Wat Dusidaram Woravihara
( Wat Dusid ) is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, near
the mouth of the Bangkok Noi Canal and the approach to the Pin Klao
Bridge on the Thoburi side. It was an ancient temple called originally
Wat Sao Prakhon. Somdej Phra Chao Boromawongther Kromluang Srisunthornthep,
a son of King Rama I, had the temple reestablished. Krom Phrarajawang
Boworn Mahasenanurak renovated the temple in 1913 and rename it
Wat Dusidaram . A small, neighboring temple which was abandoned,
called Wat Phumarin Rajapaksi, was also incorporated into Wat Dusidaram.
In the phra ubosot there are murals
which were executed by artists of the First Reign. The murals on
all four walls depict scenes from the lives of the Buddha. In front
of the presiding Buddha image is a scenes of Marn Phachon. Highly
praised is the scene of hell on the wall behind the presiding image,
which appears very life-like.
Also of interest is the gallery running
around the phra ubosot with 64 niches cut into the wall, each niche
containing a standing Buddha image in the thawai netr pose. There
were also murals along this gallery, but they have long since faded
away. Outside the gallery walls there is a redented phra chedi decorated
with plaster fish, mermaids and mythical elephant-like animals all
around the base. It is commonly called the Chedi Pla or fish chedi.
It is now in poor condition. There is also the old phra ubosot of
Wat Phumarin Rajapaksi which, though small, is beautifully proportioned.
On the gable in plaster is depicted Narai riding the Garuda and
a peacock displaying its tail studded with colored glass. Another
interesting structure is a rather small old phra vihara with a curved
base in the shape of a junk.
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