 Phra Maha Chedi, Wat Pho, Bangkok
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Phra Maha Chedi, also called Phra Maha Stupa or Phra Prang, refers to the four tall spires in Wat Pho. These four chedis are surrounded by a white wall with Thai-Chinese style gates and Chinese rockeries guardian.
Each of the four chedis are 42 meters tall. They are decorated with colourful mosaics. Carefully observing them, you'd see that the chedis are of different colored mosaic: one green, one white, one yellow and one dark blue.
Three of the four Phra Maha Chedi (28 October 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
The chedi with green mosaic is called Phra Maha Chedi Sri Sanpetdayun. It was built by King Rama I to encase the remains of a Buddha statue called Phra Si Sanphet. The Buddha statue holds relics of the Buddha and represents the reign of King Rama I. This 16-meter tall Buddha statue was originally placed within the Royal Palace compound in Ayutthaya. It was damaged when the Burmese attacked.
The chedi with white mosaic is called Phra Maha Chedi Dilok Dhammakaroknitarn. It was built by King Rama III to enshrine the remains of his father, King Rama II, and to represent his father's reign.
The chedi with the yellow mosaic is called Phra Maha Chedi Muni Batborikharn. It was also built by King Rama III, to represent his own reign.
Base of the chedi in Wat Pho (28 October 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
The chedi with the dark blue mosaic - I do not know its name - was built by King Rama IV, better known as King Mongkut, to represent his reign. It was modelled after the Phra Maha Chedi Song Phra Srisuriyothai chedi in Ayutthaya.
King Mongkut ordered that the four chedis be enclosed with a boundary wall. This is to prevent any more chedis to be added to the group. The reasoning is that these four chedis represent the reigns of the first four kings of the Chakri Dynasty who had been alive at the same period.
The blue chedi in Wat Pho (28 October 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Location of the Phra Maha Chedi
On the western side of Wat Pho, arranged three in a row with another to the west of the central one.
In addition to the four great chedis, there are over ninety other chedis at Wat Pho. They comprise the following two types:
Single-based Chedis
There are four groups, each with five chedis. Each group comprises one big chedi and four smaller ones, all on one single base. They were built during the reign of King Rama I and were embellished with mosaics in the form of flowers.
Phra Chedi Rai
These are smaller chedis, numbering seventy-one all together. They are located all over the place in Wat Pho, and were built during the reign of King Rama III to enshrine the ashes of members of the royal family.
The many small chedis in Wat Pho (28 October 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
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