WAT NANG KHAM (วัดนางคำ) |
Wat Nang Kham or the Monastery of the Mistress Kham is a restored ruin. The temple consists of an ubosot or ordination hall and a main chedi. From the ubosot, only its stone foundation remains. The principal pagoda is bell-shaped on an octagonal base. A staircase at the east side leads towards the entry of the chedi. The complex was surrounded by an outer wall. The site is located outside the city island in the eastern area of Ayutthaya in Phai Ling Sub-district on the east bank of Khlong Kudi Dao and close to the confluence of the latter with Khlong Kramang. Following archaeological evidence found in situ, this temple was built in the Early Ayutthaya period (1350 - 1488 AD). Restoration took place in the reign of King Borommakot (r.1733-1758). The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya mention that he dedicated this temple during the rainyseason of 1755. A festival was held for three days. Especially for the occasion, a highmonk from Wat Sangkha Tha was trained in transcendental meditation in order to prevent it raining during the festivities. The monk, Reverend Yan Rakkhit, practicing "air meditation" in the open, was quite successful in his task and succeeded in keeping the rain away for the period of the festival. The day after, rain fell so heavily that the water inundated the complete area. "Reaching 1117 of the Royal Era, a year of the boar, seventh of the decade, and arriving at the sixth month, His Majesty the Supreme Holy Buddhist Lord Omnipotent went in holy royal procession to dedicate the Monastery of Mistress Kham. On that occasion rain fell in heavy abundance. The King thereupon issued a holy royal order for the clerical officers and ecclesiastical officials to invite the Reverend Professor of the Monastery of Binding and Overlaying of a district of the Municipality of Wiset Chaichan to come down and had him sit in meditation to help halt the rain. Now that reverend professor had [someone] prostrate himself and say to the King, "I have business to attend to. I would bestow my holy blessing, take my leave and go back to build a seminary, I would ask for one Holy Person and Overlord who is skilled in the ways of holy transcendental meditation to come and I will explain the methods so he can sit in meditation and halt the rain in my soul’s place." The King thereupon manifested His holy compassion by having Reverend Yan Rakkhit of the Holy Royal Synod's Division of Meditation Matters, [who was] living at the Monastery of Sangkatha, invited to come and study the methods of the way of holy transcendental meditation within the residence of the Reverend Professor of the Monastery of Binding and Overlaying. After the Reverend Professor of the Monastery of Binding and Overlaying had explained the methods for him, he accordingly bestowed his holy blessing, took his leave and went back to his temple. Now, for that dedication of the Monastery of Mistress Kham, a festival was to be held for three days, together with conrom leaping as well. In the evening the rain started up. The Reverend Yan Rakkhit sat in meditation on top of a bedstead - it had a roof as well as curtains of white cloth encircling it - set up out in the open. Now the Holy Person and Overlord practiced air meditation and concentrated to cause a great wind to blow the rain away and end it. For all three days none fell and it clearly appeared to be a miracle. Later, on the fourth whole day, after the activities were finished, a great downpour of rain thereupon fell and water completely inundated that entire area." [1] The site is located in Geo Coord: 14° 21' 26.15" N, 100° 35' 33.31" E. Reference: [1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 454 / Source: Phan Canthanumat. |
Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - June 2009 |
(Side view) |
(Detail of a 2007 Fine Arts Department GIS map - Courtesy of the Fine Arts Department - 3th Region) |
(View from the East) |