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Wat Pratat Doi Suthep,
officially named Wat Pratat Doi
Suthep Rach Voramahaviharn, is
located in Muang District just
around 14 KM west of Chiang Mai
Province.
The temple is one of four
royal temples in the province
and is by far the best known and
most popular
The name “Doi Suthep”, is also
the name of the mountain where
the temple is located, and means
“Good God” according to a legend
about a sacred ascetic, who used
to dwell on the mountain.
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History
of Chiang Mai and Wat Doi Suthep |
Wat Pratat Doi Suthep was built
around B.E.1916 by King Gue-na
of Chiang Mai. At that time
Chiang Mai was still a part of
Myanmar.
Following was the list of all
Chiang Mai kings.
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King Mengrai Maharach
B.E.1804 |
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King Mungkaram, B.E.1854 |
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King Sanpoo, B.E.1868 |
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King Kamfoo, B.E.1877 |
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King Pa-yoo B.E.1879
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King Gue-na B.E.1898
(the creator of Wat
Pratat Doi Suthep )
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King Sanmuangma B.E.1928 |
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King Samfungkan B.E.1945
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King Ti Lokrach
B.E.1984 |
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King Yod Chiang Rai
B.E.2030 |
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King Muang Kaew B.E.2038 |
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King Muangkeskla B.E.
2068 |
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King Chai Kum B.E.2081 |
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King Muangkeskla
B.E.2086 |
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Queen Jiraprapa B.E.
2088 |
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King Uppa Yao B.E. 2089 |
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King Tao Ma Gu B.E. 2094 |
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Queen Visuthi Devi
B.E.2107-2121 |
After B.E.2121 Chiang Mai
officially become part of the
Kingdom of Thailand and since
that time there have been no
further kings or queens.
Wat Pratat Doi Suthep was known
as the temple of kings because
since King Gue-na had built the
temple in B.E.1916, the temple
was highly respected by future
kings and queens of Chiang Mai.
Furthermore at least three kings
including King Ti Lokrach,
King Muangkeskla, and King Chai
Kum had helped to improve and
renovate the temple.
Because Wat Pratat Doi Suthep
was located on the mountain it
was an arduous task to reach,
taking almost five hours walk to
the temple gates. In B.E.2477 a
famous sacred senior monk named
Kruba Srivichai started a
project to construct a
convenient access to the temple.
Because this monk was so highly
respected many thousands of
people from Chiang Mai,
Pitsanaloke, Lumpoon, Utradit
and other neighbouring provinces
joined the construction work
without payment, a real labour
of love.
Amidst much difficulty, the
11-kilometer road was completed
within 5 months and was
officially opened on April 30,
B.E.2478 and Kruba Srivichai was
the first person to reach the
temple using the new road.
As a sign of respect to the
dedication of this great monk a
monument was constructed in his
honour, now a very popular place
to pray and ask for blessings.
Prior to B.E.2475 Wat Pratat Doi
Suthep was overseen by the
governors of Chiang Mai, but
since democracy a monk named Jao
Kaew Navarat was invited to take
up the post of first abbot.
There have been seven abbots:
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Kruba Term was invited
from Wat Sanfa, Chiang
Mai Province |
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Kruba Pun-ya was invited
from Wat Sunpakui,
Chiang Mai Province |
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Prakru Anusorn was
invited from Wat Muen
Lan, Chiang Mai
Province. |
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Prapalad Kumsai was
invited from Wat Pratat
Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai
Province. |
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Prakru Yana Lungka was
invited from Wat
Tung-yu, Chiang Mai
Province. |
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Prakru Suwandharmthada
was invited from Wat
Muangmang, Chiang Mai
Province. |
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Prathep
Worasittajarn (present abbot) |
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Royal
Temple |
Historically Thailand had no
formal procedure to register
temples, and although many
temples existed, many were not
recognised as such, including
Wat Pratat Doi Suthep.
After the political revolution
in B.E.2475, the Royal Thai
government developed a formal
system to govern all temples in
the country, and in B.E.2494,
during the period of Prakru Yana
Lungka, Wat Pratat Doi Suthep
was officially registered as a
legal temple. In B.E.2506, the
government formally
upgraded the temple to royal
status
During the reign of King Gue-na
a sacred senior monk named
Pramaha Sumonthera discovered a
relic of Lord Buddha in the
ancient city,“Sri Sachnalai”.
The King Gue-na decided to
divide the relic into two parts,
the first part was situated in
the sacred Chedi of Wat Suandok,
one of the most famous ancient
temples of Chiang Mai. The
second part was attached to an
elephants back, as the king
wanted a random location at
which to build a new holy
chedi.
Wherever the elephant stopped he
would build a sacred chedi
there. The elephant finally
rested at Doi Suthep
Mountain. Therefore a sacred
chedi was built there and that
was the beginning of Wat Pratat
Doi Suthep. Note: the word
“Pratat” usually meant “Lord
Buddha’s relic”.
After the sacred chedi, which
was around 10 meter high was
built in B.E.1916, in B.E.2068
during the reign of King
Kesklao, a sacred monk named
Pramaha Yan-namongkol Bhoti was
invited to organize a sacred
ceremony to renovate the sacred
chedi and since then the sacred
chedi was enlarged to around 22-
meter high until nowadays.
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Sacred
spell
to worship the relic at the Chedi , Wat Doi Suthep |
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Namo Tussa Pakavato
Arahato Samma Sam
Buddhussa |
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Namo Tussa Pakavato
Arahato Samma Sam
Buddhussa |
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Namo Tussa Pakavato
Arahato Samma Sam
Buddhussa |
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Suwanna Jetiyung Gesawa
Ramuttaloongkung |
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Varun Yatatung
Sutheva Namakung Nara
Thevehi |
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Suppa Puchitung Ahung
Wantami Suppata. |
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Temple Highlights
Apart from that there’re also
other interesting buildings in
Wat Pratat Doi Suthep as
followings:
1. Viharn of the white elephant
(respected for his
dedication bringing Lord
Buddha’s relic to Doi Suthep
Mountain).
2. The sacred monument of Pra
Sutheva (the sacred ascetic, who
used to practice magic sciences
on this mountain in the past).
3. Viharn of Pra Buddha Chinasi
(which was built by King Guena
in B.E.2348 and a sacred Buddha
Image named Pra Buddha Chinasi
Suwannachedi is situated
there).
4.Viharn of Pra Jao Tanjai,
where a sacred Buddha Image
named Pra Jao Tanjai is
situated and has always
respected by lmany people
because it is believed that the
sacred power of the Buddha Image
could help people quickly.
5.Viharn of King Guena, built in B.E.2540 by Pra
Rachratanakorn to honor the
king, who originally created the
temple.
6.Viharn of Kruba Srivichai, the
revered monk whose own history
is intertwined with that of the
temple. |
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Opposite: Phra Ruang Rangpuen
concentrated in BE 2515 by 108 monks including
amongst others LP.Toh Wat Praduchimplee, LP Kuay
Wat Kositaram, LP.Waen Wat Doi Maepang, LP.Nguen
Wat Don Yai Hom and LP.Kasem Kemko... in
stock |
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