Brochure : Wat Phrasingha Woramahawiharn

Wat Phrasingha Woramahawiharn

Location

Wat Phrasingha Woramahawiharn is the first class of royal temple, located at No.2 Samlan road, in the city wall of Chiangmai 50200, Tel. 053-275139 on a wide area; 25-2-15 Rai which is equivalent to 10.2 acres. It’s the provincial administration office of Sangha (Monks)

The Founder

Wat Phrasingha was established by the 5^th king of Mangrai dynasty; phaya Payoo in the year 1888 B/E In the former time, the front of the temple was the place where merchants coming and exchanging their goods with one another so that the people called Lee Chiang Phra market and the temple was also called Wat Lee Chiang Phra too.

Around the year 1943 the prince Mahaprom brought a Buddha Sihingha image form Kamphaengpetch for offering the king Saen Muang Ma; the 7^th king of Mangrai dynasty. The king in stalled the Sihingha image in Wat Lee Chiang Phra. Latterly the people called this Wat as Wat Phrasingha (Sihingha) in accordance with the name of Sihingha image.

King Ananda Mahidol; the 8^th king of Chakri dynasty had accepted and announced Wat Phrasingha as a royal temple, in first class by royally named Wat Phrasingha Woramahawiharn on Sunday the 30 th November 2483 B/E

The Fine Arts Department had registered the following relics and ruins in this Wat as follows, Pagoda, Chapel, Wiharnluang, Wiharnlaikam, Hohtrai which announced in the government gazette series #52 Part.#75 dd. 8^th March 2478 B/E and Series# 96 Part.#97 dd. 16 June 2522 B/E

The bony stupa of Phaya Kamfoo

Phaya Kamfoo was the 4^th king of Mangrai dynasty ruled Chiangmai during the year 1877-1879, formerly he had ever been the ruler of Chiangsaen. After his death, his son; Phaya Payoo ascended the throne as the 5^th king of Mangrai dynasty. He built the Wat of Lee Chiang Phra in 1888 B/E and also built a stupa for keeping Phaya Kamfoo’s bone and ashes in this Wat.

Kruba Sriwichai’s meditation walking house

The meditation walking house where Kruba Sriwichai practiced meditation was built by Luang Anusarnsoontorn in 2471, and it was repaired once again in 2547 by Phra Dhammasithajarn; the present abbot.

Ancient materials & Ruin

Phrasingha or Phrabuddhasihing: Phrasingha is a bronze Buddha image, gilded Buddha, casting in architectural style of Chiangsaen period, round face, incision round chin, sitting cross legged with one meter wide lap, his trunk is sturdy and fat, big chest, unequal fingers, a short sash robe above his chest, his right hand placed on right knee while left hand resting on his lap. Phrasigha is an important image; in particular, the people had regarded this image as the tutelary image of Chiangmai for a long time. Every year, during Songkrant festival this image is always brought out from the gilded temple to place on the decorated carriage, carrying in the long procession around the city for the people to sprinkle water.

Phrachaotongthip: It’s a gilded Buddha image, a duplicate of Phrasingha, the people called Phrasinghanoi (Noi means small) it was made by Phaya Tilokaraj; the 9^th king of Mangrai dynasty in the year 2020 B/E which is a memorial to the 8^th world Buddhist Assembly. Phrachaotongthip is 14.5 inches wide, (Measuring at its lap) 21 inches tall, weighing 27 kilograms, inlaid with precious stones around its pedestal, cast with the alloy of copper and gold which is always shining.

The 2 parts chapel (Song Sangha Ubosostha)

This chapel is a special architectural shape which differs from general chapels; it has 2 facades and arch doors, facing north and south, a canopy in the middle. It’s the place where the Tongthip image is installed, divided into 2 parts; one part for monks while opposite part for priestesses (Lady Monks) following the ancient footsteps of old Sangha system in Buddha time. Lady Monk should be ordained 2 times; firstly by priestesses religious rite, and then entering the priests religious rite in different part of chapel.

This ancient chapel was built by Phaya Saenmuangma, the 7^th king of Mangrai dynasty during 1928-1944 B/E And was twice restored; firstly by Phaya Kawila in 2355 B/E and secondly by Phaya Dhammalangka in 2360, as for the canopy in the middle was also built in this period too.

Phra Pokklao; the 7^th king of Chakri dynasty paid a royal visit to the northern provinces in 2469 B/E During his stay in Chiangmai, he had donated some money to the 9^th ruler of Chiangmai; Chao Keo Nawarath as a beginning fund for restoring the chapel, this restoration was completed in 2472 B/E During in the year 2541-2542 the Wat and the Fine Arts Department had the chapel restored in the occasion of His Majesty the king’s 6^th round birthday anniversary (72 years) And during the year 2546-2549 the Wat and the Fine Arts Department had once again restored the chapel in the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen’s 6^th round birthday anniversary by changing the roof, dragon-head (Chohfa) lime arts and gabble ends.

