Wat Yai Chaimongkol In Ayutthaya
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon or the “Great Monastery of Auspicious Victory” is located off the city island in the southeastern area of Ayutthaya. The temple was originally named Wat Pa Kaew or Wat Chaoprayathai. It is situated at the east side of Pa Sak River. As the history said, it was assumed that King U-Thong built this temple as the place for the monks who came back from the ordainment in Sri Lanka to stay. This monk group’s name is “Pa Kaew” that is why this temple was also named Wat Pa Kaew. Then, the impieties of this group have appointed the leader as Somdet Pra Wanrat, and is also the right patriarch with the Pra Puttakosajan as the left patriarch. After that, they changed the name of the temple to “Wat Chaoprayathai” which was assumed that this name came from the reason that King U-Thong built this temple at the cremation place of Chao Kaew Chai Thai or might be the reason that this temple is the dwelling place of the right patriarch which was originally called “Chao Thai”.
This temple also had a bond with King Naraesuan’s reign. In 1592, when King Naraesuan conquered the war with King Uparat of Myanmar at Tambol Nongsarai, Supanburi, he built a big chedi as the signal of the conquest. It was not clear whether it was a new chedi or a restoration of an old one. However, it was named “Chaimongkol Chedi”. The people called it “Chedi Yai”. After that, it was combined together to “Wat Yai Chaimongkol”. However, it was abandoned after the 2nd fall of Ayuttaya. It was then restored again during the Rattanakosin Kingdom.
In the nineteenth century, Phrakru Pawanarangsi brought the ancient temple to life and created a memorable transformation. Apart from its scenery that remains enchanting blended with the ancient beauty and serenity, housing King Naresuan The Great’s monument and holding renowned meditation classes also drew the nation’s attention. Wat Yai Chaimongkol is now one of the most fascinating temple tourist destinations of the country, contributing a lot to the tourism development of Ayutthaya city. The interesting thing inside the temple is the chedi and the viharn which was built during King Naraesuan’s Kingdom. Nowadays, there is the King Naraesuan’s palace which is the attraction of many tourists.