Saturday, April 23, 2011

Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok, Thailand




Emerald Temple in Bangkok is one of the most beautiful Buddha temple I have been to. Its unparalleled beauty of impressive thai architecture with golden accents that adorn the pointed rooflines throughout is beyond description. Each Pagoda represent changing architectural influences throughout Thai history. Statues of elephants can also be found throughout the temple. Elephants represent strength and power, hence the presence of them. A statue of the medicine man can be found near the entrance of the temple and people pay homage through offerings. A model of Angkot War, an iconic symbol of Cambodia can also been seen inside the temple. Thailand has its influence from various cultures, including Indian. For instance, the Bangkok airport is called as Swarnabhumi (Land of Gold).
Indian influence was also evident in the Emerald temple, with vibrant and colorful murals of Ramakien painted on the inside walls. Ramakien is simply an adaptation from epic Indian Ramayana, in Thai style. The emerald buddha itself can be traced back to India and traveled to Srilanka, Cambodia and finally to Thailand.

The jade statue is about 2 feet tall sitting on top of a tall altar, and no one is allowed near the statue, except the king of Thailand, who is the only one allowed to due rituals, most importantly the costume change. The costume for the buddha is changed 3 times a year, to match the 3 seasons of Thailand.

The emerald temple is one of the top buddhist temples in the world to visit. The other temples to visit while you are in Bangkok are the reclining buddha temple and the temple of dawn.




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