Wat Makutkasattriyaram
( Wat Makutkasat ) is situated on Phadung Krung Kasem Road and the
canal of the same name, near Rachadamnoen Nok Road. When the construction
of the Phradung Krung Kasem Canal was completed as the outer moat
of the city, King Rama IV wished to have temples built along its
banks as had been done in Ayutthaya . Thus he had a temple constructed
as companion to Wat Somanasvihara. This temple was completed in
1868 and was originally called Wat Nam Banyad. At the end of the
reign the temple was renamed Wat Makutkasattriyaram, which was the
royal style and title of King Rama IV.
Wat makutkasat and Wat Somanasvihara
are the only two temples in Rattanakosin District that have two
rings of sema, or boundary stones. The first ring, called the maha
sima, is placed in inches in the temple walls, while the second
ring, called the khantha sima, surrounds the phra ubosot. In temples
that have two rings of sema, the monks can perform religious ceremonies
in both the phra ubosot and the phra vihara.
Important buildings include the phra
vihara and the phra ubosot. The gables and on the door and window
frames are decorated with the royal crown which was the insignia
of King Rama IV. The numerous murals inside the phra ubosot differ
from those found in other temples in that they depict scenes from
stories in Pali about the Buddha's disciples, commentaries from
stories of 11 chief male disciples and the 9 chief female disciples,
and illustration of meditation techniques, commandments to observe
and so forth, Khmer incantations are inscribed on the door and window
panels.
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