WAT THEPTHIDARAM WORAWIHAN

This is a Third grade royal temple of Worawihan, its formerly name was Wat Phraya Krai Suanluang, as it was located in tambon suan luang Phraya krai. King Rama III established the temple in 1836 in honoring of Somdet Phrachao Lukthoe Krommamuen Apsorn Sudathep, King Rama III had kindly favored to her very much, Because she had closely serviced to the King for a long time. The Construction of the temple was completed in 1839, and The royal name was Wat Thepthidaram since Somdet Phrachao Lukthoe Krommamuen Apsorn Sudathep also contributed fund for the construction of the Temple.

The temple has many items and artifacts with beautiful patterns, Porcelain, and chinese dolls, due to the prosperous of trading between China and Thailand. In Ubosot(Ordination Hall) The principal Buddha image which was carved from pure white stone is enshrined inside the Wetchayan Butsabok(small size of Mandapa), That King Rama III had invited from the Grand Palace to the temple, It is called Luang Phor Khao. Afterwards, King Rama IX gave the name Phra Phutthathewawilat to the Buddha image in 1971. The roof of the Ubosot had no Chofa Bai Raka(finials on the roof) and The gable was decorated with Chinese porcelain. The fine arts department registered Wat Thepthidaram Worawihan to be the ancient monument in 1977.




















































































PHIKSHUNI IN BUDDHISM

PHIKSHUNI mean a woman who is already ordinated. A "Female Monk" in Buddhism.

Background : It happened on the fifth year following the Lord Buddha ordination by Pranangmahapachabodhicotamee which is the person who looked after Prince Sitthatha, She was the first "Phikshuni" in Buddhism.

After King Suthotana passed away. One day in the city of Kabhilabhad where Lord Buddha resided. Pranangmahapachabodhicotamee asked his permission to let all the women be able to get ordinated but Lord Buddha rejected her request 3 times.

Later on, Lord Buddha while visiting vesali and staying in the mahawan woods. Pranangmahapachabodhicotamee kept on trying to be ordinated again by shaving her head as she was traveling with a group of 500 women. She stood crying in front of the Lord Buddha while showing her infinite sadness one of the worshipping monks named Phra Anont came up and helped her to ask permission even though Lord Buddha kept on refusing.

Finally, Phra Anont changed his plans by asking the Lord Buddha: "Once the women will already be ordinated: Could they reach enlightenment?" "Lord Buddha said "Yes" then Phra Anont used that answer to persuade him to allow Pranangmahapachabodhicotamee to be ordinated Lord Buddha gave her and the other 500 women followers permission to get ordinated by holding 8 commandments.

After Phikshuni was found. all women who would like to be ordinated must follow 6 commandments for two years at first and need to hold another 311 commandments Phikshuni have been all over India for a very long time and have been the most important source of education for all women.

Phikshuni lived in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) during the reign of King Dhewanampiyatissa by Phra Sangamittadheri who was the daughter of King Asoka"The Great" They have traveled from India to ordinate the wife of Prince Mahanaga who was the brother of King Dhewanampiyatissa as well as another Thousand women.

Phikshuni existed in Sri Lanka for about 1,000 years and finally disappeared without any clear reason in Thailand there is no proven evidence that there actually are still Phikshuni in existance. So. There is left only a legend to study these days. However, Phikshuni are still a part of Buddhism. Nowadays, there are still a few statues remaining in some of the Buddhist temples.

By the orders of King Rama III These 52 Statues(49 sitting and 3 standing) were built in 1836 At the same time as when this temple was founded all the statues are made of brass and housed in front of the main Buddha image in the Vihara depicting them in several position and postures such as meditating listening, talking, chewing, smoking, Etc. They are all gilded with gold leaf. The one statue who sits in the middle is Pranangmahapachabodhicotamee. The first Phikshuni in Buddhism there is the possibility that King Rama III had the intention to build these statues and house them here to honor and dedicate them to his daughter Vilas and this according to the name of this Temple which means "Angel's Temple".