Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

About

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon stands within the precincts of the old royal capital of Ayutthaya, its great chedi rising above the surrounding ruins as the tallest pagoda of the historic city. The temple's monumental scale has long made it one of the more recognisable landmarks within Ayutthaya Historical Park.

The monastery was first founded in 1357 CE by King U-Thong to house the monks ordained by Phra Wanratana Mahathera Burean, and was originally called Wat Pakaew. Several generations later, Phra Wanratana of Wat Pa Kaew counselled King Naresuan the Great to raise a great chedi here. In 1592 the king set in motion the construction that would yield the Phra Chedi Chaimongkhon, raised as a memorial to his victory over the Maha Uparacha, the crown prince of Burma.

The wihan known as Wihan Phraphutthasaiyat was built in the reign of King Naresuan for religious devotion and royal meditation, and its Buddha image was restored in 1965. The ubosot and vihara of the precinct extend rearwards through a continuous gallery, with satellite stupas of varied form ranged along the outside of the cloister and dating from the same era as the principal stupa.

The ubosot itself remains the chief assembly hall for the resident Sangha and continues to be used for important religious ceremonies. It was first raised by King U-Thong, who declared the precinct the royal monastery of the forest order.

History

King U-Thong founded the temple in 1357 CE under the name Wat Pakaew, to accommodate the monks ordained by the senior elder Phra Wanratana Mahathera Burean. He further declared the precinct the royal monastery of the forest order.

In 1592, King Naresuan the Great commissioned the great chedi here as a memorial of his victory over the Burmese crown prince. After this work the temple came to be known as Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. The associated wihan, the Wihan Phraphutthasaiyat, dates also from the king's reign and remains in use for religious devotion.