Wat Lokaya Sutha in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Ayutthaya ruins: Wat Lokaya Sutharam

 

Phra Buddha Sai Yat, The Reclining Buddha

[Thai: พระพุทธรูปปางไสยาสน์]

road in front of Wat Lokaya Sutharam

Souvenior shop in front of Wat Lokaya Sutharam

The Giant Sleeping Buddha

5 - 8 meters Height, 37 - 42 meters length

place to pray to Phra Buddha Sai Yat

Soles of Phra Buddha Sai Yat

Behind the Reclining Buddha

Khmer-style main prang [or pagoda] in Wat Lokaya Sutha

Things we should not do;

Do NOT climb up monuments such as Stupa and Pedestal

Do NOT place your face on the headless Buddha statue and take a picture.

Ruins of the Buddist temple built during the Ayuttaya dynasty

There were small reclining Buddha and giant reclining Buddha.

Episode of Wat Lokaya Sutha

Tomo&Chouchou joined Japanese group tour organized by HIS from Japan. We visited Ayutthaya on the second day of the tour. We went there by car. Wat Lokaya Sutha was located in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly Wat Lokayas Sutha appeared. The car was parked in front of the Wat Lokaya Sutha. There was a souvenior shop there. We accrossed the road and walked ahead toward the ruins of Wat Lokaya Sutha. There was no gate. Suddenly the giant sleeping Buddha was in front of us. We were very suprised to see it. It was simply big and it was sleeping in the open air. We were also suprised at dogs around because they were also reclining like the reclining Buddha. :-) 

The Giant Sleeping Buddha is called Phra Buddha Sai Yat. It is also called the Reclining Buddha. It is 5 or 8 meters in height and 37 or 42 meters in length (height and length are different according to the articles). For us, it was simple giant. It was even difficult to take a picture of whole body of the Buddha. Buddha looked smiling. It looked peaceful sleeping. Also Buddha was beautiful. We were fascinated by the reclining Buddha for a while. Then, we decided to approach the reclining Buddha. The soles of Phra Buddha Sai Yat were giant too. We also saw the back of Phra Buddha Sai Yat. 

Behind the reclining Buddha, we found main prang (or main pagoda) in the remains of the ordination hall; Ubosot. We were very sad to see the ruins because many things were destroyed. However we were glad that prang (or pagoda) and chedi or stupa remained. We walked in the ruins for a while. We could feel old Ayutthaya. 

We prayed to Phra Buddha Sai Yat. We appreciated to be able to come to Wat Lokaya Sutha.

Tomo&Chouchou's advice for Wat Lokaya Sutha

Wat Lokaya Sutha is the location filled with mystical energy. It is the we-must-visit place!

There is the small reclining Buddha in front of the giant reclining Buddha. It is said that if we put the gold leaf on the same part of the small reclining Buddha where the bad part of your body and pray, that part will be cured. We can buy the gold leaf nearby near the Wat Lokaya Sutha. We can also buy the flowers, candles and incence sticks.

Information

Wat Lokaya Sutha "The temple of the Earth"

"Wat Lokayasutharam" or "Wat Lokaya Suttha"

[Thai: วัดโลกยสุธาราม]

Wat Lokaya Sutha is ruins of the Buddist temple built during the Ayuttaya dynasty. It was destroyed by the invasion of the Burmese army.

Location:  Pratuchai Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

Open: 8:30 - 16:30 or 8:00 - 17:00

Entrance fee is free.

Relating article

- Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya

- another Reclining Buddha in Bangkok -> Wat Pho