Wiharnluang

Wiharnluang means the big temple; it was built in Lanna architectural style which is 24 meters wide and 46 meters long. Its wall and posts are made of iron-frame concrete, while upper parts are made of the entire teak, the roof is covered with tiles which consists of dragon head (Chohfa) serpent head gabble end (Bairage) and swan on the roof-top. It has two facades; front and back. The front facade has 3 doors, each wall has 5 windows. The former Wiharnluang was a temple with 4 gabble ends. It was too dilapidated so that Kruba Sriwichai and the 9^th ruler of Chiangmai including general people joined to build a new Wiharnluang at the same site in 2467-2468 B/E, costing 20,000 Rupees. Latterly the Wiharnluang became dilapidated, the Wat had to have dragon head, serpent head gabble ends and tiles changed in 2525 B/E, HRH.Crown Prince Wachiralongkorn; on behalf of the King came to preside over the dragon head lifting ceremony on 12^th June 2529 B/E

Kulai (Five tiered roof stupa)

Kulai is located behind the gilt temple (Wiharn Laikam). It’s a small stupa which has the form of pagoda with fivefold roof. There is an over ground tunnel passage form the back wall of gilt temple. Chiangmai local notation reveals that Kuai is an ancient pagoda which the 11^th king of Mengrai dynasty; Phaya Muangkeo built in 2359 B/E. Latterly the 2^nd ruler of Chiangmai; Phaya Dhammalanga restored and found a golden box in which many precious antiques were kept, and then he replaced the box in the same place inside the Kulai. Big celebration was taken place after restoration.

Wiharn Laikam (The gilded temple)

Wiharn Laikam is a temple in Lanna architectural style which is 8 meters wide and 30 meters long. The roof is covered with terra-cotta tiles and Chohfa-Bairaga (Dragon head and serpent head gabble end) it was built by Phaya Muangkeo; the 11^th king of Mengrai dynasty during 2038-2068 B/E It was restored in several times as follows;

By Phaya Kawila in 2353 B/E

By Phaya Dhammalanga in 2359 B/E

By Chao Kawilorossuriyawongse in 2406 B/E

By Chao Intawichayanont in 2429 B/E

By Ven. Phra Dhammarajanuwatr in 2497 B/E

By the Fine Arts Department in 2539 B/E

The Buddhasihing image is installed inside and there are mural paintings: The left wall is the story of Songthong while the right wall is the story of Suwana Hongse painted by skilled artists showing the way of life, culture and old tradition of Chiangmai.

Phrathat Luang (Big Chedi or Pagoda)

Phrathat Luang is a big pagoda; 25 Wah high (50 meters), the square base is 16-1-6 Wah (around 32.5 meters) There is an elephant standing on each base; it was built during Mengrai dynasty’s period. And it was restored by Ven. Kruba Sriwichai in 2469 B/E The people regard this pagoda as one of 12 fixed star-years, particular for those whom was born in the 5^th year or Pee Marong (Horse Year)

Hoh Trai

Hoh Trai is a national ruin, it was built by the first ruler of Chiangmai; Phaya Kawila in the year 2354 B/E as a library for keeping Buddhist scripture. The big restoration was made in 2460 B/E by the king Phrapok Klao during his royal visit to the northern region. The architectural shape of Hoh Trai is beautiful and neat, showing the value in history, arts and culture. Hoh Trai is a two floors building; first floor was made of bricks and smeared with lime. The walls are decorated with statues of different animals such as lions, elephants, deer and tigers, etc. The second floor was made of entire wood and decorated with gilded statues and arch-door; it was restored by the abbot in 2549.

Hoh Dhamma (Kruba’s Hoh Trai)

Hoh Dhamma is located north-west of big pagoda built on the 10^th August 2469 B/E during the 9^th ruler’s reign of Chiangmai; General Chao Keo Nawarat. Kruba Sriwichai had collected different Palm scriptures and kept them in this Hoh Dhamma. Luang Anusarnsoontorn and Chua Yong Seng had donated sum of money for constructing. Hoh Dhamma was restored during Phra Dhammasithajarn’s reign in the year 2548 B/E

Canopied house

Canopied house is a round structure with four arches and stupa roof. It’s standing at the south-west of Wiharn Laikam.

Wiharn Tanjai

Wiharn Tanjai is a small temple where in the Buddha Tanjai image was installed. It’s standing behind the temple office, near canopied house.

