Wat Phra Non - Monastery of the Reclining Buddha - Ayutthaya 2023

Wat Phra Non or the Monastery of the Reclining Buddha was located off the city island in the eastern area of Ayutthaya in Khlong Suan Phlu Sub-district.

Wat Chumphon stood on its western side, while Wat Kradok was situated on its eastern side. The three monasteries could be accessed by the canals Khlong Suan Phlu, Khlong Dusit and Khlong Wat Phra Non. Khlong Wat Pra Non passed south of the three monasteries.

Historical data about the monastery and its construction is unknown.

In the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya there is a possible reference to this temple site. During the year 1654, a feud occurred in the royal family of Cambodia. The King Preah Bat Somdet Ramathipadi I and Prince Prea-ang Em on one side, and the princes Prea-Batom-Rachéa and Prea-ang Tan on the other, called in their partisans and started a war. The latter two, aided by a strong Ayutthayan army,
were defeated.

The Nguyen Prince Hien Vuong Emperor of the South was called in by the Annamese widow of the former King Chey Chettha II on the side of the latter two princes and in 1658 the Nguyen Emperor sent in an army under the Governor of Phu Yen, General Ong Chieng Thu. Prince Prea-ang Em was killed in battle and King Ponhea Chan was taken prisoner, brought to Cochin China in an iron cage, were he died at the age of 40. There after, in 1658 Prince Prea-Batom-Rachéa came to the throne as King Preah Bat Somdet Borom Reachea V. In
1659, the sons of the captive King Ponhea Chan, being Prea-ang Ni, Prea-ang Outey and Prea-ang Am, seeked a safe haven in Ayutthaya together with the old Court of their father, the Priest Prea-Soccon and 2200 people of all ranks.

They were allowed to reside on the grounds of the Monastery of the Reclining Buddha and the grounds surrounding the monastery.

Wat Phra Non was situated on the southern edge of what is believed to have been a Khmer baray, an ancient artificial reservoir, dating back to the pre-Ayutthaya time. Baray were situated in close vicinity of a Khmer sanctuary. This Khmer sanctuary is believed to have been located on the site of present Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. The Khmer ruled over this area from the early 11th century until the mid-13th century from Lavo (Lopburi). The pre-Ayutthaya outpost here was known as Ayodhya Pura.

Some remains of the temple were excavated and partially restored by the Fine Arts Department after the large flood of 2011.

The reclining Buddha is the highlight of the area. It’s been mostly restored and worth seeing. The temples are unknown to most so you will have the ruins to yourself.

Enjoy the video!

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