Name of a hill tribe in northern Thailand. Although only a few thousand live in Thailand, they are a large people with their majority living in Burma and Yunnan, where their number is estimated at around two million. Besides this, they are perhaps one of the most indigenous people in the region. Headhunters at first, then communists, many now have become illicit drug providers. According to some Wa is a Shan term for aborigine and their worship of human skulls has prompted the use of the name Ta Wa (Wild Wa), as opposed to Lawa (Tame Wa). They are also called Wa Daeng (Red Wa). Thai. 'Yak's tail fan'. See padwaanlawichanih. Thai for vajra, meaning scepter, diamond or thunderbolt. Appears frequently as a prefix in Thai nomenclature.
Crown prince, second child and only son to king Bhumipon and queen Sirikit. Born in Dusit on 28 July 1952. Wachirawut (วชิราวุธ) 1. Thai. 'Armed with a wachira'. Name of the Thai king with the crown title Rama VI (fig.) who ascended the throne in 1910, after the death of king Chulalongkorn. See also Rama VI. Also Vajiravudh.
2. A designation for the Vedic god Indra. Thai. 'Embedded with pieces of glass', usually with regard to a tray, base or phaan. Thai longitudinal measurement equal to two meters. Thai. The hands brought together as a greeting (fig.) or to pay respect (fig.). The height of the hands increases with the amount of respect paid, depending on who is greeted and according to social status. The more respect given the higher the hands are held. Also phranommeua.
Thai. 'Greeting to the teacher'. Homage to a teacher, instructor or lecturer by bringing the hands together as in a traditional greeting or wai. See also Wan Kruh and compare with ram muay. Also transcribed wai kroo. Wajirunhit (วชิรุณหิศ) First crown prince of the Rattanakosin period. Born on 2 July 1878 heir to the throne and son of king Chulalongkorn and queen Sawang Wadhana. According to some sources he was more intelligent than most of his peers and was very conscientious. At the age of 13 he wrote his own diary with an agenda of duties and responsibilities for himself as future king. He was the favorite of king Chulalongkorn who personally instructed and prepared him with the purpose to succeed him. In 1895 he unexpectedly died from typhoid and was succeeded by his thirteen year old half-brother Wachirawut (fig.), the eldest son of queen Saowapha, who in 1910 eventually ascended the throne as Rama VI. Also transcribed Vajirunhis.
An important new development in iconographic art introduced during the Sukhothai period. Images of walking Buddhas refer to a scene in the life of the Buddha when he returned from the Tavatimsa heaven after he preached there to his mother who had died seven days after his birth. He is descending to earth by stairs accompanied by the gods Brahma and Indra. In combination with a vitarka or dhammachakka mudra this form refers to peripatetic instruction. Today, images of walking Buddhas are found throughout Thailand (fig.).
Thai name for Chakri Day. Wan Chaleum Phra Chonma Phansa (วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา) Thai. Birthday of king Rama IX. Wan Chat Mongkon (วันฉัตรมงคล) Thai name for Coronation Day, when Thai sovereignty is celebrated. 1. Thai. Name of a river in North Thailand that near Nakhon Sawan merges with the rivers Nan, Yom and Ping, thus forming the Chao Phraya river. 2. Thai for palace. If it is the palace of a king it is called Phra Rachawang. Thai. 'Day of the teacher'. A day, usually on a Thursday in June or July, when students collectively pay respect to their teachers (wai kruh). On this day teachers receive a golden tray with three kinds of flowers from their students: the ixora, in Thai called 'kem', the flower of the 'makeua' or eggplant, and a lotus. These flowers each have their own symbolic implication: 'kem' means 'needle', and refers to the wit that the students will obtain by their tuition; the flower of the eggplant bends under the weight of its fruit and thus indicates obedience and respect; and the lotus is the general symbol for Enlightenment. Wan Kruh dates back to the period when the temple was the only centre of education. Compare with ram muay and see also Phra Phareuhadsabodih. Thai. 'Mother day'. Thai public holiday and birthday of queen Sirikit. This refers to the queen's status as a public mother figure. Annually celebrated on 12 August. Thai for the day when Makha Bucha is annually celebrated. Thai linguistic term meaning 'tone mark'. A tone mark is used to change the tone and the meaning of a word. Thai language has four tone marks but five tones: the middle or common tone (siang sahman - uses no tone mark), the low tone (mai ek - อ่), the falling tone (mai toh - อ้), the high tone (mai trih - อ๊) and the rising tone (mai chatawah - อ๋). MORE ON THIS. Wan Pheut Mongkon (วันพืชมงคล) Thai for the day when the royal ploughing ceremony is held. Thai. Buddhist holiday in Thailand. Often coinciding with full moon. Also Wan Tham Masawana. Wan Piya Maha Raj (วันปิยะมหาราช) Thai. 