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Bot (above left) - this is the ordination
hall for new monks and is officially called ubosot. The building
faces east and usually houses the main Buddha image. The bot
above is in Wat Chai Mongkon. The hornlike finial on the roof
ridge is called the chofa, representing the head of the garuda.
Sima (above right) - these are sacred boundary
stones which are used to mark the consecrated ground around
a bot. You can see one in the picture of the bot at Wat Pichai
Songkram.
Wihan or
vihan (above left and right) - This building is usually
very similar in style to the bot though with one important exception:
it doesn't have any of the sacred sima stones and is therefore
not used for ordinations. I have included the two photographs
above even though they are not typical wihans. On the left,
at Wat Ratbamrung, the wihan has two very large chedi on top.
On the right, at Wat Prodkatechethram, the wihan has no chofa
on the roof ridges which is so typical of Thai temples.
Chedi
(above left and right) - this is a solid, bell-shaped structure
usually containg a relic of the Buddha or an important person.
Phra Samut Chedi, above left, contains relics of the Buddha.
Smaller versions of a chedi at Wat Ratbamrung, above right,
contains the ashes of local people.
Mondop
(above left and right) - this is a square based structure usually
topped with a spire. The building often contains an object of
worship or some sacred texts. The mondop at Wat Prodkatechethram,
above left, is larger than most, and contains a mother-of-pearl
inlaid replica of Buddha's footprint. Mondop at Wat Phichai
Songkram (above right).
Sala kanparien
(above left) - usually a small meeting hall, though the above
sala kanparien at Wat Asokaram is rather grander than most.
Crematorium (above right). Ho rakang
(above right) - to the far left of this pictures is the bell
tower at Wat Song Tham Worawihan which is used to summon the
monks to prayer.
Kuti
(above left) - these are the sleeping quarters for the monks.
Bodhi tree (above right) - A bo tree is often
found in the wat grounds as it was under such a tree that Lord
Siddartha found enlightenment and became the Buddha.
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