Ayutthaya's Great Blessings: Paying Homage to Nine Temples

The reason for choosing "nine" is this: Thais pronounce the number "9" เก้า as "kao" which is a homophone of the word ก้าว "kao" which means to step and to progress.

Thus, they believe that the worship they show to the Buddha at nine sacred temples will bring prosperity to their lives.

1. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
Great blessings: Victory over enemies, forgiveness and being the beloved
Located in the Southeast of the Ayutthaya Muang Island, the temple was established in 1357 AD in the reign of King U-thong (1350-1369). The Great Chedi Chai Mongkhon, a token of King Naresuan's victory over the Crown Prince of Burma in the duel on elephant back, was erected later in the reign of King Naresuan (1590-1605) at the same time of the temple renovation. Phra Phuttha Chaiya Mongkhon in the ordination hall is one of the most sacred Buddha images in Ayutthaya.

2. Wat Phanan Choeng
Great blessings: Smooth-running business, prosperity in one's job
This is a Mahayana temple situated to the Southeast of the Ayutthaya Muang Island. It is presumed to be built before the establishment of the Ayutthaya kingdom. The huge maravijaya* Buddha image (height 19 m./width 20.17 m) in the ordination hall, Luang Pho To (the big Buddha) or Sampokong, is greatly revered not only by the Thais and the Chinese-Thais but also by the Chinese from abroad. This is because most worshippers have found that their business and trading have become prosperous after paying homage to Luang Pho To.

*Maravijava (conquering mara) posture is a sitting position with legs crossed, the left hand on the lap and the right hand on the right knee with fingers pointing down to the ground

3. The Vihara of Phra Mongkhon Bophit
Great blessings: Prosperity in trade, success in one's job
Situated in the south of Wat Phra Si Sanphet on the Ayutthaya Muang Island, the monastery has no monks residing. The principal bronze Buddha image, Phra Mongkhon Bophit, is presumed to be built in the reign of King Sanphet VIII or King Tiger (1703-0708). In 1767, when Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese, the vicinity of the monastery was set on fire to remove the gold that gilded the stupas there. Phra Mongkhon Bophit was burnt too.The right arm from the shoulder fell off. A few years ago, the Fine Arts Department discovered lots of small Buddha images inside the left chest.

4. Wat Thammikkarat
Great blessings: Being the beloved, good health
Situated in the east of the site of ancient royal palace, the temple has existed since the reign of King Borom Trai Lokkanat (1448-1488). There is a stupa encircled by lion figures, reflecting the Khmer influence. Legend has it that Queen Ubon Dhevi of this king asked the gods for the recovery of her son. The prayer was granted. Thus, she erected the reclining Buddha image with a length of 12 metres there. Both soles were gilded with gold leaf and decorated with stained glass.

5. Wat Phutthai Sawan
Great blessings: Being the beloved, invulnerability, good health
The temple is located in the southern side of the Chao Phraya River, opposite the Ayutthaya Muang Island. It was established in the reign of King U-thong (1350-1369). At that time, the vicinity was called "wiang lek"and used to be the palace of the king.

6. Wat KasattrathiratGreat blessings:

Being the beloved, invulnerability, prosperity in one's jobs

Located on the Chao Phraya riverside, to the west of Ayutthaya Muang Island, this ancient temple was renovated in the first reign of the Rattanakosin Period (1782-1809). The double bai simas* of the ordination hall were magnificently carved.

*A bai sima is a heart-shaped stone placed outside a temple to mark its boundary. Usually, there are eight of them in eight directions. As for the royal temples, there are sixteen of them.

7. Wat Tha Ka Rong
Great blessings: A great merit of worshipping the triple gem of the Buddha
The temple is located near the Chao Phraya riverside to the west of the Ayutthaya Muang Island. It was built before Ayutthaya became capital. There is no evidence telling who the founder was. The ancient principal Buddha image in the ordination hall, Luang Pho Rattana Mongkhon, is highly revered by the villagers.

8. Wat Na Phra Mane
Great blessings: Prosperity, being the beloved
Situated in the north of the Ayutthaya Muang Island, it is the only temple in Ayutthaya that was not destroyed during the siege of 1767, because it was used as headquarters of the Burmese invaders. The ordination hall has no windows like other temples erected in the Ayutthaya period. Instead, it has several small openings on the walls with carved stone bars for ventilation.

9. Wat Nakhon Luang
Great blessings: Being the beloved, strong health, safety from all weapons
Situated on the Pa Sak riverside in Amphoe Nakhon Luang (20 km from the provincial town). In the Ayutthaya period, the area was part of the royal route for all kings who travelled to pay homage to Phra Phuttha Bat (the Buddha's footprint) in Saraburi province. In the same vicinity of the temple, Nakhon Luang Palace which was used as royal residence for all kings and royal families is situated. It is presumed to be built in the reign of King Song Tham (1610-1628) and was renovated in the reign of King Prasat Thong (1629-1656).

Source- thaiwaysmagazine

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