'Day of the beloved great king'. Thai name for Chulalongkorn Day, a public holiday on 23 October. Also transcribed Wan Piya Maha Raat. See also Piya Maha Raj. Wan Rattamnoon (วันรัฐธรรมนูญ) Thai. 'Constitution Day'. Thai name for the public holiday celebrated on 10 December commemorating the constitution. Wan Tham Masawana (วันธรรมสวนะ) Thai. Buddhist holiday. Often coinciding with full moon. Also Wan Phra. Wan Visakha Bucha (วันวิสาขบูชา) Thai name for the day when Visakha Bucha is annually celebrated. One of the main characters from the story Khun Chang Khun Paen written by king Lert La. The bigamous Wanthong vacillated between true love and respectability and was eventually executed by the king as a troublemaker. Her spirit Praet Wanthong later appeared to halt a fight between her son and her stepson. Thai goddess of wine. Another Thai name for Narai or Vishnu. wat (วัด) Thai and Laotian word for a Buddhist temple or monastery, derived from the Pali word avasa as well as from the Sanskrit word avasatha. A typical wat in Thailand is generally used for both religious, educational and residential purposes, and consist in general of a bot (boht - fig.), the ordination hall; a viharn (fig. - wihaan), the prayer hall; a sala (fig.), an open shelter with a roof, and a number of kutis (fig.), the quarters of the monks. Larger temples usually also have a ho trai (fig.), a library for Buddhist writings; a ho klong (fig.), a drum tower; and a ho rakhang (fig.), a belfry; whilst smaller temples like the wat pah, forest temples, have in general no boht or ordination hall. In rural Thailand the wat usually serves as a religious centre as well as a social meeting place. Thailand has around 27,000 Buddhist temples. Also araam. Thai. 'Temple of dawn'. An 86 meter high structure alongside the Chao Phrya river, with prangs in Khmer style consisting of a main stupa flanked by four smaller ones, which are actually prangs on a chedi shaped base. Its grooved towers indicate that the authority who commissioned the construction was a king. When general Taksin after the fall of Ayutthaya appeared with a liberating army on the Chao Phraya river at dawn the temple name was changed in Wat Jaeng, a synonym for the later Wat Arun which is derived from the Indian god of dawn, Aruna. In 1772 AD, when general Chakri, the later king Yotfa, was appointed supreme commander of the Siamese armies by king Taksin, he conquered the Laotian city of Vientiane and brought the Emerald Buddha back to Thonburi where the statue was placed in Wat Arun. Today the temple is still in use by members of the royal court for religious state ceremonies, such as the annual kathin phra racha thaan (fig.). Its official name is Wat Arun Rajawarahrahm and the temple is one of the few throughout Thailand conferred with the highest royal title of Rajavora Maha Vihaan.
Wat Arun Rajawarahrahm (วัดอรุณราชวราราม) Thai. The full and official name for Wat Arun. Often this name is followed by the highest royal title for temples, i.e. Rajavora Maha Vihaan. Wat Benjamabophit (วัดเบญจมบพิตร) Thai. The Marble Temple in Bangkok (fig.). Built around the turn of the 19th. century by order of king Chulalongkorn. The temple is built of white Carrara marble from Toscana and has a cruciform bot. The base of the central Buddha image (fig.), which is a copy of the Phraphut Chinnarat image (fig.) from Phitsanulok, contains the ashes of king Rama V. In the gallery of the courtyard behind the bot there are 53 Buddha images (33 originals and 20 copies) that represent different poses and styles from throughout Thailand and other Buddhist countries. Often abbreviated Wat Ben.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram (วัดไชยวัฒนาราม) Thai. One of the most impressive of ancient Buddhist monasteries, built in 1630 AD on the banks of the Chao Phraya river in Ayutthaya, by order of king Prasatthong to make merit (tamboon) for his deceased mother. It is believed that it was built on the location of his former residence. Its structural design resembles that of Angkor Wat with a large prang representing Mount Meru, and may therefore be built to commemorate victory over Cambodia. The temple consists of one large prang and four smaller ones, built on the same base and surrounded by eight smaller prangs, and a gallery with 120 gilded Buddha images in the maravijaya position. In the eight smaller prangs a total of twelve crowned Buddhas are found. The ceiling of every alcove under each prang is made from wood and decorated with gilded star motifs painted onto a black lacquer background. When Ayutthaya was besieged by the Burmese in 1767 the temple was used as an army base. After the fall of the city the temple was abandoned and later looted and many Buddha images were decapitated.
