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WAT MAHATHAT - THAILAND
Wat Mahathat was once the home of the Supreme Patriarch, a powerful religious force in Ayutthaya.
The temple (under a different name) was likely constructed by King Borom Rachathirat I around 1374.
Its current name was given during the reign of King Ramesuan ( 1388-1395).
Today, the central tower of the temple is a ruined mass of bricks. It first collapsed
during the reign of King Song Tham ( 1610-1628) and was repaired during the reign of the following ruler,
King Prasat Thong ( 1629-1656). The reconstruction raised the tower to 44 meters and thence
to 50 meters when a 6 meter metal spire was added.
The temple is the center of the Mahanikai school of Buddhism and the class in meditation.
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