Thailand is the land of smiles, a land of lush palm trees, velvet paddy fields, golden beaches and a land of a vibrant people with a long culture and heritage deeply rooted in their religious beliefs. As one of the major religions of the land with a well documented history, Buddhism plays a vital role in the lives of the people. Buddhist temples, monasteries and statues can be found in all parts of the country with histories dating back centuries, some buried deep within virgin forests long forgotten while some have been identified for their religious and historical importance such as the Wat Pho, one of Thailand’s largest temple complexes and home of the renowned reclining Buddha image.
Situated in the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok, adjacent the Grand Palace, the temple is a frequented place of piety by the local people as well as tourists and foreign devotees who come to appreciate the beautiful age old structures and treasures buried deep inside the stupas. Founded in 1781 by King Rama I, the temple has undergone drastic changes during the preceding years and today stands proud with 91 chedis, a bot( central shrine), four viharas (hall), 71 chedis of smaller size and 400 Buddha statues of the original 1200. The sixteen gates of the temple are guarded by giant Chinese giants of carved rock and the marble platform of the main temple is punctuated by legendary lions at the gateways. The highlight of the temple is the statue of the Reclining Buddha. This 15 meter high, 43 meter long structure is a masterpiece which grabs the attention and mesmerises any who visit. The mother of pearl inlaid feet are a sight to behold with its intricate designs and people drop in coins in the 108 bronze bowls that depict the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha for good fortune.
The north section of the complex houses the reclining Buddha as well as the massage school. It is believed that traditional Thai massage therapy found its birthplace at the Wat Pho temple when it became one of the first universities in Thailand and later established a massage school guided by the ancient inscriptions found at the temple. The southern section of the complex separated from the north by the wall running from east to west as per Soi Chetuphon, is a functioning Buddhist monastery.
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Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+