Wat Chedi Jed Yod (วัดเจดีย์เจ็ดยอด) Thai. 'Temple with the seven stupas'. One of the most important sanctuaries of northern Thailand in Chiang Mai, also known by the name Wat Photharam Maha Wihaan. It was built in 1455 by the royal command of king Tilokarat XI, the then monarch of the Lan Na kingdom. The main temple building with seven stupas is a replica of the Maha Bodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya in India. The king also had a seedling of a bodhi tree planted in the compound of the temple, giving the temple its name Wat Photharam Maha Wihaan, the 'monastery of the bodhi tree'. Its first abbot was Phra Bodhi Rangsi Maha Thera, a learned author of the Chamadevi Wongsa, a writing on the dynasty of Chamadevi. In 1477 king Tilokarat convened a council of senior monks well versed in the Tripitaka at this monastery. They were chaired by Phra Dhammadina and met with learned laymen chaired by the king to revive this Buddhist scripture. Their work is regarded the eight revival of the Buddhist Tripitaka. When in 1487 king Tilokarat died his succeeding grandson Phra Yod Chiang Rai constructed a crematorium for the cremation of the king and had a large chedi built at the temple to hold his grandfather's ashes.
Thai. Temple in North Thailand, built at a height of 1,053 meters on the hill of Doi Suthep, 14 kms to the West of the city of Chiang Mai. This very popular temple is named after Sudeva, the Pali name of a hermit who lived on the mountain prior to the construction of the temple and which translates into Thai as Suthep. The temple has a staircase of 306 steps with naga handrails (fig.) and offers a panoramic view of the city (fig.). According to legend the temple was built on the location where a white elephant which transported relics of the Buddha (fig.), circled three times and then died. These relics had been discovered by the Ceylonese monk Sumanathera in Sri Satchanalai as he traveled frequently between this city and Sukhothai to spread Theravada Buddhism. It was told the relic performed a miracle upon its discovery by starting to glow. King Dhammaracha of Sukhothai asked for the relic, but when he saw it and it didn't perform any miracle, he told Sumanathera to keep it. Later when king Keua Nah (fig.) ruled over the northern kingdom of Lan Na he invited Sumanathera to Chiang Mai. The latter left for Chiang Mai in 1369 bringing the relic with him and the king went out to welcome him, meeting the monk as far out as Lamphun. Because the monk liked the place so much he stayed there for two years, in Wat Phra Yeun. In 1371 he then moved to a temple specially built for himself and the relic, namely Wat Suandok monastery in Chiang Mai. The monk was highly respected by the king who bestowed him the title of Phra Sumanapupah Rattana Maha Swami, a high ranking ecclesiastical title. When it was discussed to built a new pagoda to house the relic, it was discovered that the relic had been miraculously split in two, with one part being of the same size as the original relic. The smaller relic was subsequently enshrined in a newly completed pagoda in Wat Suandok, where it remains today; the other half of the relic was put on the back of an auspicious white elephant that carried it out through the city's Hua Viang Gate, which was later renamed Pratu Chang Peuak or White Elephant Gate. The elephant climbed the hills to the West of the city and Wat Doi Suthep was built on the exact spot where the elephant circled three times and died. A statue of the elephant stands at the temple's entrance and the golden chedi of Wat Doi Suthep is currently depicted on 50 satang coins (fig.). The temple's full name is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Raja Worawihaan.
See nahm tok. Originally, a native weed of the Amazon river basin in South America, where its shiny green leaves made it a favourite pool decoration in colonial European gardens. In the 19th century Dutch colonialists took it to Java from where it was taken to Siam by visiting Thais who called it pak tob chawa, Java grass. However, the plant eventually found its way into the wild where it soon became a menace. A single water hyacinth produces namely enough seeds to generate 3,000 offspring in less than two months, doubling its size in just over a week. In the Amazon this poses no problem as certain herbivorous fish and water floods keep it under control, but elsewhere such explosive growth over time forms a dense mat of floating foliage, resulting in lack of oxygen and sunlight that consequently threatens fish and other aquatic life. The problems is now mostly eradicated by using the weed as pigs food and the dried stems for weaving. Its scientific name is eichhornia crassipes.
