WAT SAKET RATCHAWORAMAHAWIHARN

The second-classed Royal monastery of Woramahawiharn was built in Ayutthaya period, Formerly known as Wat Sakae. It was restored during the reign of King Rama I who renamed it to Wat Saket, meaning Hair-washing Because he used to stay overnight to clean himself on his way back from the war in cambodia. UBOSOT(Ordination Hall) has beautifully carved and mirror decorated Gables. PHUKAO THONG(GOLDEN MOUNTAIN) was built in the reign of King rama III in a form of 12-indented base Chedi(Pagoda), but not finished. King Rama IV changed by building CHEDI on top of the mountain instead and gave the name PHRA BOROMMABANPHOT. The Construction was complete in King Rama V's reign. Inside the Chedi, The Lord Buddha's relics from india were contained.

A Chronological Record On construction of the Golden Mount.
In the Royal Chronicle of King Rama III. Chao Phraya Thiphakornwongse wrtes on record that His Majesty the King appointed Phraya Sriphiphatratanarajakosa a commanding officer to construct a great Prang(Pagoda), 50 fathoms in dimension. Further, when the king went to offer Kathina Robes to the monks at this temple. He asked for donation of timber logs for laying down as its foundation member of royal family. Noblemen and goverment officials who accompanied him. It is said that several thousand of logs were there in buried in manner of raft.
From the above record we learn that King Rama III ordered the construction of the Golden Mount and King Rama IV and V continued to its completion as it appears today. Therefore, the Golden Mount is the most precious property of Wat Saket and also of the Thai nation as a whole

The golden mount of rattanakosin Kingdom and Buddhism

The idea of the monastery demarcation. the monastery is divided into two parts. The monastery which is located inside the metropolitan is called Kamawasi area, and the monastery which is located outside the metropolitan is called Arannyawasi area. The Arannyawasi of ancient city was located on the mountain, and it was a sacred place, if there was no mountain found in those area, a large image of Buddha or a large pagoda will be built instead on the hill or the mountain follow by the principle of the universe in which the universe has the center at Sumeru Mountain such as The golden Mount of Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or Rama I established the new capital on the east coast of the river. and built the grand palace follow by Ayutthaya style in 1782, it appeared that old temples were restored and used the same name with important temples from Ayutthaya era such as Wat Mahathat(Wat Salak), Wat Ratchaburana(Wat Lieab), Wat Phra Chettuphon(Wat Pho) etc. King Rama I had the order to use the Model of Ayutthaya in order to organize the new capital city, and specify the area of the royal ground or Sanam Luang, shrines, The Giant Swing, and Arannyawasi area. Wat Sakae was the resting area of the military before they entered to Thonburi, and Wat Sakae was a Temple which located in Arannyawasi area.

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or Rama I considered Wat Srakes as a primary cause in which he could earn the management power in Thon Buri. Wat Srakes was restored and, become one of royal temples in Arannyawasi area. In the era of King Rama I, Wat Srakes was located in Arannyawasi area follow the design of The Golden Mount which had a large pagoda. King Rama I ordered to canalize the canal in the north of the temple like Mahanak in Ayutthaya, there were only the royal palace and the chapel was built and King Rama I was planning to build the bridge for elephants to cross the canal, but this idea was prohibited, and the large pagoda was not built in the era of King Rama I.

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Jessadabodindra Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua or King Rama III had fulfilled the desire of King Rama I to build the pagoda by using the model of the Golden Mount from Ayutthaya. Phraya Sri Phi Phat Thana Rattana Rajkosa(Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Phichai Yat or Tad Boonnak) had started the construction project of the grand pagoda. but the construction site was adjacent to the canal, and located in a soft land of lowland areas. The original building was constructed in a large pagoda style, the base of pagoda has a style of Chedi Yor Mum Mai SibSong. each side of the base has the width of 100 meters, and dig a hole deep into mud, and the foundation pile would be stored inside the hole, timbers would be placed on to the top of the foundation pile. Laterite would be used to adjust the level of the base and the ground, and then using bricks to build the pagoda. Inside the pagoda was packed by the laterite in which the government bought from people. The construction continued until the 2nd floor of the pagoda, and the laterite inside the pagoda collapsed about 18 meters, and it caused some crack around the pagoda. The center of the pagoda was the only one area of the pagoda which collapsed. The problem could not be solved, and the construction was stopped, the builder made masonry around the pagoda to stop the earth to go inside the pagoda while they were waiting the construction to restart, later on the pagoda was covered by plants.

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua or King Rama IV ordered his eldest son to build the Golden Mount at the royal ground(Sanam Luang) in 1864. The primary structure of the Golden Mount is 26 metres high, and the top of the golden pagoda which is a square structure with four arches and a pyramidal roof is 14 meters high, it makes the Golden Mount 40 meters high in total, and the ashes of the King are stored here. The Golden Mount is surrounded by four precincts, and ashes of family's members of the King are stored in these precinct. The golden mount and four precincts are joined by the gable which is elongated and elaborately carved. In the celebration of ceremony, the image of Buddha would be installed in front of the parade, start at the Dusitta Rom Hall and celebrate the ceremony at the royal ground, after the celebration the image of Buddha would be brought back to the palace.

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua or King Rama IV mentioned about the pagoda which king Rama III started building at Wat Saket, and it had not been completed "The grand pagoda at Wat Saket was not completed yet, and it should not be left in the brick pile. "King Rama IV ordered Phraya Sri Phiphat(Pae Boonak). son of Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Phichai Yat to re-construct the Golden Mount, by following the model of the Golden Mount pagoda at the royal ground(Sanam Luang) King Rama IV appointed Phraya Raj Songkram to become the chief of repairman. The base of the pagoda was re build in order to make the shape looks like mountain, and the pagoda was created on top.

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua or king Rama IV went to lay the foundation stone in the 6th month of 1865. The base of the grand pagoda was restored, make it looks like a grand mountain at the royal ground, and King Rama IV gave name to the pagoda "Borom Banphot or Grand Mountain" The creation of the Golden Mount in the era of King Rama IV started by making the model of the mountain and makes it look like Kailas Mountain in the royal ceremony of cutting topknot children. Initially used in connection with lime pound which contains shell mixed with traditional molasses?

Later on the original square structure with four arches and a pyramidal roof was expanded close to the edge of The Golden Mount, and the square structure with four arches and a pyramidal roof was build to be a new floor in order to make it become the base of the grand pagoda.

In these days. The Golden Mount is created to be a large mountain shape, and the grand pagoda is located on top of the original square structure with four arches and a pyramidal roof, the entrance of the pagoda has round stairs steps on the north side and the south side of the pagoda. Since the last restoration of The Golden Mount, the straight stair was removed. The Circumference of the pagoda base is 330 meters, and the height is 76.5 meters.

SUMMARY VALUE OF THE GOLDEN MOUNT

THE GOLDEN MOUNT of Wat Srakes Rajavaramahaviharn is one of the most important sacred place of Rattanakosin Kingdom. It is a starting point of establishing the capital of Rattanakosin Kingdom by Phra Bat Somdet Phra poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or King Rama I who was the founder and the first monarch of Chakri Dynasty. a restoration initiative, and established the temple in Aranyawasi area.

THE GOLDEN MOUNT is an important grand pagoda which installs the Buddhist's relics from India.

THE GOLDEN MOUNT is the central faith of Buddhist people, and it is created by the principle of the universe in which the universe has the center at Sumeru Mountain, continents, and seven oceans.

THE GOLDEN MOUNT is the great merit of the King who creating and restoring The Golden Mount. The Golden Mount becomes the symbol of the winning post of the country.