Reclining Buddha

King Rama III commissioned to build the image as a copy of stone inscriptions concerning the restoration of Wat Phrachetuphon in 1831 mentions that “...and in the extended area behind the garden, the King ordered to build a Reclining Buddha of 46 m. length and construct a large vihāra with a dark blue glazed tiled roof for housing the Buddha...”. Also, in a copy of the King’s royal initiation of building a Reclining Buddha at Wat Phrachetuphon in the same year, it is said that, “...(the King) thought that there have not been any large Buddha Images in the City, so he commissioned Phaya Siphiphatrattanaratchakosa and Phaya Phetphichai to supervise the construction of the vihāra and the large Reclining Buddha in the temple as his offerings to deities and world fellows. He also ordered to keep lacquered and guilded Śarīra or the Buddha’s relics in the Uṣṇīṣa or cranial protuberance of the Reclining Buddha and decorate both feet of the Buddha with pearl-inlaid chakra and 108 auspicious illustration motifs...”

Masonry, lacquer and gilding

The Buddha lies on his right side or Sihasaiyat. His right hand supports his head supported by a square pillow ornamented with Chinese floral motifs. The Image shows Rattanakosin artistic characteristics, that is, a calm face, eyes looking down towards the floor, arched eyebrows, thin lips, long ears, small ringlet hair curls, an Uṣṇīṣa, and a flame-shaped aureole. Also, the Buddha wears a thin, plain monastic robe along his left arm while exposing his right shoulder. The Sanghati or uppergarment covers his left shoulder along to his navel, and the hem of the uppergarment falls in undulating folds. The ankle-length Antaravasaka lower garment has a front pleat-fold, and the strap of the belt is shown.

Both feet of the Buddha is decorated with pearl-inlaid chakra and 108 auspicious illustration motifs. The 180 auspicious illustrations can be categorized as follows:

1. Symbols of fortune and abundance, i.e. Purna-ghata or water pots, twin fish, Swastika, gem garlands, and lotus.

2. Regalia of kings and Cakravartin; for instance, 7 Ratnas, royal regalia, thrones, royal vehicles, etc.

King Rama III had a royal thought about lack of large Buddha Images in Bangkok for the Buddhists to venerate. Thus,the King commissioned to build a Reclining Buddha during the complete restoration of Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhararam or Wat Pho in 1832 and to build a Vihāra for housing the Buddha afterwards. Śarīra or the Buddha’s relics was kept in the Uṣṇīṣa or cranial protuberance of the Reclining Buddha. The King also ordered to decorate both feet of the Buddha with pearl-inlaid 108 auspicious illustration motifs which is considered as one of the greatest fine art objects of early Rattanakosin period. TheReclining Buddha of Wat Pho was the largest Buddha Image at that time. Some proposed an explanation that this Reclining Buddha is a Buddha Image in the attitude of preaching Asurin Rahu which was when Buddha transformed himself into a gigantic man in order to preach Asurin Rahu, a huge devil who ruled the Asura realm. However, the presumption cannot be proved due to lack of evidence, that is, other relevant art objects found nearby and the mural painting there does not depict the story. Also, King Rama III only requested the building of the Reclining Buddha in Bangkok for Thai people to venerate and did not identify the episode of Buddha’s life story which the Buddha Image was in. Therefore, the image should be considered as a Reclining Buddha, namely the Buddha is depicted as lying on his right side or Sihasaiyat.

Length 46 m.; height 15 m.; the face’s height from the hairline to the chin 5 m.; the face’s width 2.5 m., the feet’s length 5 m.; the feet’s width 3 m.

Other large Reclining Buddha Images such as the Reclining Buddha at Wat Khuninthapramun, Angthong Province and the Reclining Buddha at Wat Phranonchaksi, Singburi Province

พระราชเวที (สุรพล ชิตญาโณ),บรรณาธิการ. วิหารพระนอนวัดโพธิ์. กรุงเทพฯ : วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลาราม, 2549.

ศานติ ภักดีคำ, รุ่งโรจน์ ธรรมรุ่งเรือง และ พอพล สุกใส. พระพุทธปฏิมาวัดโพธิ์. กรุงเทพฯ : อมรินทร์พริ้นติ้งแอนด์พับลิชชิ่ง, 2555.