A aquatic plant with floating leaves and colourful flowers of the family of nymphaeaceae, sometimes confused with the lotus. Often seen in ponds near temples and in colours that vary from white (fig.) and pink (fig.) to lavender blue and purple with a number of gradations in between. The floating leaves of the water lily are completely water-repellent and its surface structure has been imitated in certain scientific applications.
A hookah. A bamboo cylinder (fig.) filled with water with a valve used by some hill tribes (fig.) in North Thailand to smoke gancha (marihuana). The water acts as a filter and coolant. It is singed and smoked similar to opium. In Thai called bong or bong gancha.
Thai. 'Temple of dawn'. Old name of, and synonym for Wat Arun. 1. Thai. Name given to temples in Thailand that house a relic of the Buddha. See also that. 2. See Wat Mahathat Yuwaraja Rangsit. Wat Mahathat Wora Maha Wihaan (วัดมหาธาตุวรมหาวิหาร) Thai. Temple in Nakhon Sri Thammarat over a thousand
years old, dating from the
Srivijaya period. Its main chedi
is 75 meters
high from its base to the top and has a solid gold spire weighing
962 kilogram. It is surrounded by 158 smaller chedis. The temple is the
largest
in the South of Thailand and the oldest sight in the city. The ubosot
used to house one of Thailand's three identical Phra Singh Buddha images, of which the original
comes from Sri Lanka. It was first imported to Sukhothai via Nakhon Sri Thammarat, and was later moved to Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya. The other two images are
in the National Museum in Bangkok and at Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai, all
claiming to have the original one. The Nakhon Sri Thammarat Phra
Singh Buddha image now stands in the Ho Phra Singh in the city's
center. The temple's main chedi is portrayed on the copper coins of
25 satang (fig.).
The temple is related to the
Wat Mahathat Yuwaraja Rangsit (วัดมหาธาตุยุวราชรังสฤษฎิ์) Thai. One of the few temples in Thailand that is bestowed with the highest possible royal title of Rajavora Maha Vihaan. Its name is usually abbreviated to Wat Mahathat. The temple is in Bangkok and was built during the Ayutthaya period. It accommodates the Buddhist university Maha Chulalongkorn Rajawitthayalai for the higher education of monks. Thai. 'Forest temple'. Popular Thai name for temples in the jungle where monks stay to live and meditate in tranquility. Also aranyawahsie. Wat Phra Chetuphon (วัดพระเชตุพน) See Wat Poh. Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mang Khalahrahm (วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลาราม) See Wat Poh. Wat Phra Kaew (วัดพระแก้ว) 1. Thai. 'Temple of the Jewelled Buddha'. The most important temple in Bangkok and Thailand, housing the Emerald Buddha. It is a royal temple without a Sanghavasa, built next to the old royal palace Phra Rachawang in Phra Nakhon. The inner walls of the gallery that encloses the temple have elaborate murals depicting the complete story of the Ramakien. They were initially painted during the rule of Rama I, but restored several times afterwards. The temple is shown on the one baht coin and its official name is Wat Phra Sri Rattana Sahtsadahrahm.
2. Thai. 'Temple of the Jewelled Buddha'. Name of the temple in Chiang Rai that initially possessed the Emerald Buddha. The Buddha image was discovered in 1434 when lightning struck the temple's octagonal chedi revealing the statue. The original name of the temple was Wat Pa Yia, a local dialect meaning 'bamboo forest temple'. 3. Thai. 'Temple of the Jewelled Buddha'. Name of a temple in Kamphaeng Phet adjacent to a former royal palace. Many of the Buddha images in this temple are now tarnished by weather conditions and corroded by the ravages of time, but are because of this even more impressive. Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao (วัดพระแก้วดอนเต้า) Thai. 'Temple of the Jeweled Buddha on the highland of palm fruits'. Name of a temple in Lampang that was built by order of king Anantayot and where between 1436 and 1468 the Emerald Buddha was housed. Legend tells that a senior monk of the temple one day found an emerald stone in a watermelon which he had carved into a precious Buddha image. A watermelon in Northern-Thai dialect is called 'mahk tao', hence the etymological origin of the temple's name. The temple architecture is a mixture of styles and influences from Haripunchai, Burma and modern Thailand, with images and art in, among others, Mandalay and Lan Na styles. Wat Phra Phutthabaat (วัดพระพุทธบาท) Thai. Temple in the province of Saraburi that houses a footprint of the Buddha in a small nicely decorated mondop. This giant footprint was discovered during the rule of king Song Tham (1610-1628) and bears the 108 auspicious signs of a buddha. The temple is one of the only few throughout Thailand conferred with the highest royal title Rajavora Maha Vihaan.
