Wat Mahannapharam
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1_Wat_Mahannapharam_%284%29.jpg/220px-%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1_Wat_Mahannapharam_%284%29.jpg)
Wat Mahannapharam Worawihan or Wat Mahan,[1] also known as Wat Mahanop,[2] is a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand. The first state school for the general public in Thailand was established at the temple in 1884.
History[]
According to historical records, Wat Mahannapharam Worawihan was constructed in the reign of King Rama III (1824-1851) by Prince Annop, a son of Rama III.[1] The construction began in 1850 with the king providing 80,000 baht. However it was only completed in the reign of King Rama IV (1851-1868) when the new king provided a further another 80,000 baht.[3] The name of the temple means "the great abode of water", referring to the Sea of Samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.[1]
The first public school in Thailand was established at Wat Mahannapharam by the abbot of the temple after an instruction was issued by Rama V encouraging temples to set up new schools for the common people in 1884. It was the beginning of mass education in Thailand. A statue of Rama V was later erected at the wat to mark the centenary of the founding of the school.[4][5]
It has been a National Historic Site since 1949.[citation needed]
Buddha image[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9E%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%87_%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1.jpg/170px-%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9E%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%87_%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1.jpg)
The main Buddha image in the bot of the temple is the 500 year old Luang Pho Ruang Buddha from the old capital of Sukhothai.[1]
Takraw[]
An unique tradition in this temple is that devotees of the temple can donate rattan takraw balls, and children are allowed to play the takraw game within the temple compound.[6][1]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Blaine Johnson. "Wat Mahan Temple". Bangkok Walks.
- ^ "Wat Mahannapharam Worawihan". Chimburi.com.
- ^ "วัดมหรรณพารามวรวิหาร". Watthai.
- ^ Kenneth Barrett (18 February 2014). 22 Walks in Bangkok: Exploring the City's Historic Back Lanes and Byways. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 9781462913800.
- ^ Kullada Kesboonchoo Mead (15 August 2006). The Rise and Decline of Thai Absolutism. Routledge. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-0415421942.
- ^ "Lesser-known Bangkok temples". Travelfish.org.
- Buddhist temples in Bangkok
- Schools in Thailand