Wiharn Buddha Sai-Yaas

It’s a small temple where in the reclining Buddha image was installed. It was built in 2094 B/E The image was made of bricks, covered with lime, facing the west and heading toward the north. The first restoration was made by Ven. Phra Ubalikunoopamajarn in 2493 B/E, while the second restoration was made by Ven. Dhammasithajarn in 2537 B/E

Education institute

Wat Phrasingha consists of 3 kings of educational institute as classified herewith;

1. Theological school for monks, in Dhamma and Pali education.

2. Sunday Buddhist School for children, Buddhist basic and moral philosophy education.

3. Dhammaraj Suksa School for monks and laymen, in secondary school level education.

Written by Jaree Soontornsing

Translated by Prawit Tantalanukul

1. อนุสาวรีย์ครูบาศรีวิชัย Kruba Sriwichai’s monument

2. หอไตร Hoh Trai

3. พระวิหารหลวง Wiharn Luang

4. พระอุโบสถสองสงฆ์ Song Sangha Ubosostha

5. พระธาตุหลวง Phrathat Luang

• 5.1 พระธาตุบริวาร (Surrounded Phrathat)
  

6. พระวิหารลายคำ Wiharn Laikam

7. กู่ลาย Ku Lai

8. พระวิหารพระนอน ......Wiharn Reclining Buddha ( Wiharn Phranorn)

9. หอไตรครูบาศรีวิชัย Hoh Trai Kruba Sriwichai

10. พระวิหารพระเจ้าทันใจ Wiharn Tanjai

11. กู่มณฑป (พระธาตุเชี้ยงเมี้ยง) …..Ku Mondop

12. หอจงกรมครูบาศรีวิชัย Kruba Sriwichai’s meditation walking house

13. กู่อัฐิพระอุบาลีคุณูปมาจารย์ …. Ku Phra Ubalikunoopamajarn

14. สถูปพระเจ้าคำฟู The Stupa of Phaya Kamfoo

15. อนุสาวรีย์พญาเม็งรายมหาราช Mengrai Maharaj’s monument

16. หอระฆัง ….. Belfry

17. กู่อัฐ ….. Relic

18. อาศรมพระอาจารย์แพทย์ใหญ่ชีวกโกมารภัจจ์ …. (Jivaka's House)

1. ศาลาสหัส-หงษ์ มหาคุณ … (Sala Sahasa-Hong Mahakhun)
   

2. ศาลาสมเด็จกิตติโสภณ (Sala Somdejkittisophon)
   

3. ศาลาสงวนราชทรัพย์อุทิศ (Sala Sa-nguan rajasabutit)

4. ศาลา 90 ปี พระธรรมสิทธาจารย์ 90 (Sala 90 Years Phra Dhammasithajarn)
   

5. ศาลาเจ้าแม่กาบแก้ว (Sala Mae Kab Kaew)

6. ศาลาร่มเย็น (Sala Rom Yen)
   

7. สำนักงานวัดพระสิงห์ฯ Wat Phrasingha Woramahawiharn’s office

8. อาคารพระธรรมสิทธาจารย์ Phra Dhammasithajarn’s building

   1. สำนักงานคณะสงฆ์ จ.เชียงใหม่ Chiangmai Clergy’s office

   2. สำนักงานคณะสงฆ์ อ.เมืองเชียงใหม่ Amphurmuang Chiangmai Clergy’s office

   3. โรงเรียนพระพุทธศาสนาวันอาทิตย์ Sunday Buddhist School

9. ห้องสุขา Toilet

10. แท้งค์น้ำ Water tank

11. ร้านค้า Shop

1. อาคารพระอุบาลีคุณูปมาจารย์ …Ubalikunoopamajarn’s Building

2. อาคารพระธรรมสิทธาจารย์ 92 ปี …92 years Phra Dhammasithajarn’s building

3. อาคารเฉลิมพระเกียรติฯ … Glorify’s building

4. อาคารพระธรรมราชานุวัตร …Phra Dhammarajanuwad’s building

5. โรงอาหาร Cafeteria

1. กุฏิเจ้าอาวาส Abbot’s House

2-28 กุฏิ (23 ไม่มี) Monk’s House

อาคารทางศาสนา Religious’s building

ส่วนบริการ Service Department

โรงเรียนธรรมราชศึกษา Dhammaraj Suksa School

กุฏิ Monk’s House

เขตพุทธาวาส Shrine Unit

เขตสังฆาวาส Monastery Unit

เขตอภัยทาน Compassion Unit

*Wiharn aka ฺีBuddha image hall

*Phrathat aka Relic of the Buddha

*Ku aka Stupa

*Hoh Trai aka Scripture hall

*Sala aka hall, meeting place