Thai. Popular name for Wat Phra Sri Rattanamahathat in Phitsanulok. Wat Phra Sri Maha Uma Devi (วัดพระศรีมหาอุมาเทวี) Name of an temple in Bangkok which is commonly nicknamed Wat Kaek Silom, the 'Indian Temple of Silom' and devoted to the goddess Uma. It was built in the Rattanakosin period, around 1879 by a group of Indian people who lived in Bangkok and purchased a plot of land on Silom Road where they initially built a small sala named Sala Sri Mari Amman. It was looked after by a group of Indian Tamils who introduced their culture here, as they did in other parts of Asia. Later, Indian settlers who lived in Bangkok contributed in building the temple and in installing the principal image of the goddess Uma in the ubosot, in addition to images of many other Hindu deities, some imported from India. Annually the temple holds the ancient festival of Dushera, a festival dating from Vedic times and in which rituals are performed worshipping Uma as well as other deities. The festival continues for ten days and nights, and on the last night the image of Uma is carried around in a procession, outside the temple.
Wat Phra Sri Rattanamahathat (วัดพระศรีรัตนามหาธาตุ) Thai. Important temple in Phitsanulok that houses the Phraphut Chinnarat Buddha image (fig.). Abbreviated called Wat Phra Sri and fully named Wat Phra Sri Rattanamahathat Wora Maha Vihaan. The temple's pagoda contains a relic of the Buddha, hence the word Mahathat in its name.
Wat Phra Sri Rattana Sahtsadahrahm (วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม) The official Thai name of Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. Wat Phra Sri Sanphet (วัดพระศรีสรรเพชญ์) Thai. The remains of a royal temple in Ayutthaya with three distinctive chedis. At the foundation of Ayutthaya the ground belonged to the royal palace and this remained so during the rule of king Ramathibodi I (fig.) in 1350 AD until after the reign of king Sam Phraya in 1448 AD. Only later, in 1448 AD, king Borommatrailokanat built a temple on this location. And after his reign his son Ramathibodi II had two chedis erected, one for the ashes of his father, the other for the ashes of his brother, king Borommarachathirat III. A third chedi was later built by order of king Boromrachanophuttangkun and was used for the remains of king Ramathibodi II. The vihaan was built in 1499 and in 1500 king Ramathibodi II had a standing Buddha image cast. This image, 16 meters high and covered with 171,6 kilogram gold, was the main object of worship. The smaller chedis on this temple compound contain the remains of other members of the royal family. Since the temple was a royal temple it was only used for royal ceremonies and didn't have a Sanghavasa. After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 the gold of the Buddha image was looted by the invaders, but the inside of the statue was later moved to Wat Phra Chetuphon by Rama I, where it was placed in a specially built chedi.
Wat Phrathat Cho Hae (วัดพระธาตุช่อแฮ) Thai. A well-known place of pilgrimage about 10 kms from the city centre of Phrae, where worshippers wrapped a satin cloth named Cho Hae, around the 33 meters high gilded chedi (fig.). This satin fabric, after which the temple is named, is believed to have come from Sipsongpannah.
Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang (วัดพระธาตุลำปางหลวง) Thai. Name of a temple in Lampang with an enclosing wall in Lan Na style. The wihaan, probably built in 1476, has a wooden roof in three layers and is supported by pillars made of teakwood. It is believed to be the oldest wooden building in Thailand.
Wat Phrathat Suthon Mongkon Khiri (วัดพระธาตุสุโทนมงคลคีรี) Thai. Temple in the tambon Den Chai in the province of Phrae with exceptional decorations and remarkable images (fig.). The temple was founded in 1984 by Phra Athikaan Montri (Phra Kruba Montri Dhamma) who sculpted his first Buddha image when he was only 5 years old. Today this monk is the abbot and a top artist and scholar in Buddhist art. The temple-monastery was built on an 20 meter high hill covering an area of 25 rai and is associated with the nearby northern Third Army base. It has an ubosot in Lan Na style which houses a replica of the Phraphut Chinnarat Buddha image and an impressive stupa in early Chiang Saen style with multiple peaks.
