkok. It is one of the most important temples in the history of Buddhism in Thailand. It is related to the Thai kings of the Chakri Dynasty. It is a second-class royal temple of the Ratchaworawihan sect and a royal temple of the Thammayut sect, built in 1820.
The ordination hall inside Wat Rajadhiwas Viharn is in the Khmer style, similar to Angkor Wat. It was designed by His Royal Highness Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongse. Inside, there are three rooms: the front room is a balcony, the middle room is a ceremony room, and Phra Samphutthaphanni is the principal Buddha image.
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, Wat Ratchaprathit Sathitmahasimaram and Wat Makut Kasatriyaram Wat Ratchadhiwas Ratchaworawihan It is a temple that Somdet Phra Bowonratchao Maha Sura Singhanat established from “Wat Samorai”. It was continuously renovated from the reign of King Rama I to King Rama III until the reign of King Rama IV when he renovated it and gave it a new name, “Wat Ratchathiwat Wihan”, which means “the temple where the king resides”. “Wat Samorai”, Samorai or Thomorai, therefore, probably means rows of stones. During the reign of King Rama IV, he gave this temple a new name, “Wat Ratchathiwat”, which means the temple where the king resides because this temple used to be the residence of King Phutthaloetla Naphalai and Somdet Krom Phra Ratchawang Bowon Maha Senanurak when they were ordained as monks. In addition to the two kings mentioned above, there was another king who resided at this temple, which was King Rama IV when he was still Phra Vajiranana Bhikkhu. During his stay at Wat Ratcha Thiwat, he established the Thammayut Nikaya sect in accordance with his royal wish to revive Buddhism in Siam and to correct the practices to be in accordance with the Vinaya. This sect has existed alongside Thai society to the present day.
The temple’s ordination hall is in the Khmer style, similar to Angkor Wat, designed by His Royal Highness Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongse. It has three sections: the front room is a balcony, the middle room is a ceremony room, with the Phra Samphutthaphanni as the principal Buddha image, and a white umbrella (cast by King Rama V). Behind the principal Buddha image is a niche. There are mural paintings inside showing the Vessantara Jataka. His Royal Highness Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongse drew the paintings, and the Italian painter C. Rigoli painted them using wet fresco.
The pediment houses a standing Buddha image at the front. Inside the chapel, there is Phra Samphutthaphanni as the principal Buddha image. There is a nine-tiered white umbrella cast by King Rama V. Above the principal Buddha image is the image of the Buddha above the clouds answering the questions of Phra Sariputta and Phra Indra. Near the principal Buddha image, there are images of Sakya kings and their relatives waiting in the background.
The white pagoda is a Javanese-style pagoda from the Srivijaya period built to cover an old pagoda. On top, there are Mahayana stone Buddha images in four niches. Below, there are lion statues lined up around the base of the pagoda. The largest wooden sala in Thailand is made entirely of teak and roofed with kabu tiles. The gable is decorated with carved wood patterns covered with gold leaf and the Chula Mongkut seal from the reign of King Rama V. The wooden swan supports are decorated under the eaves with bird wings around the food.
The sala was built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn and was designed by Phraya Chindarangsan (Plab) following the model of the sala at Wat Yai Suwannaram in Phetchaburi Province. Inside the pavilion, there is a Buddha statue in the Naga Prok posture, Lopburi art style, brought from Lopburi Province during the reign of King Rama VI, as well as a relic for worship. Here, you can also make offerings.