【Thai Temples】Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn)

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Temple: Wat Arun, or Temple of the Dawn (วัดอรุณ)

    Master: Phra Thep Mongkolrangsi (พระเทพมงคลรังษี)

Wat Arun is classified as the first class of Ratchawaramahawihan royal temple, located at the west bank of Chao Phraya River, facing the royal palace and Wat Phra Kaew across the river. 

Wat Arun’s full name is Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan. It is an ancient temple built during period of Ayutthaya Kingdom. Its original name was Wat Makok, which was later renamed as Wat Makok Nok, Wat Jaeng, Wat Arunratchtharam and Wat Arunratchwararam in different periods of time. Its name in Thai is Arunratchwararam, which signifies the dawn. Therefore, it also has the name of Temple of the Dawn.

The name of Wat Makok was originated according to the naming of local village. The place was known as Bang Makok and thus the ancient people had named the temple as Wat Makok. It was because there was no exact naming for temples in ancient. Normally the local people would name the temples with their geographical names. For instance, Wat Bang Lumpu and Wat Paknam were named according to their locations. 

Later a new temple was built at the inner part along the Chao Phraya river. It was named as Wat Makoknai (inner) and thus Wat Makok also known as the outer Wat Makok to differentiate the two different temples.

Wat Makok was named as Wat Jaeng later. According to the legend, Somdet Phra Chao Krung Thon Buri had expelled the Burma armies in Ayutthaya and was heading to Thon Buri with his armies. The fleet was passing by the Wat Makok and the first sunlight just happened to shine through the tower of temple. Somdet Phra Chao Krung took this as an auspicious time and stopped the fleet in front of the temple. He went in the temple and worshiped the Phra Mahathat which was 16 meters height located at the riverside of temple. He also took a rest in the temple. When Somdet Phra Chao Krung was enthroned, he had given an order to rebuild the temple and named it as Wat Jaeng. It meant dawn or sunrise in Thai language. The later generation also called the temple as Wat Somdet Phra Chao Krung Thon Buri to commemorate this 41th King in Thailand, the national hero who led multi races in Thai to expel foreign enemies courageously and reforming the country.

According to the prince Krom Phraya Damrong Rachanuphap (BE2405 ~ 2486), he had seen the maps drew by French on Thon Buri during the era of Somdet Phra Narai Maharat (BE2199 ~ 2231). In the map there were only Wat Liap and Wat Jaeng. It showed that Wat Arun had quite a long history.

Somdet Phra Chao Krung Thon Buri’s successor, King Rama I had shifted the palace to the other side of the river and the temple was abandoned for a long period of time until King Rama II recontructed the temple and given it name as Wat Arunratchwararam. It was later renamed as Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan which was used till now when King Rama IV reconstructed the temple again.

Abbot

The current 14th abbot of Wat Arun is Phra Thep Mongkolrangsi.His real name is Chaliao.He was ordained as monk at Wang Bangnain Pathum Thani Province in BE2488. In BE2450, he stayed in Wat Arun and became the abbot of Wat Arun in BE2552.

The entrance of Wat Arun situated a huge guardian stone statue. There is a central “Phra prang” (Khmer style tower) surrounded by four smaller prang in Wat Arun. The main prang is about 79 meters height. It is one of the tallest Mahayana tower in Thailand and has the name of "Thailand Eiffel Tower". In dawn the sunlight shines and the peak of tower shines with boundless radiance. Thus also named as "Tower of Dawn".

The bottom and body of tower is in square and contains many layers with descending acreage layer-by-layer. The four smaller towers are surrounding the central prang at four corners, forming a huge and beautiful group of towers. There are Buddha statues at the recessed parts of each corner and every layer of tower. From bottom to the top of the tower are encrusted with colorful porcelain. The base of the pagoda has finely carved drawings of Buddha images.

In Wat Arun, there are also ordination hall, Buddha shrine, Buddha footprints tetragonal hall, pagoda, crown shaped of gatehouse spire, Buddha pavilion, 6 meters height demon sculpture, corridors, rockeries and many other Chinese cultural relics and Chinese-style stone pagodas, 112 pieces of Chinese stone lions, Chinese-style pavilions etc. You could climb inside the large tower and overlook to the opposite riverside of Chao Phraya River for Bangkok city view. 

There is an ancient Buddha hall in front of the large pagoda, enshrining the statue of late Somdet Phra Chao Krung Thon Buri and his belongings. There are Chinese-style lanterns hanging in the hall, the bed of late Somdet and some Chinese antiques. In the north west of pagoda located the main hall of Somdet Phra Chao Krung. Outside of the ubosot stood two 6 meters height door guardians Yaksha. A Buddha statue is enshrined in the hall and its base is interred with ashes of King Rama II.

Paying visit to Wat Arun could make you understand the kinship and deep friendship between Somdet Phra Chao Krung Thon Buri and China. Every December the royal family would held the Royal Kathin festival, which is also the biggest ceremony in Wat Arun and one of the significant rituals in Thai Kingdom.

Source: http://www.watarun.org