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Published: August 28th 2005
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What is a Wat?
And more... like Buddha image info.
“Mikki, you'll find the Buddha stuff interesting.”
I've been talking about them all the time, since I went to the first one connected to the Grand Palace, but particularly in the huge posting of some of the great photos I had from all different wats.
A wat, then, is a
temple monastery. They are open to the public to come in and pray, in general, and at certain hours.
The parts of a wat include:
* The wihaan - where the large buddha figure will be, where people come and offer money. I read that there are 3 elements to it, meaning Buddha (the teacher), Dharma (the teaching) and Brotherhood (the followers).
* A or some chedi/ stupa - which is the large bell-looking structure holding some kind of religious relics. I read that there are 5 elements to it, meaning earth, water, fire, wide and void.
* A praang - a large spire, probably holding relics like the chedi.
* As a monastery, there may be some simple building where the monks reside.
It is important, of course, to be respectful when entering a wat. Try to see it the same as if someone came into your church, workplace or house, and start talking loudly and taking photos, and you are just supposed to be okay with that.
Just as a general rule,
the absolutely most important things are:
* Always make sure you take off your shoes where you have to, and leave them where they are supposed to be, including the separation between Thais and foreigners.
* There are places where they say put them in a locker or carry them with you to stop theft - if you carry them, don't be lazy and just put them on the carpet anyway, and try to be careful with them, like not touching people with them and that kind of thing. Feet and shoes are considered very dirty, and you are rude if you face them at people and that kind of thing.
* Be quiet and considerate. Don't talk at all if possible. You can easily point out things to people you are with and then talk about them outside. This includes, of course, not taking photos, especially, I would imagine, with an embarrassing flash.
* Just don't touch anything, and this includes walls.
If you can get in and get out, quietly, discreetly and without disturbing people, they would appreciate it.
Buddhas
So... Buddhas are found in the 'wihaan' of a wat. In some cases there may be multiple....in some cases they may be used like we would a gravestone - in a square all around the main structure of the wat.
Dan asked me if I knew what all of the 'postures' of the Buddha mean. I could only answer a little and not well. I'm looking at this more, but in the meantime, for anyone who would like to know the very basics:
There are 4 main poses:
- reclining
- sitting
- standing
- walking
That is straightforward. About these poses then:
RECLINING - This is the moment of Buddha's enlightenment.
SITTING - This is any teaching or meditating.
STANDING - Either giving blessings or dealing with evil entities
WALKING - This is after Buddha has come back to Earth, after going to Heaven
Within these, there are many 'titles', e.g. Buddha is not actually 'sitting', he is “Waiting for M.......”
(Something starting with M...it'll come to me later and I'll edit this). One hand may be on the lap, palm upwards and another to the side, for example. I read that if the right hand faces down the Buddha is taming the evil entities of desire and if the hands are folded in the lap, Buddha is enforcing the law.
Many are actually called “Reclining Buddha”, but the other 3 types of poses have a great many of these titles to look out for.
It is interesting to note that some are made predominantly in certain eras, like the “Waiting for M.....” that I am thinking of above, is predominantly from the Ayuthaya period in Thai history. And certain eras have one or two 'postures' as dominant.
There are 32 'rules' of a buddha image also to notice. They include:
- elongated earlobes
- no bone or muscle
- arms that go down to knees
- an extra eye
Have a look at Buddhas you see in the future, and see if you can notice some of the things I've been talking about. Like me, you may want to look into it with a good book on the subject, and I can tell you they can be found (but they are quite expensive, like many good art books).
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