The four Buddhas

When Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat (That Bunnag) or Somdet Chao Phraya Ong Noi took a position of Praya Si Pipat Ratana Kosa Dhibodi, the chamberlain of Warehouse Deparment, he established Wat Wat Phitchayayat and proposed it as a royal temple in King Rama III period.

All four Buddha images have the same features which they are seated in the attitude of meditation on lotus lion-footed pedestal; the pattern of the upturned lotus is called Bua Wang (long sword-liked lotus petal motif); there are Pah Tip (the fabric hanging on the front of a Buddha image base) in front; the faces are quite round; the eyebrows are arched; the area between the eyelids line and the eyebrows is the sheets of eyelids; the eyes are quite deep set, slightly open and glancing low; the lips are small; the hair coils are also small; there is the flame halo overhead and the body is slim. These are the features of the Buddha image in King Rama III period.

Inside Phra Phuttha Prang which is the principal Prang of Wat Phitchaya Yatikaram is enshrined four buddha images. Each image has the same features; they are all seated in the attitude of meditation and turn their backs against each other. The principle of bulding these Buddha images is that they are the four Buddhas in Bhadrakalpa (Auspicious aeon) which are Kakusandha, Konagamana, Kassapa, and Shakyamuni. The feature of the Buddhas turning their backs against each other was very popular in Bagan art, Myanmar, which they are placed inside a big Vihara. In Thailand, this type of the Buddhas are found in some places in Mon community in Rattanakosin period such as Wat Phitchaya Yatikaram which is considered as the most perfect evidence.

ศักดิ์ชัย สายสิงห์. พระพุทธรูปในประเทศไทย : รูปแบบ พัฒนาการและความเชื่อของคนไทย. กรุงเทพฯ : ภาควิชาประวัติศาสตร์ศิลปะ คณะโบราณคดี มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร, 2556.

สุริยา รัตนกุล, คุณหญิง.พระอารามหลวงในกรุงเทพมหานคร. นครปฐม : มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล, 2550-2552.