Wat Mahathat (Chai Nat)
| Native Name | วัดมหาธาตุ, វត្តមហាថាតឆៃណាត |
|---|---|
| Alternative name | Wat Mahathat Chainat |
| BA# | T17003 |
| Type | Wat |
| Location | |
| Part of | Muang Sankhaburi |
| Commune | Phraek Sri Racha |
| District | Sankhaburi |
| Province | Chai Nat |
| Country | Thailand |
| Coordinates | 15.05015, 100.16111 |
Wat Mahathat Chai Nat (วัดมหาธาตุ - Pronounced: Wot Maha-tat Chai Nat)
Extensive brick ruins imply that Wat Mahathat - today an active Buddhist monastery located in the centre of Sankhaburi Town - was one of the key sites of ancient Muang Sankhaburi. The standing structures seen today are considered to date from the early Sukhothai period with later Ayuthaya additions although excavations have revealed that many were constructed atop earlier sites and several still display traces of underlying laterite foundations. The wat's current abbot points out that the site was formerly even larger and extended across the modern-day road to include Wat Chan to the west.
A large number of artefacts are housed at various points around the sprawling wat complex and include Khmer, Dvaravati and Sukhothai-period objects. The former include several pedestals some of which are carved in sandstone, others laterite and include both 'regular' statue plinths and linga pedestals with yonis and soma sutras. (There is one well-preserved triple linga pedestal in sandstone with soma sutra.) While many artefacts were unearthed on site we would assume that Wat Mahathat also serves as a depository for artefacts discovered at the numerous other sites in the vicinity.
A now headless Khmer-style seated sandstone Buddha image is also on display while pride of place is given to a pair of beautifully-preserved, sandstone lintels. The large reliefs depict a variation of the birth of Brahma with Vishnu reclining on a makara and Brahma emerging from a lotus, in turn emerging from Vishnu's navel while a naga looks on. The scene is framed by a pair of hamsas (sacred geese) while monkeys holding babies sit in the foliage and garudas appear in the upper corners. The style is rather unusual but appears to correspond to a Baphuon style.
Curiously, the slightly smaller of the 2 is an almost exact copy of the larger one although it does display some erroneous details which we feel brings its authenticity into doubt. (Note the unusual Kala faces.) The larger of the two certainly appears authentic and it is only the pristine condition that creates suspicion. The abbot states that the lintels have been housed in one part of the compound or another for at least 100 years and were unearthed within the wat grounds. (He also pointed out that various visiting Thai archaeologists failed to concur on the authenticity of the lintels.) In our opinion, the smaller appears to be a later copy, although quite why someone would go to such trouble is inexplicable. (Another possibility is that sections were possibly re-carved?)
An additional fragment of sandstone relief does provide some positive evidence although the object - which seems to be a broken section of lintel - is eroded, partially hidden behind a large Buddha image and so very difficult to discern. (The abbot states that it features a depiction of Vishnu.)
A hall, functioning as a small museum, also houses a number of Buddha images although this was locked when we visited and a written request in advance, to the town hall, is required to visit.
Additional laterite blocks are visible in various parts of the compound and overall there is evidence of a Khmer presence at the site, as well as Muang Sankhaburi itself, over a significant time range.
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