Statue of Chinese warrior at Wat Arun - Temple of Dawn cover photo - 115558994

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Wat Arun & x22;Temple of Dawn& x22; is a Buddhist temple & x28;wat& x29; in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. The main feature of Wat Arun is its central prang & x28;Khmer-style tower& x29; which is encrusted with colourful porcelain. This is interpreted as a stupa-like pagoda encrusted with coloured faience. The prang & x28;spires& x29; are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain. Over the second terrace are four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan. The central prang symbolises Mount Meru of the Hindu cosmology. The satellite prangare devoted to the wind god, Phra Phai. The demons & x28;yaksha& x29; at the entranceway to the ubosot are from the Ramakien. The white figure is named Sahassa Deja and the green one is known as Thotsakan, the Demon RÄvana from Ramayana. The central prang is topped with a seven-pronged trident, referred to by many sources as the & x22;Trident of Shiva& x22;. In the Buddhist iconography, the central prang is considered to have three symbolic levelsâ€”base for Traiphum indicating all realms of existence, middle for Tavatimsa where all desires are gratified and top denoting Devaphum indicating six heavens within seven realms of happiness.

arun aruna bangkok buddhist chao chinese colourful cosmology dawn decorated deja demon demons denoting derives devaphum devoted encrusted entranceway erawan faience four god gratified green happiness heavens hindu iconography indra khmer maharajpier meru mount pagoda personified phai phra phraya porcelain prang prangare pronged radiations ramakien ramayana riding rising river ravana sahassa satellite seashells second seven shiva six spires statue statues stupa sun tavatimsa temple terrace thailand thonburi thotsakan topped tower traiphum travelasia travelphotography trident ubosot warrior wat wind yai yaksha