| WAT CHAOFA RASAMI (วัดเจ้าฟ้ารัศมิ) |
Wat Chaofa Rasami or the "Monastery of Princess Rasami" was located outside the city
island in the eastern area at Phai Ling sub-district. It stood adjacent and east of Wat Chaofa
Dok Dua.
The monastery was situated on the confluence of three canals being Khlong Ban Bat,
Khlong Kramang and Khlong Dusit. The temple was set up on the south bank of Khlong
Ban Bat with its mouth at the (new) Pa Sak River and on the west bank of Khlong Dusit, a
canal which lead towards Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon.
Apparently there were no visible traces remaining of this monastery at ground level.
Presently the area is big parking lot with hangars for large vehicles.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown. The Royal Chronicles of
Ayutthaya speaks of a Lady Ratsami, who was one of the six daughters of the major queen
of King Borommakot (r. 1733-1758) and thus a daughter of the king; King Borommakot’s
major queen bore the title Aphainuchit, and descended from the royal family line of King
Narai (r. 1656-1688). [1] As it was customary at that time to establish a monastery on the
funeral pyre grounds of Royals, this location could be the place where Lady Ratsami has
been cremated or her remains has been deposed (It should be said that normally the
remains of members of the Royal family were deposed at Wat Sri Sanphet). Another
explanation could be that this temple had the sponsorship of Princess Ratsami before.
References:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 422 / Source:
Royal Autograph.
island in the eastern area at Phai Ling sub-district. It stood adjacent and east of Wat Chaofa
Dok Dua.
The monastery was situated on the confluence of three canals being Khlong Ban Bat,
Khlong Kramang and Khlong Dusit. The temple was set up on the south bank of Khlong
Ban Bat with its mouth at the (new) Pa Sak River and on the west bank of Khlong Dusit, a
canal which lead towards Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon.
Apparently there were no visible traces remaining of this monastery at ground level.
Presently the area is big parking lot with hangars for large vehicles.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown. The Royal Chronicles of
Ayutthaya speaks of a Lady Ratsami, who was one of the six daughters of the major queen
of King Borommakot (r. 1733-1758) and thus a daughter of the king; King Borommakot’s
major queen bore the title Aphainuchit, and descended from the royal family line of King
Narai (r. 1656-1688). [1] As it was customary at that time to establish a monastery on the
funeral pyre grounds of Royals, this location could be the place where Lady Ratsami has
been cremated or her remains has been deposed (It should be said that normally the
remains of members of the Royal family were deposed at Wat Sri Sanphet). Another
explanation could be that this temple had the sponsorship of Princess Ratsami before.
References:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 422 / Source:
Royal Autograph.
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| Text by Tricky Vandenberg - September 2009 Reviewed April 2012 |
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| (Extract of a 1993 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Khun Supot Prommanot, Director of the 3th Regional Office of Fine Arts) |
