| WAT KASATRATHIRAT (วัดกษัตรา) |
Wat Kasatrathirat is a monastery still in use by the Buddhist clergy. It is located off
the city island along the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, north of the road No 3263
leading to Suphanburi. It is situated in Ban Pom and lies at the rim of a large field called
"Thung Prachet" also called "Thung Worachet".
Besides the ordination hall and the relatively small prang, most of the monastic buildings
are from recent times. Although the history of this temple remains hazy, it is presumed
built in the middle Ayutthaya period. The principal prang is thick and round in shape and
not as streamlined as the other prangs in Ayutthaya. There are no stairs to access the
niche inside the prang. Traces of restoration are for example the bell-shaped chedis
in the niches, which earlier contained Buddha images.
The temple was renovated in the first reign of the Rattanakosin Period (1782-1809) by
Prince Khrom Khun Isranurak, a nephew of King Rama I. The renovation was
in essence a complete overhaul of the temple. The temple at that time changed name
from Wat Kasatra to Wat Kasatrathirat.
In the reign of King Rama IV, Pra Kru Winyanuwattikhun added more monastic
buildings. These new buildings included a new chapel sponsored by Khrom Mun
Ayulyaluksa Sombat (Prince Urai). The new chapel took 14 years to be finished in 1879.
Wat Kasatrathirat is classified as a third class Royal temple of the 2th grade -
Voraviharn, following a ranking system for royal temples initiated in 1913 and
consequently has beautiful carved double bai sema around the ordination hall (ubosot).
[1]
The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya recount that Posuphla, the General of the Burmese
Armies, at the end of 1766, sent soldiers to establish a stockade at
the Village of the Fort (Ban Pom), so that they could fire their large guns on the City of
Ayutthaya. [1] Wat Kasatra was badly destroyed and deserted during the last siege of
Ayutthaya by the Burmese.
Near Wat Kasatra was one of the former four western ferries across the old Lopburi
River - at present the Chao Phraya River (1) - linking the monastery with the Dan Lom
Landing. (2) [3]
The site is indicated on a mid-19th century map as Wat Krasattraram
(วัดกระสัตตราราม) and on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926 as Wat
Kasatra (วัดกษัตรา). On the oldest map we find the presence of a prang, still in
existence.
Footnotes:
(1) The Chao Phraya River has been deviated into the river bed of the old Lopburi River
in the post-Ayutthayan era anno 1857. See the essay: Ayutthaya's ever-changing
waterways.
(2) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes. In the western area, the
three other crossings were: from Wat Chayaram to Ban Chi, from the Rear Palace to
Wat Lot Chong and from Chao Phraya Phonlathep’s residence to Wat Thamma. [3]
See "The Boat & Ferry Landings of Ayutthaya".
References:
[1] Website www.dhammathai.org/watthai/listroyalwat1.php - data retrieved 14 Dec 09.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman - page 511 / Source:
Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend Phonnarat, & Royal Autograph.
[3] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - Explanation of the map of the
Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition
and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom - Ton Chabab print office - Nonthaburi
(2007) - page 92.
the city island along the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, north of the road No 3263
leading to Suphanburi. It is situated in Ban Pom and lies at the rim of a large field called
"Thung Prachet" also called "Thung Worachet".
Besides the ordination hall and the relatively small prang, most of the monastic buildings
are from recent times. Although the history of this temple remains hazy, it is presumed
built in the middle Ayutthaya period. The principal prang is thick and round in shape and
not as streamlined as the other prangs in Ayutthaya. There are no stairs to access the
niche inside the prang. Traces of restoration are for example the bell-shaped chedis
in the niches, which earlier contained Buddha images.
The temple was renovated in the first reign of the Rattanakosin Period (1782-1809) by
Prince Khrom Khun Isranurak, a nephew of King Rama I. The renovation was
in essence a complete overhaul of the temple. The temple at that time changed name
from Wat Kasatra to Wat Kasatrathirat.
In the reign of King Rama IV, Pra Kru Winyanuwattikhun added more monastic
buildings. These new buildings included a new chapel sponsored by Khrom Mun
Ayulyaluksa Sombat (Prince Urai). The new chapel took 14 years to be finished in 1879.
Wat Kasatrathirat is classified as a third class Royal temple of the 2th grade -
Voraviharn, following a ranking system for royal temples initiated in 1913 and
consequently has beautiful carved double bai sema around the ordination hall (ubosot).
[1]
The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya recount that Posuphla, the General of the Burmese
Armies, at the end of 1766, sent soldiers to establish a stockade at
the Village of the Fort (Ban Pom), so that they could fire their large guns on the City of
Ayutthaya. [1] Wat Kasatra was badly destroyed and deserted during the last siege of
Ayutthaya by the Burmese.
Near Wat Kasatra was one of the former four western ferries across the old Lopburi
River - at present the Chao Phraya River (1) - linking the monastery with the Dan Lom
Landing. (2) [3]
The site is indicated on a mid-19th century map as Wat Krasattraram
(วัดกระสัตตราราม) and on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926 as Wat
Kasatra (วัดกษัตรา). On the oldest map we find the presence of a prang, still in
existence.
Footnotes:
(1) The Chao Phraya River has been deviated into the river bed of the old Lopburi River
in the post-Ayutthayan era anno 1857. See the essay: Ayutthaya's ever-changing
waterways.
(2) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes. In the western area, the
three other crossings were: from Wat Chayaram to Ban Chi, from the Rear Palace to
Wat Lot Chong and from Chao Phraya Phonlathep’s residence to Wat Thamma. [3]
See "The Boat & Ferry Landings of Ayutthaya".
References:
[1] Website www.dhammathai.org/watthai/listroyalwat1.php - data retrieved 14 Dec 09.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman - page 511 / Source:
Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend Phonnarat, & Royal Autograph.
[3] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - Explanation of the map of the
Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition
and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom - Ton Chabab print office - Nonthaburi
(2007) - page 92.
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - May 2009 Reviewed May 2011 |
| (View of the ubosot and adjacent vihara) |
| (Prang of Wat Kasatra) |
| (Vihara and outer wall) |
| (Click the button for aerial view) |
| (View from the opposite side of the river) |