Wat Sutthiwat Wararam

THAILAND, Samut Sakhon

The temple is also known as Wat Chong Lom and was constructed during the Ayutthaya period (circa 1350–1767). The temple was originally built with bamboo and had a thatched roof. It has undergone a series of renovations and expansions. In 1965 it was named Wat Sutthiwat Wararam by King Rama IX (reigned 1946–present) and it is a royal temple.
The temple’s buildings include the ordination hall, main hall, and Buddhist school named Phra Pariyathum. The ordination hall is the main structure, measuring 10 m wide and 20 m long. The roof is covered with red tiles and decorated with garudas and nagas. A royal emblem can be seen in the relief on the pediment. The emblem is topped with a crown and surrounded by vine patterns, with cut glass embedded among the relief work. The doors and windows have intricately decorated frames. Over the lintels they are further adorned with reliefs of Thai-style stupas in the shape of a pyramid, complete with stacked rings as spires. The ordination hall contains a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha seated on an exquisite Sumeru throne in half lotus position, with his hands in bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. The Buddha is flanked by statues of standing disciples with joined palms. In front of the throne there are three seated Buddha statues. Behind the statues, there is a colorful mural illustrating the Buddha teaching the Dharma to his mother in the Trayastrimsa Heaven.