Wat Rachathiwat
| Wat Rachathiwat Ratchaworawihan | |
|---|---|
วัดราชาธิวาสราชวรวิหาร | |
Ubosot of Wat Rachathiwat Ratchaworawihan | |
| Religion | |
| Sect | Theravada (Dhammayuttika Nikaya) |
| Location | |
| Location | 3 Soi Wat Rajadhivas, Samsen Road, Wachira Phayaban Subdistrict, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300 |
| Country | Thailand |
Interactive map of Wat Rachathiwat Ratchaworawihan | |
| Coordinates | 13°46′24″N 100°30′25″E / 13.77333°N 100.50694°E |
| Architecture | |
| Established | Ayutthaya period |
Wat Rachathiwat Ratchaworawihan (วัดราชาธิวาสราชวรวิหาร) or simply Wat Rachathiwat, is a second-class royal monastery of the ratchaworawihan type, located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in the Wachiraphayaban subdistrict of Dusit, Bangkok. The monastery is affiliated with the Dhammayuttika Nikaya, a reform order of Thai Theravada Buddhism.[1]
Name
Originally called "Wat Liap" (วัดเลียบ), the temple is from the late Ayutthaya period. During the reign of King Rama I, his nephew Prince Krom Luang Thepharirak paid for the temple to be restored and turned into a royal monastery. The name "Ratchaburana" which means "restored by the king" was given to it. During King Rama II's reign, the temple collected a lot of Buddha statues (162 in one case) and built the vihāra to hold 80 of them.
The temple was badly damaged during World War II in 1945 and was even taken off the official list of buildings. It was rebuilt, and the main buildings, including the Ubosot (ordination hall), were finished in 1960.[1]
Architecture and art
The most interesting part of the monastery is the Khmer-style prang (tower), which was built during the reign of King Rama III and then restored in 1962 and again in 2007. The ubosot has wall paintings by the monk-artist Khrua In Khong, who lived during the reign of King Rama IV. These paintings are considered important examples of early modern Thai mural art.[2][3]
Administration
The current abbot is Phra Brahmavachiramonkol (พระพรหมวชิรมงคล; monastic name ลือชัย คุณวุฑฺโฒ).[4][5]
See also
- Dhammayuttika Nikaya
- Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongse (designer associated with several Rattanakosin temples)
References
- ^ a b "ย้อนหลังอดีต : วัดราชาธิวาส (Wat Rajadhivas – historical overview)". Fine Arts Department (กรมศิลปากร) (in Thai). Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "สถาปัตยกรรมพระอุโบสถวัดราชาธิวาสวิหาร" (PDF) (in Thai). Fine Arts Department, Archaeology Division. 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "พระอุโบสถ วัดราชาธิวาสวิหาร ศิลปะชั้นเยี่ยมของสมเด็จครู". Silpa-Mag (ศิลปวัฒนธรรม) (in Thai). 27 January 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "สจล. เข้าร่วมพิธีบำเพ็ญกุศลฉลองอายุวัฒนมงคล ๙๔ ปี "พระพรหมวชิรมงคล" เจ้าอาวาสวัดราชาธิวาสวิหาร". King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) (in Thai). 7 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "พระพรหมวชิรมงคล วัดราชาธิวาส กรุงเทพฯ". Khaosod (in Thai). 25 July 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2025.