Thai. Temple in the city of Nan whose wihaan was previously depicted on the one baht banknote. According to city chronicles the temple was founded in 1696 AD by Phra Chao Chetabutpromin, the then ruler of Nan, and initially bore his name. The wihaan is important as it is the only one of its kind in Thailand built in jaturamuk style, i.e. four entrances, one for each point of the compass. Inside are four large Buddha images, called Phra Phratahn Jaturathit, seated with their backs against each other (fig.), so that every visitor, no matter through which door he enters, is always greeted by a Buddha image. The murals in the wihaan depict the historical life of Nan, folk tales and scenes from the jataka.
Thai. Temple of the reclining Buddha in Bangkok, previously called Wat Phra Chetuphon. It is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, and the first educational centre. It is also an important training centre for traditional massage (fig.), in the past taught on the basis of didactic pictures and figures (fig.). The temple Wat Poh already existed since the 16th century, but its real history starts only in 1781, when the old monastery was completely rebuilt. The temple (fig.) is situated near the old Chinese district of Banglamphu and several figures and statues indicate a Chinese influence of old (fig.). The temple houses the most important reclining Buddha image in Thailand, with a length of 46 meters and a height of 15 meters (fig.). The temple has four large chedis erected in honour of the first three monarchs of the Chakri dynasty, with two chedis honouring Rama III. There are also 91 smaller chedis, an ancient Tripitaka library, a large bot (fig.) with 152 marble relief panels depicting the Thai Ramakien (fig.), a gallery with Buddha images, and four wihaans. The temple is one of the few throughout Thailand conferred with the highest royal title of Rajavora Maha Vihaan. Its full name followed by this title is Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mang Khalahrahm Rajavora Maha Vihaan.
Thai. Temple in Chiang Rai's Pah Oud On Chai district. Its still ongoing construction started in 1998 and is supervised by Chalermchai Kohsitphiphat, a renowned artist connected to Silpakorn University in Bangkok. The temple features a bot made of bright and white building materials ornamented with small pieces of glass, giving it an overwhelming, crystal-like appearance.
Thai. Temple in Bangkok on the artificial mount Phu Khao Thong or 'Golden Mount' (fig.). The
hill was created after a large chedi,
still under construction by Rama III, collapsed due to the soft soil beneath. The hill of sand and brick that arose
was left until Rama IV had a small chedi built on its
peak. Later Rama
V made restorations and added to the structure by placing a relic of the Buddha from India, given to him by the British government, in the
chedi. To prevent erosion the hill was cast with a surrounding concrete covering
during WW II. The temple mount is 77 meters high and was in the Rattanakosin period the highest place
in the city. Even today it still offers a good view over rooftops now
overshadowed by skyscrapers. The temple is
one of the few throughout Thailand conferred with the highest royal title
of Rajavora
Maha Vihaan. Its
full name is Wat Saket Rajavora
Maha Vihaan and it is depicted on
two
baht
coins, initially issued in 2005 (fig.)
Thai. Temple in Chachengsao housing the famous Sothon Buddha image, one of the most sacred images in the nation, associated with the noted Phra saksit Luang Po Sothon. According to reports this monk foretold his own exact time of death, causing thousands of spectators to flock to the temple to watch him die, seated in the dhyani meditation pose. The full name of this temple is Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihaan.
Thai. Ancient temple ruin just outside the main domain of old Sukhothai's historical park, featuring a mondop which houses the 15 meter high Phra Atchana Buddha image, seated in the maravijaya-pose with a lap width of 11.3 meters. A hidden staircase in the southern wall leads to the top of the building, ending at a railing behind the head of the Buddha image. From here a monk could address his flok making them believe the voice they were hearing was actually the Buddha's. Today monks still use a fan called pad yot or talapat during ceremonies when they preach in name of the Buddha and not themselves, a fan often with a picture of the Buddha on it. The staircase is nowadays closed to the public to protect the inner jataka inscriptions and murals.
Wat Sri Kohm Kam (วัดศรีโคมคำ) Thai. Temple in Phayao housing the Ton Luang Buddha image (fig.), the kuh bahn kuh meuang of this city. This large gilded Buddha image is seated in the maravichaya position and is the symbol portrayed on the escutcheon of the province of Phayao (fig.).
