The Ordination Hall of Wat Rakhangkhositaram


The main Buddha image in the Ordination Hall was cast in the reign of King Rama III at the same time as the construction of the Hall which is regarded as very beautiful

2. The Ordination Hall
The present hall was built during the reign of King Rama III after the fire which broke out in the monks' living quarters. The original ordination hall was made into a Wihan. The Hall of this temple is of a special design with porches in front and back. Below the ceiling in front there is a niche in which a Buddha image is placed. This niche below the ceiling at this temple is found in several other temples in Thon Buri. The gable boards at both ends are carved with Vishnu riding on Garuda decorated with fine gilded decorative foliage designs. Above the frames of the door and window panels of the hall, stucco relif is moulded in the shape of pediments. The panels are painted with gilded black lacquer showing the bell-motif.
The main Buddha image in the Ordination Hall was cast in the reign of King Rama III at the same time as the construction of the Hall which is regarded as very beautiful. This main Buddha image is gilded and sits on a raised pedestal in the attitude of meditation under the nine tiered umbrella which stood over the urn of King Rama I at the Royal cremation. Almost at the end of the reign the King expressed the wish that when the new image was completed, the umbrella should be put over it. The changing of cloth of the umbrella took place once during the reign of King Rama IV and again during the present reign.
Another significant and valuable thing in the Ordination Hall is the mural decoration portraying the ten previous lives of the Buddha from the text of Maha Nipata Jataka, especially the episode of Phra Nemiraja in the trip to the hell. Although they are badly damaged, the work shows the superb artistic skill of the artist named Phra Wannavadvichitre (Thong Charuvichitre). The panels of the front door carry paintings of angel guardians.
Within the wall around the Ordination Hall, towards the north there are three Chedis with redented corners erected by the three sons of the Prince of the Rear Palace, Kroma Luang Anuraksedeves, which are very beautifully proportioned.


Carved wood eaves brackets on the Ordination Hall, gilded and coloured glass inlaid in a very beautiful desiign


Gilded lacquer door panels with three bell



Information
: Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourist Service Center
: Hotel & Bungalows in Bangkok
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