WAT LUANG PHO KHO HAK

(1) The area of Ayothya was probably already populated at the end of the Dvaravati era (6th to 11th centuries). There is some evidence that a community settled in this area much earlier than 1351 CE, the date of establishment of the city of Ayutthaya. Sources mention that during the reign of Suryavarman I (1002-1050 CE) of Angkor, the Khmers occupied the area and established a stronghold here as an appendage of Lopburi, naming it Ayothya after the ancient and one of the holiest Hindu cities of India, the old capital of Awadh, in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Phraya Boran Ratchathanin (1871-1936 CE), who was the Superintendent Commissioner of Monthon Ayutthaya from 1925 to 1929 CE but occupied important functions since 1896 CE in Monthon Ayutthaya, suggested in 1907 CE that "a pre-Ayudhyan city was situated immediately to the east of the location of Ayudhya," Prince Damrong Rajanubhap (1862-1943 CE), a prominent figure in Thai history known for his significant contributions in various fields including history, decided seven years later that a city called Ayothya "was founded by the Khmer who were ruling at Lopburi". The reason that they concluded that there must have been an earlier town before Ayutthaya was established in 1351 CE was probably the mentioning of its existence in records such as the Chronicles of Nakhon Sri Thammarat, the Chronicle of the Sihing Buddha Image, the Chronicle of the North, the Chronicle of Yonok, the Mulasasana and the Jinakalamali. Until today, hardly any archaeological research has been done to determine methodically that a pre-Ayutthaya city was situated immediately east of Ayutthaya.

(2) The attitude of Buddha images popularly created in Khmer art. In Thai art, the Buddha under Naga generally refers to an episode from the Life of Gautama Buddha after He had attained Enlightenment. That is, in the sixth week after His Enlightenment, He moved from the place called Ajapalanigrodha to sit under the Mucalinda tree (Chik tree). While He was meditating there, a storm arose. The king of Nagas (Nagaraja) named Mucalinda came up from the pond beside and coiled itself around the Buddha in seven coils and spread its seven-headed hood over Him to prevent the stormy rain from touching His body. This seated-Buddha attitude is conventionally believed to be the special image of the one born on Saturday. [Ref: An outline of the History of Religious Architecture in Thailand - Sonthiwan Intralib (1991).] Remark: Ajapalanigrodha is not a place name but the name of a tree. The Ajapala Nigrodha tree is denoted by the pillar standing in its place – as the tree does not exist anymore - at the eastern entrance of the temple complex at Gaya, Bihar, India.

References:

[1] Information board in situ.

[2] Website of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.