Wihan Luang or Sala Sriphutthisan was constructed on the southern side of the Wihan Luang, adjacent to the road behind Wat Phra Mahathat, in the year B.E. 2506 (1963). The hall was built by Phra Phutthisarnthera (Phut Suwatthano), the assistant abbot at the time.
This pavilion was established to serve as a resting place for visiting monks and Buddhist devotees who come to pay homage to the Phra Borommathat Chedi.
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The Mondop of the Buddha’s Footprint, or the Replica of the Buddha’s Footprint, is enshrined within a mondop (pavilion) located on a high mound to the north of the main stupa, outside the cloister (Wihan Khod). This Buddha's footprint is carved into a stone slab and serves as a symbolic representation of the Lord Buddha’s footprint.
The stone used for carving originally belonged to Chao Phraya Suthammamontree (Phrom). The replica footprint was created on January 1, 1907 (B.E. 2450). It was commissioned by Phra Rattanadhammamuni (Rattanadhat Thera – Luang Por Muang Pariyan), during his time holding the ecclesiastical title Phra Siridhammamuni. He collaborated with Phra Khru Ka Kaew (Si) and Phraya Ronachai Chanyut (Thanom Bunyaket), who at the time held the title Phraya Trangphum Phiphawan, then Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.
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The Main Bell-shaped Chedi, also known as the Phra Borommathat Chedi, features classic bell-shaped architecture with its most striking feature being the golden spire, which is covered in genuine gold. According to longstanding beliefs and oral traditions, the entire structure is said to be filled with precious gold ornaments and valuable offerings extending all the way to the tip of the stupa. These offerings were made by devoted Buddhists as acts of reverence to the Lord Buddha, with the aspiration of attaining Nirvana.
The phrase "Phra That Thongkham" (Golden Relic) found in the provincial motto of Nakhon Si Thammarat refers to this golden spire of the Phra Borommathat Chedi. In addition to its beauty, the chedi is renowned for its sanctity and spiritual significance, attracting worshippers and visitors from all over who come to pay homage and seek blessings.
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Wihan Pho Lanka derives its name from the presence of a large Sri Maha Bodhi tree planted at the center of the courtyard within the hall. It is believed that this Bodhi tree originated from a lineage brought from Sri Lanka, hence the name Pho Lanka (Lankan Bodhi Tree). The hall is named after this sacred tree.
The structure is located next to Wihan Khian, on the northern side of both Wihan Khian and the main stupa (Phra Borommathat Chedi). It is built in the traditional style of cloistered halls that surround revered objects or sacred monuments. The hall has a square layout, enclosing the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree at its center.
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Wihan Thap Kaset, also known as Phra Rabieng Tin That or Phra Rabieng Tuean That, refers to the cloister or gallery that surrounds the base of the main stupa (Phra Borommathat Chedi).
The term "Thap Kaset" is an architectural term that refers to the surface or platform where Buddha images are placed, or to a structural boundary such as a cloister or gallery surrounding a sacred space. It is essentially equivalent to a wihan khot or a covered cloister that defines the sacred boundary.
Thus, the name Wihan Thap Kaset reflects its function: a surrounding cloister that marks the sacred perimeter of the main stupa.
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Wihan Phra Khian (the Mural Hall) received its name because, in the past, its pillars and walls were fully adorned with line-drawn murals. Locals in Nakhon Si Thammarat therefore called it Wihan Khian, meaning "the painted hall." This hall is distinct from others due to the presence of these unique mural paintings.
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Wihan Phra Song Ma (Hall of the Buddha on Horseback) is located adjacent to the main stupa (Phra Borommathat Chedi) on the northern side. It shares the same roof with the Wihan Kian (Mural Hall), but the two are divided by an interior wall, separating them into two distinct sections: one as Wihan Phra Song Ma and the other as Wihan Kian.
Originally, these two great halls were connected by arched doorways, allowing passage between them. However, when Wihan Kian was later repurposed as a museum, the connecting doorways were sealed off and replaced with solid walls.
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The Cloister or Gallery Hall, sometimes referred to as Phra Dan (meaning "Buddha on the side"), is called a "cloister" (Wihan Khod in Thai) because the structure is built in a rectangular shape surrounding the inner area of the main stupa (Phra Borommathat Chedi). Its corners are designed with right-angled turns, which is why locals began calling it “Wihan Khod,” or “the bent cloister.”
It is also called Phra Rabieng or Phra Dan for different reasons. The term Phra Rabieng means a cloister or gallery that wraps around the main stupa, while Phra Dan refers to the fact that the gallery is lined with rows of Buddha statues placed side by side. These are seated Buddha images arranged neatly along all four sides of the cloister, totaling 173 statues. These Buddha images are the craftsmanship of artisans from the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods.
The presence of Buddha statues on every side of the main stupa is the reason locals commonly refer to the gallery as Phra Dan.
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Phra Add Vihara is named after the Buddha image enshrined within it, known by various names such as Phra Kaccāyana, Phra Sangkajjai, or Phra Saphathera, but commonly referred to by locals as Phra Add . Thus, the vihara housing this Buddha image is called Phra Add Vihara.
The vihara is located just north of Sam Chom Vihara. Originally, Phra Aet Vihara was situated outside the cloister near Dhammasatsala Vihara. Later, during the abbotship of Phra Rattanathajamuni (Khun Thaphonthera – Ban – Pariyan) at Wat Phra Mahathat, the image of Phra Aet was restored, and a new vihara was constructed to house it.
The project was directed by the assistant abbot, Phra Khru Phutthisanchatiyaphiwat, also known as Phra Phutthisanthera (Phut Suwatthano). After the completion of the construction, Phra Add was ceremoniously enshrined in the newly built vihara, where the image remains to this day.
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It is said that the builder of this vihara (temple hall) was a man named Sam Chom, who constructed it simultaneously with one of the surrounding chedis (satellite stupas) located behind the vihara. As a result, the vihara was named after its builder — Vihara Sam Chom. The vihara is situated to the east of the Phra Borommathat (Great Stupa), directly across from the cloister gate. Before entering the vihara, one can see a relief sculpture of the Earth Goddess wringing water from her hair on the front wall.
Inside the vihara enshrines a plaster Buddha image known as Phra Chao Si Thammosokarat, believed to be the king who commissioned the construction of the Great Stupa. The image is in the Maravijaya posture (subduing Mara) and is adorned in the attire of an ancient monarch, complete with a tall crown. It reflects the craftsmanship of the Ayutthaya period.
Due to the name of this Buddha image, “Phra Chao Si Thammosokarat,” local residents sometimes refer to Vihara Sam Chom as "Vihara Phra Chao Si Thammosokarat." Behind the vihara stands a three-arched gate that houses Buddha images in the Maravijaya posture and serves as a repository for the relics of royal family members and nobles descending from King Taksin of Thonburi. On the gate itself, there is a relief depicting the episode of the Buddha cutting his topknot in preparation for ordination.
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