THAI TEMPLES

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In a Thai Buddhist temple there is a pavilion for ceremonies and sermons ("SALA" - ศาลา).

The "SALA" is a pavilion used for ceremonies, feasts and sermons. During major Buddhist feasts, laymen and laywomen sit in the "SALA" in order to listen to the abbot's sermon. In small temples, monks eat in the "SALA".

People spend money on the construction of new buildings within the Buddhist temple. Making merit assures them of a good reincarnation after their death. Name and money amount in THB (Thai Baht) are written.

The "SALA" is where novice monks or orphaned children are educated by ordained monks.

All Buddhist temples contain at least one but usually many Buddha images. Buddha images should always face east.

In a Thai Buddhist temple, there is a gong tower ("HO RAKANG" - หอระฆัง) for announcements.

The gong or bells are used for daily timetable. Every early morning a monk hits the gong in order to wake up the other monks. A layman often hits the gong in order to call the monks for the morning and noon meals. In the evening a monk hits the gong to indicate the beginning of the prayers.

In a Thai Buddhist temple, there is always a beautiful entrance. If the temple is well-known, many faithful people give money to embellish it.

Doors are often decorated with brilliant colors and glittering stuff. Temples are covered with reflective mosaics of colored glass. The target is to drive away evil spirits. If spirits approach too close, they shall see their reflection and be frightened away.

At night time, monastery entrance is closed and locked.

A temple is surrounded by white walls. The walls also represent the separation between the monks and lay people.

In a Thai Buddhist temple, the stupa ("CHEDI" - เจดีย์) is the highest building in the temple. In famous monasteries, it is used to store relics of Buddha. In ordinary temples, it is used to store the relics of monks.

A Thai "CHEDI" is a kind of stupa. The "CHEDI" has often the form of a lotus. Lotus is important in Buddhism. It symbols the enlightenment because the lotus blossoms on dirty pool. It symbolises the passage from darkness to light, the passage from ignorance to wisdom.

The "CHEDI" has specific symbolism, representing the different states of life:
* The base represents the hell - นรก
* The middle represents the humanity - โลกมนุษย์
* The top represents the heavenly state - สวรรค์ชั้นฟ้า
* Beyond the top it represents the state of the nirvana - นิพพาน

When faithful people are celebrating "VIEN TIEN" (เวียนเทียน) ceremonies, i.e. turning around the "CHEDI" three times, it means they want to be grabbed from hell to nirvana by a whirlpool. The "CHEDI" structures are different from one region to another. Near Cambodia, the "CHEDI" is often replaced by a "PRANG", which is based on an architecture coming from the Khmer influence.

In a Thai Buddhist monastery, there is sometimes a building to enshrine relics of a famous former abbot.

For famous monks or Buddha relics, the stupa ("CHEDI" - เจดีย์) is very high.

Temples also contain cemetaries. Ashes are enshrined in small stupa. It is identified by a small plaque set into the surface.

Temples also contain cemetaries. Ashes are enshrined in small stupa. Thai people bring some offerings for special occasions. The food left behind is taken by the caretaker and given to poor families.

Phra Pathom Chedi (พระปฐมเจดีย์) is a stupa located in Nakhon Pathom. It is the tallest stupa in Thailand (120m).

In Thai Buddhist temples, the compound is a space for many activities.

In some monasteries there are many dogs, monkeys or bats. Monks feed animals because those ones are supposed to be persons that misbehaved in their previous life.

Often in Buddhist temples close to rivers, small stalls sell fishes and birds. Freeing them is seen as a good action. Some people complain such caged birds will then easily die as they are not used to outdoor life.

Many Thai temples do contain lakes or ponds with cat fishes. Nobody dare to fish them.

Feeding them is really impressive because they all converge towards the food. Feeding them brings also merit for next life.

Some older people never eat catfish, eels and turtles as those animals are released into the ponds of temples to gain merit.

Often in Buddhist temples close to rivers, small stalls sell fishes and birds. Freeing them is seen as a good action.

In some big Buddhist temples, there is often a Chinese shrine. Sometimes there is a pond where turtles are living. Feeding them brings also merit for next life ("THAM BUN" - ทำบุญ).

Another small stall selling fishes and turtles. Freeing them is seen as a good Buddhist action.

Temples are an open space for life. Children often plays in temple compounds.

In big Buddhist temples there are some clairvoyant people that read the palm of the hand. Even in some monasteries, there is a traditional massage school. A famous one is located in "WAT PHO" (วัดโพธิ์) in Bangkok.

In big Buddhist temples there are often some restaurants, food sellers, lottery ticket sellers and so on...

After doing merit, some Thai people buy lottery tickets hoping that their good actions will be rewarded by a big win.

Thai temple Photo Gallery

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