|
Wats for dummies
A Thai temple is known a wat. Usually a temple does not consist of one building, but is a collection of buildings, shrines and monuments enclosed by a wall. There are thousands of temples in Thailand, and nearly every town or village has at least one. The word "wat" (วัด) literally means school, and the temple has been the only place where formal education took place for centuries. A typical Buddhist wat consists of the following structures:
- Bot — The holiest prayer room, usually only open to the monks. It is architecturally similar to the viharn, but is usually more heavily decorated and it has eight cornerstones to ward off evil. It is also known as the "ordinaton hall" as it is where the monks take their vows.
- Viharn — Usually the busiest room in a wat, it is where the temple's main Buddha image is and where people come to make offerings. It is open for everyone.
- Chedi or stupa — A tall bell-shaped structure that generally houses relics of the Buddha.
- Prang — A finger-like spire of Khmer and Ayutthayan origin that serves the same religious purpose as a chedi.
- Mondop — An open, square building with four arches and a pyramidal roof. It is often used to worship religious texts or objects.
- Sala — An open-sided pavilion that is used for relaxation and as a meeting place (and often used as a shelter for rain).
- Chofah — Bird-like decorations on the end of temple roofs. They are meant to represent the Garuda, a mythical creature that is half bird and half man.
|
