Wat Chayamangkalaram


Wat Chayamangkalaram is a Thai temple in Pulau Tikus suburb of George Town, Penang, Malaysia. Situated in Kelawei Road, the temple located close to the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple. It is the oldest Malaysian Siamese temple in the state. The temple became a focal point for the annual Siamese Songkran and Loi Krathong festivals within the city suburb and for the city yearly Buddha Day procession.

History

The site for the temple was cleared in 1795 after a piece of land was granted to both Burmese and Siamese community in George Town by Queen Victoria during the Straits Settlements era. In 1830, there is around 648 Burmese and Siamese out of the 40,000 population. Part of the land awarded to the Siamese is given as a diplomatic gesture to promote trading ties between the British Empire and the Siamese Rattanakosin Kingdom, which was presented by the then Governor of the Straits Settlements, William John Butterworth to two Siamese female trustees named Nankayo and Boonsoon as the community representative. Inscriptions also showed that the building of the temple had been largely due to the philanthropic efforts of local Chinese Buddhists.
In 1845, the temple was founded in the given land by Phra Phorthan Kuad, a powerful monk which according to the local legend was also very fond of asam laksa. This subsequently making the dish become a norm offerings by devotees when visiting his shrine in the temple. In 1948, the temple officially named as "Wat Chayamangkalaram". Since its establishment, the temple has undergoing several renovations with the addition of other structures. A reclining Buddha statue named Phra Chaiya Mongkol are being constructed in the temple in 1958 with a total cost of M$100,000. In 1962, the temple are visited by the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit as part of their state visit to Malaya.

Features

The temple features one of the world's longest reclining Buddha statue as well as several coloured statues of Yaksha and other mythical creatures. Measuring from to from end to end, the statue also serves as a columbarium, in which the urns of the cremated are housed. Several smaller statues of the Buddha in various poses, as well as the Devas can be seen throughout the temple, particularly adorning the main prayer hall.

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