Phra Mahajanaka Buddha

Prince Maha Sura Singhanat, The Viceroy of Siam has ordered the renovation of the Wat Sampeng which is the ancient temple since Ayutthaya period to dedicate the merit in commemorated to his father. After the renovation has completed, King Phutthayotfa Chulalok has given the new name of the temple as ‘Wat Pathum Kong Ka’. Later in the reign of King Mongkut, the King has ordered HH Prince Krom Khun Ratchasri Wikrom to oversee another renovation and rearranged the Principle Buddha to be Buddha with the attributes of Royalty as well as lifted the plaster base to be higher and decorated with 4 angels.

The Buddha Image is placed on top of the plaster base in the Subduing Mara gesture. The body is covered by the the flowered yellow robe with other decorations such as the multi-tiered conical diadem crown similar to Phra Maha Phichai Mongkut featuring 3-tier of diadem, each tier is decorated with moving flowers, the ear gears, necklace, rings, armlaces, pahurats, and sandals. The face is in the calm emotion, eyes down, curvy eyebrows, little smile at the mouth. Overall, the statue reflected the art traits of Rattanakosin arts.

Wat Pathum Kongka is the temple that Prince Maha Sura Singhanat, The Viceroy of Siam has ordered the renovation of the Wat Sampeng which is the ancient temple since Ayutthaya period to dedicate the merit in commemorated to his father during the reign of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok, The First King of Rattanakosin Kingdom.Later in the reign of King Mongkut, the King has ordered HH Prince Krom Khun Ratchasri Wikrom to oversee another renovation and rearranged the Principle Buddha to be Buddha with the attributes of Royalty with the body covered in the the flowered yellow robe with other decorations such as the multi-tiered conical diadem crown similar to Phra Maha Phichai Mongkut featuring 3-tier of diadem, each tier is decorated with moving flowers, the eargears, necklace, rings, armlaces, pahurats, and sandals. The King named the Buddha Image, ‘Phra Buddha Mahajanaka’. The tradition of building the Buddha Images with the attributes of Royalty existed since the reign of King Nangklao such as The Principle Buddha of Wat Nang Nong which believed to be the depiction of the story of Lord Buddha’s life when he tortured Phya Maha Chomphu which is agreeable with the story of the wall paintings. However, the case of Wat Pathum Kongka is believed to be the adjusting from the original style of Buddha image by King Mongkut to make it correlates with the purpose of Prince Prince Maha Sura Singhanat that wanted to dedicate the temple to honor his late father. This purpose could be seen through the name of the Buddha as well.

สุริยา รัตนกุล และคณะ.พระอารามหลวงในกรุงเทพมหานคร เล่ม 1. นครปฐม : มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล, 2550-2552.