Wat Arun

The name of Wat Arun is derived from the Hindu god Aruna, who is charioteer of the sun god Surya. ==History==

A Buddhist temple had existed at the site of Wat Arun since the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, prior to the reign of King Narai. It was then known as Wat Bang Makok It is believed that Taksin vowed to restore the temple after passing it at dawn. The temple enshrined the Emerald Buddha image before it was transferred to Wat Phra Kaew on the river's eastern bank in 1785. The temple was on the grounds of the royal palace during Taksin's reign, before his successor, Rama I (1782–1809), moved the palace to the other side of the river. In 1858, Henri Mouhot, a French expeditioner, recorded the detailed observations of Wat Chang (literally Wat Chaeng, Wat Arun) in his travel journals Voyage dans les royaumes de Siam, de Cambodge, de Laos when he had journeyed to Siam. {{Blockquote|text= (Translation): Let me add here that Wat Chaeng, the most beautiful temple in Bangkok, is not located in the palace grounds but stands majestically on the right bank of the river. The spire of the pagoda, which is over 200 feet in height, is the first sign to travelers sailing upstream from the mouth of the river that they have arrived in the capital. for Royal Kathin Ceremony (1967), reign of King Rama IX. In 1871, Frank Vincent Jr., an American businessman, explorer, and art collector, observed the Wat Chaeng (now Wat Arun) pagoda during his travels in Siam: {{Blockquote|text= The temple underwent major restorations during the reign of Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868–1910) and in 1980, prior to the bicentenary celebration of Bangkok's foundation. ==Architecture==

The main feature of Wat Arun is its central prang, a typical leap tower, which is encrusted with colourful porcelain. This is interpreted as a stupa-like pagoda encrusted with coloured faience. The height is reported by different sources as between 66.8 m (219 ft) and 86 m (282 ft). The corners are surrounded by four smaller satellite prang. The prang are decorated by shells of Mauritia mauritiana and bits of porcelain, which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China. Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong said that both prang (spire) and vihara (main hall) appeared today; they were the original works of the Department of Ten Crafts in the Ayutthaya period. The central prang is topped with a seven-pronged trident, referred to by many sources as the "Trident of Shiva". Around the base of the prang are various figures of ancient Chinese soldiers and animals. Over the second terrace are four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan. In Buddhist iconography, the central prang is considered to have three symbolic levels—base for Traiphum indicating all realms of existence, middle for Tavatimsa, the Tusita Heaven where all desires are gratified, and the top denoting Devaphum indicating six heavens within seven realms of happiness. At the riverside are six pavilions (sala) in the Chinese style. The pavilions are made of green granite and contain landing bridges. Next to the prang is the Ordination Hall with a Niramitr Buddha image supposedly designed by Rama II. The front entrance of the Ordination Hall has a roof with a central spire, decorated in coloured ceramic and stuccowork sheathed in coloured china. Inside, there is a grand altar with a red, grey and white marble decoration. There are two demons, or temple guardian figures, in front. The murals were created during the reign of Rama V. ==Cosmology==

The central prang symbolises Mount Meru of the Hindu cosmology. The satellite prang are devoted to the wind god, Phra Phai. The demons (yaksha) at the entranceway to the ubosot are from the Ramakien. The white figure is named Sahassa Deja and the green one is known as Thotsakan, the Demon Rāvana from Ramayana. ==Travel==

Wat Arun can be accessed through the Chao Phraya River, and ferries travel across the river towards the Maharaj pier. For foreigners, the temple charges an entrance fee of 200 baht (as of March 2024). During Kathina, the king travels to Wat Arun in a procession of royal barges to present new robes to the monks there. In December 2023, Wat Arun was used as a venue for the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Vijit Chao Phraya 2023 program, featuring projection-mapping and light-and-sound performances along the Chao Phraya River. == Gallery ==

File:Wat Arun 2020.jpg|The prang, seen from within the temple grounds (2020) File:Bangkok Wat Arun Phra Prang Indra Erawan.jpg|Main prang, Indra seated atop Airavata (2001) File:Templo Wat Arun, Bangkok, Tailandia, 2013-08-22, DD 16.jpg|View of the river from the main prang (2013) File:Bangkok along the Chao Phraya and Wat Arun (15068304635).jpg|The vihara, seen from the main prang (2014) File:Wat Arun 2017-06.jpg|Buddha statues in the cloister (2017) File:พระอุโบสถ วัดอรุณราชวรารามราชวรมหาวิหาร.jpg|The ordination hall (2025) File:Interior of the ordination hall of Wat Arun.jpg|The principal Buddha image, in the ordination hall (2018) File:วัดแจ้ง1.jpg|The temple lit up at night (2017) File:0000140 - Wat Arun Ratchawararam 005.jpg|Frontal view of the prang at night (2017) == See also ==