Wat Suthat (วัดสุทัศน) Thai. Temple in Bangkok whose construction was started during the reign of Rama I, but was completed during the rule of Rama III. The base of the main Buddha image contains the ashes of Rama VIII who also has a statue in the temple's inner court. The wihaan houses the oldest remaining Buddha image from the Sukhothai period, Phra Sri Sakyamuni, and has impressive murals of the jataka and Ramakien. The temple is partly surrounded by a gallery of Buddha images. Its full name is Wat Suthat Thepwarahrahm, and it is one of the only few temples in Thailand conferred with the highest royal title of Rajavora Maha Vihaan.
Wat Suthat Thepwarahrahm (วัดสุทัศนเทพวราราม) Official and full Thai name of Wat Suthat. Often followed by the highest possible title conferred by the king, Rajavora Maha Vihaan. Wat Tham Khao Krabok (วัดถ้ำเขากระบอก) Thai. A famous but controversial temple in Saraburi where opium and heroin addicts are treated for their addiction using a treatment based on herbs and a strict regimen, combined with education from the dhamma. Also Wat Tham Krabok. Wat Tham Khao Noi (วัดถ้ำเขาน้อย) Thai. 'Small hill temple cave'. Thai-Chinese temple about 15 kms South of the city of Kanchanaburi, constructed on a hill over a number of small caves and adjacent to the Thai temple Wat Tham Seua. The top of the temple offers a good view over the region. Wat Tham Krabok (วัดถ้ำกระบอก) See Wat Tham Khao Krabok. Wat Tham Pah Acha Thong (วัดถ้ำป่าอาชาทอง) Thai. 'Golden Horse Jungle Cave Temple'. Name of a forest temple in Chiang Rai province whose monks and novices set out to go bintabaat (alms begging) on horsebacks (fig.).
Wat Tham Seua (วัดถ้ำเสือ) Thai. 'Tiger cave temple'. Temple complex (wat) in Ta Mameuang about 15 kms South of the city of Kanchanaburi, constructed around a small cave (tham) housing a tiger statue (seua). It is built adjacent to the Thai-Chinese temple Wat Tham Khao Noi.
Thai. 'Culture'. Thai. 'Life cycle'. The cycle of life, death and rebirth. Perpetual suffering. See also thevathut sie. Thai. 'Temple of the three friends'. Temple built in the 13th century AD founded by three friends (trai mit) in Bangkok's Chinatown and housing the 3.5 meter high and 5.5 ton Buddha image, made of solid gold. During the siege of Ayutthaya this image was covered with plaster to hide it from the Burmese invaders. The statue cast in Sukhothai style was moved from Ayutthaya to Bangkok after the city was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. Over time this plaster casing was assumed to be the original. Only recently was the original rediscovered when a crane moving the statue within the temple complex dropped it breaking open the plaster revealing the solid gold.
Wat Yahn (วัดญาณ) Thai. Buddhist temple complex in Huay Yai district in Chonburi province , with a pagoda similar to the Mahabodhi pagoda in Bodhgaya, the place where the Buddha attained Enlightenment. Its full name is Wat Yahn Sangwarahrahm Woramahawihaan.
Wat Yahn Sangwarahrahm Woramahawihaan (วัดญาณสังวรารามวรมหาวิหาร) See Wat Yahn. Thai for 'kite'. Also a verb when used in conjunction with a specific kite such as 'waw chula', flying a chula kite. See also kite flying and kite flying fights. Also chak waw. Annual nationwide festival at the beginning of the Buddhist Lent in which large carved candles in all kinds of shapes and sizes are paraded in a procession. This festival is celebrated most exuberantly in Ubon Ratchathani where annually a parade takes place in which large floats carry massive wax candles and wax works displaying traditional characters and scenes from Buddhism and mythology. In Thai called Praphenih Hae Thian Pansa.
Festival in Sakon Nakhon to mark the ending of the Buddhist Lent. Tradition has it that local people at this time of year formerly had a wax tree built, which was carried to the temple in a procession. This over time evolved into the making of wax castles, a local heritage now handed down to make merit for the late ancestors. The wax castles symbolize the ideal spiritual dwelling place which Buddhists want as their final destination. To reach this heavenly place they are required to be eager and energetic in the making of merit, an act generally known as tamboon. Locals divide themselves into different community groups, comprising of farmers, merchants and governmental officials, each group donating money according to their own enthusiasm and striving to build the most beautiful castle. Also called Wax Prasat Procession and in Thai Praphenih Hae Prasat Pheung. Thai-Sanskrit. 'Son of Vayu'. Another name for Hanuman. See Wetsandorn. Sanskrit. Name of the bodhisattva in his tenth and last jataka as son of the king of Sivi, before his final incarnation as Buddha. His story is written down in the Wetsandornchadok and deals with the merit of charity. Also called Vessantara and Vishvantara. Also spelt Wessadon. Wetsandornchadok (เวสสันดรชาดก) Sanskrit. Chadok of Wetsandorn, the Buddha in his tenth and last incarnation as bodhisattva. A story that emphasizes the merit of 'giving'. Wetsandorn was born the son of king Sanjaya and queen Pusati who ruled over the kingdom of Sivi and from an early age he enjoyed giving things away. Also called Vessantara jataka. MORE ON THIS.
