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Chapel and Phra Buddha Sihing
The Buddhaisawan Chapel was built in 1795 at the start of the Rattanakosin era, and today stands in the grounds of the National Museum, Bangkok. The building and grounds were originally part of the Front Palace of the uparāja, or deputy King of Siam. The central image is Phra Buddha Sihing, one of the most sacred Buddha images in the country.
Ceiling, Walls and Doors
Life of the Buddha Murals
The paintings which depict the life of Buddha are divided into thirty two scenes between the doors and windows. The story starts to the right of the central door on the wall behind the altar with the marriage of the Bodhisattva's parents, Prince Suddhodana and Princess Māyā, and ends to the left of the same door with the scene of the funeral and the dividing up of the relics. The pictures rotate around the building clockwise, following the pradakṣina path round the central image. On the upper portions of the walls there are murals of devas; and the ceiling is highly decorated.
Statue and Pavillions
Around the Temple there are many buildings, and a number of pavillions which are of interest. At the front of the temple stands the statue of Phra Narai (Viṣṇu), which was cast by Alfonso Tornarelli, an Italian sculptor, at the behest of King Rāma V (Chulalonghorn).
Photographs by Anandajoti Bhikkhu
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