Footnotes:
(1) In Sanskrit, 'kṣetra' denotes a holy "field, area, tract of land” or abode, but many more definitions exist. The 'Phongsawadan Nua' states that the three types of men are: ksatriya (warriors), setthi, and Brahman, of which a King would be selected. The translation of ‘Kasattra’ could thus be ‘King’ or ‘Abode’. I chose Abode.(2) Thung Prachet, also called Thung Worachet, was an area west of the city of Ayutthaya bordered approximately in the north by the old connection canal to the Chao Phraya River, a stretch of the old Bang Kaeo River in the east the old Lopburi River, today the Chao Phraya River in the south Khlong Klaep leading to Wat Suren and in the west Khlong Khu Mon. In the area ran Khlong Ban Pom, a waterway leading from the old Chao Phraya River connection canal to Wat Worachet.(3) Not many people realise the Chao Phraya River was not running on the west side of the city island in the Ayutthaya period. At that time, it was the Lopburi River that flowed around Ayutthaya. Today's Chao Phraya River ran through the Bang Ban Canal to Si Kuk and from there to Bang Sai (historical site: Chedi Wat Sanam Chai), where the Lopburi River joined the Chao Phraya River. At the time, the Chao Phraya River was situated about ten kilometres west of the centre of Ayutthaya. The city was linked to the ancient Chao Phraya River in the northwest of Ayutthaya via the Khlong Maha Phram and in the southwest via the Khlong Nam Ya. Steve Van Beeck (1994), in 'The Chao Phya: River in Transition" (Oxford University Press - New York.), writes that "It was not until 1857 that an alternative path was created [for the Chao Phraya River]. A 5-kilometre channel was dug from the entrance of Wat Chulamani to Ban Mai. The river responded by following this new course and abandoning the old one, in effect making a secondary river of the stretch that ran from Ban Mai, and into the Chao Phya Noi. Half as wide as the river above and below it, the 1857 Ban Mai shunt funnels the Chao Phya down to Ayutthaya."
(4) In the late Ayutthaya period, 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.
References:
[1] Website www.dhammathai.org/watthai/listroyalwat1.php - data retrieved 14 Dec 09.
[2] Cushman, Richard D. & Wyatt, David K. (2006). The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya. Bangkok: The Siam Society. p. 511.
[3] Ratchathanin, Phraya Boran. Athibai Phaenthi Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya kap khamwinitjai khong Phraya Boran Racha Thanin. Explanation of the map of the Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Ratchathanin - Revised 2nd edition and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Ton Chabab print office. Nonthaburi (2007). p. 92.