Thai god and guardian of the North. Also thao Wetsuwan and Phra Paisarop. In Sanskrit Vaisravana. Iconographic symbol of the dhamma, the teachings of the Buddha, which are never ending. See also dhammachakka. Brownish pink to white Asian elephant, also called albino. It is regarded sacred and a symbol of royal might. King Bhumipon Adunyadet of Thailand currently has eleven white elephants. It appeared as a sacred animal in the dream (subinnimit - fig.) of Maha Maya and Erawan (fig.), the mount of Indra, also has a white complexion. The distinctiveness needed to qualify as a white elephant does not just relate to its colour. The name is actually an incorrect translation from ancient Indian writings where it was written as an elephant 'with the colour of a lotus'. This is open to many interpretations, and according to the present rules of reference a white elephant is required to have the following qualities, besides a pinkish white colour: white nails, light colour of eyes and a pink rim around the eyes, a pink inner mouth and pink genitals. Until 1917 the royal animal was portrayed as the ensign on the Siamese flag, then a red field with a white elephant. Today this is still visible in the circle on the banner of the Thai Royal Navy (fig.). It often occurs in iconography (fig.) as well as in literature, and in Thai proverbs. In Thai Chang Peuak. See viharn. Wihaan Sian (วิหารเซียน) See Anek Kusala Sala. The first Thai vines were planted at Château de Loei in 1991 and its first commercial harvest was in 1995. At first it was believed that wine could only be produced between 30th and 50th degrees latitude North and South, but many countries outside this range have presented wines of high quality, known as new latitude wines. Since the first Thai grape wine was launched in Loei, several wineries have sprung up in other regions of the country and currently there are three main wine-producing regions, namely: the Northern Region of 17°-18° northern latitude, with clay loam soil and daytime temperatures of 20° to 25° Celsius, dropping to 12° Celsius at night during harvest; the Khao Yai Wine Region at 14.3° northern latitude, also with a clay loam soil and morning temperatures of 15°-20° Celsius during harvest; the Chao Phraya Delta Region, currently the most southerly wine region at 14° northern latitude and with daytime temperatures between 18°-22° Celsius. Because of the subtropical climate there are two harvest periods, namely July-August and February-March, and there are both red and white wines, all in line with international standards. The most prominent wineries at present include Château de Loei in Loei province, Mae Chan Valley in Chiang Rai, Château de Shala One (Chalawan) in Phichit, PB Valley, GranMonte and Château des Brumes in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Siam Winery in Samut Sakon. The Thai wine industry now employs some 1,200 people and annual production is close to one million bottles. In 2004 leading wine producers founded the Thai Wine Association to create awareness and enhance the image of Thai wines, as well as to educate the public about the health benefits associated with moderate wine drinking, such as the prevention of heart diseases and high blood pressure. In Thai rohng tham lao a-ngun, rohng tham wine a-ngun, rohng glan wine a-ngun or rohng glan lao a-ngun.
See Visakha Bucha. Thai for purdah. Thai for Vishnu. Chinese. A large bowl-shaped metal frying-pan used in oriental and in particular, in Chinese cookery. Eleven levels dominated by Mara, the god of desire and death. There are four levels of 'unfortunate destination', i.e. hell, animals, spirits, and asuras; and seven levels of 'fortunate destination', i.e. humans and six of divine beings. Thai. 'Jelly thread'. Name for the jelly noodle, a type of tiny almost clear noodle made from green grams (mung bean starch) and water. They are sold in dry bunches and need to be boiled prior to consumption. This kind of noodle is used as an ingredient in kaeng jeut (fresh soup), a clear and thin soup with minced pork, soft tofu and some vegetables; in the dish yam wun sen (jelly noodle salad), a spicy salad of jelly noodles mixed with sliced chilies, lime juice, ground pork, shrimp, mushrooms and seasonings; and in wun sen ob poo (baked crab jelly noodles), a dish prepared in a lidded clay pot. |
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