Public Precinct
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Uposatha Hall -- |
The base
was constructed on 9th of June 1996, which was the year of The Golden Jubilee Celebrations
of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Thai Throne. |
Designer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phinyo
Suwankhiri, national artist in visual arts (2537-1994)
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The Uposatha Hall is 8 meters wide and 22 meters long. Its front balcony
is 4 meters wide and 8 meters long. Its open space is 12 meters long.
It's beautifully
carved doors and windows are made of sal wood to commemorate the
pair of sal trees in the
Sala Grove of King Malla where the Buddha passed away. |
| Main
Buddha Image in Uposatha Hall -- |
This 56-inch-wide Buddha image
in the meditation style was cast on October 23, 1997 at Wat Thai Kusinara
Chalermraj
The Jade Buddha
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Uposatha Hall |
The
Buddha image was enshrined on the pedestal inside the Uposatha Hall on December 31st,
1997. The lotus-shaped pedestal was gilded and decorated by colored glasses and beautiful
celestial cloth. The Buddha image is unique. The face which is serene is guilded to lead
all Buddhists to recollect the Buddha before His final Nirvana in Kusinara. It is
decorated by the ray of six colors. This Buddha image with serenity and clear appearance
reflects the Buddha’s greatest loving kindness and compassion to teach human beings
to liberate themselves from all bondages and cravings. |
Beside
the Buddha image, there are standing models of senior noble Bhikkhus and lay disciples,
including Venerable Ananda, Venerable Subhadda - who was the last disciple ordained by the
Buddha, Venerable Maha Kassapa, Venerable Anuruddha - who had clairvoyance, Mallika -
who was a daughter of wealthy Malla, and King Malla - who chaired the cremation ceremony
of the Blessed One.
The Jade Buddha image is
displayed to represent the Emerald Buddha, which is regarded as the most sacred object in
Thailand. |
Maha Chedi - Great
Pagoda -- 
click
for more |
| The pagoda is
being built to commemorate the Buddha’s final Nirvana. The Maha Chedi of Wat Thai
Kusinara Chalermraj will house the Buddha's relics, thus it is categorized as Dhatu Chedi. |
His
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, has graciously given the design of this
Maha Chedi. His Majesty has also
presented the Buddha's relics as well as His Majesty's hair to be enshrined in it. Her
Royal Highness Princess Chakri Sirindhorn represented His Majesty to lay the foundation
stone of the Maha Chedi on March 30, 2001. It is the only Royal Chedi ever built outside
Thailand. |
His Majesty's hair | The Buddha's
Relic
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The pagoda is designed 5 meters wide, 15 meters high
and 19 meters long.
Architectural Form
The stupa‘s style is composed of all major outstanding characteristics of stupas
in Thailand from the ancient period till the present times. |
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The Stupa being built
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The use of three layers of lotus beneath the main stupa
body is the chief characteristic of Sukkotai Cheitya design. The use of the design of
an inverted bell as the main stupa body with a row of lotus design around the rim is found
in many places in Ayudhaya period. |
Belfry -- |
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The belfry is 12 meters high and 2 meters wide. The
bell is beaten immediately before lunch every day, for morning and evening chanting and to
call on a meeting. |
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