| WAT MAI BANG KAJA (วัดใหม่บางกะจะ) |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Wat Bang Kaja (Kacha, Kaca) or the "Monastery of the Kacha Village" also called
Wat Mai or the "New Monastery" is located off the city island in the southern area in
Samphao Lom sub-district. The monastery is strategically located on the confluence of
the Chao Phraya River and the (new) Pa Sak River, just opposite the Phet Fortress and
the old harbour. Wat Nang Kui is situated on its northwestern side. On its east on the
opposite side of the river stands Wat Phanan Choeng.
The original name was Wat Bang Kaja, but the temple decayed and was rebuilt, hence
the name the "New Monastery" or Wat Mai.
Wat Mai is used by the Buddhist clergy. In situ is a classic temple consisting of an
ordination hall (ubosot), a large chedi and a vihara. The large chedi belongs to the vihara.
The ubosot, built in early Ayutthaya style, stands in a strange north-south axis position,
rather unusual as monastic buildings are almost build on an east-west axis, while the main
Buddha image is looking into the direction of the rising sun.
Kaca village is mentioned in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya. The Chronicles found at
the British Museum states that in year 924 of the Chula Sakarat (1) the King [Maha
Thammaracha (r. 1569 - 1590) ] had the moat by the front ramparts on the east dug ten
wa (2) wide and three wa deep from the Maha Chai Fort at the Back Palace (3) down
to connect with Kaca village. [1]
The important Nam Won Bang Kaja floating market (4), situated near the anchorage for
foreign boats and junks, was held in the vicinity of this temple, at the whirlpool (5)
of Bang Kaja in front of Wat Chao Phanan Choeng. It was a densely populated area
close to many floating markets and gathering grounds. [2]
The site is indicated on a mid-19th century map as Wat Mai Bang Kraja and on Phraya
Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926 as Wat Mai.
Footnotes:
(1) See definition of Chula Sakarat in Siampedia.
(2) See definition of Wa in Siampedia
(3) Now called Wang Na or Front Palace.
(4) The Nam Won Bang Kaja floating market was one of the four large floating markets
on the river around Ayutthaya. [3]
(5) The confluence of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers, in front of Phet Fortress and
Wat Phanan Choeng, has been historically notorious for whirlpools (Th: Nam Won)
during the rainy season.
References:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 82 /
Source: British Museum.
[2] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 271.
[3] พรรณนาภูมิสถาน พระนครศรีอยุธยา เอกสารจากหอหลวง
(ฉบับความสมบูรณ์) - Geographical description of Ayutthaya: Documents from the
palace - Dr Vinai Pongsripian - Bangkok (2007) - page 84.
Wat Mai or the "New Monastery" is located off the city island in the southern area in
Samphao Lom sub-district. The monastery is strategically located on the confluence of
the Chao Phraya River and the (new) Pa Sak River, just opposite the Phet Fortress and
the old harbour. Wat Nang Kui is situated on its northwestern side. On its east on the
opposite side of the river stands Wat Phanan Choeng.
The original name was Wat Bang Kaja, but the temple decayed and was rebuilt, hence
the name the "New Monastery" or Wat Mai.
Wat Mai is used by the Buddhist clergy. In situ is a classic temple consisting of an
ordination hall (ubosot), a large chedi and a vihara. The large chedi belongs to the vihara.
The ubosot, built in early Ayutthaya style, stands in a strange north-south axis position,
rather unusual as monastic buildings are almost build on an east-west axis, while the main
Buddha image is looking into the direction of the rising sun.
Kaca village is mentioned in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya. The Chronicles found at
the British Museum states that in year 924 of the Chula Sakarat (1) the King [Maha
Thammaracha (r. 1569 - 1590) ] had the moat by the front ramparts on the east dug ten
wa (2) wide and three wa deep from the Maha Chai Fort at the Back Palace (3) down
to connect with Kaca village. [1]
The important Nam Won Bang Kaja floating market (4), situated near the anchorage for
foreign boats and junks, was held in the vicinity of this temple, at the whirlpool (5)
of Bang Kaja in front of Wat Chao Phanan Choeng. It was a densely populated area
close to many floating markets and gathering grounds. [2]
The site is indicated on a mid-19th century map as Wat Mai Bang Kraja and on Phraya
Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926 as Wat Mai.
Footnotes:
(1) See definition of Chula Sakarat in Siampedia.
(2) See definition of Wa in Siampedia
(3) Now called Wang Na or Front Palace.
(4) The Nam Won Bang Kaja floating market was one of the four large floating markets
on the river around Ayutthaya. [3]
(5) The confluence of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers, in front of Phet Fortress and
Wat Phanan Choeng, has been historically notorious for whirlpools (Th: Nam Won)
during the rainy season.
References:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 82 /
Source: British Museum.
[2] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 271.
[3] พรรณนาภูมิสถาน พระนครศรีอยุธยา เอกสารจากหอหลวง
(ฉบับความสมบูรณ์) - Geographical description of Ayutthaya: Documents from the
palace - Dr Vinai Pongsripian - Bangkok (2007) - page 84.
| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - September 2009 Reviewed June 2011 |
| (View of the ordination hall) |
| (View of the old wall of the vihara) |
| (View of the vihara in construction) |
| (Old Buddha head in situ) |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| (Click button for aerial view) |
| (Old Chedi at wat Bang Kaja) |