| WAT KHOK JINDARAM |
| Wat Khok Jindaram is located south of the city island directly beside Khlong Takhian. This active Buddhist monastery is situated in the vicinity of several mosques and a large Muslim community. It is quite common to hear Buddhist monks chanting while Muslims call congregations to prayer; and the view of Wat Khok Jindaram is panoramically enhanced by the tall minarets of Masjid Yami Ul Islam. Wat Khok Jindaram has come to symbolize the multi-cultural harmony in Ayutthaya, and the ability for mixed religious neighborhood to peacefully function together. Wat Khok Jindaram is an active monastery with Buddhist clergy providing religious services to the lay community. Therefore, it has all the standard buildings required: ordination hall, bell tower, monk’s quarters, and so forth. Nearly all the structures in situ reflect the Bangkok period (also known as the Ratanakosin period). The ordination hall is its most outstanding feature. This ubosot has tall white walls, and mirrored-tiles are a consistent feature. Its windows, gables, doorways, and roof are elaborately decorated (in red, green, and blue) and adorned with golden ornamentation. Golden images are placed above each window frame, and every sema has been designed to resemble a golden Wheel of Dharma. There is also a second ordination hall in situ that looks much older. This also has sema, but they are carved from stone. Other stone carvings include a number of Singh (lions) on the staircase. A small golden Buddha image has been placed at its entrance, and a beautifully carved Buddha image can be found at the other side of the ordination hall. This stone image is in the Taming Mara pose. In addition, there are several small chedi scattered around monastery premises. All of the chedi appear to be recent constructions. There is not much known about Wat Khok Jindaram’s history (or if it even existed during the Ayutthaya period). The structures in situ suggest that it is a new temple. It may have been built on an earlier site, but this theory has yet to be confirmed. |
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| Text & photographs by Ken May - September 2009 |
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| (View of the ordination hall) |
| (Satellite chedi in situ) |
