Anyone who looks at the glossy photos of Thailand will have come across him. The statue is now world famous and you can see it in real life in Ayutthaya at the Wat Phra Mahathat.
The Wat Phra Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relic) is one of the oldest temples in Ayutthaya (late 14th century). The temple was the center of religious ceremonies and a tribute to King Ramesuan, who lived from 1388 – 1395. The temple was also his residence. The temple is known for its huge 'prang' of laterite, which was originally 46 meters high. The 'prang' later collapsed, but its foundations are still surrounded by some restored 'chedi'.
Special is the stone head of Buddha that has been overgrown by the roots of an old strangler fig (Banyan). Thais revere this place which they consider sacred. It is now also a hotspot for photographers.
Background
The Wat Phra Mahathat, also known as the Temple of the Great Relic, is one of the most important historical sites in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this ancient city was once one of the most prosperous cities in the world and the center of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which existed from the 14th to the 18th century.
Wat Phra Mahathat was probably built around 1374, although the exact date is not known. The temple is home to a large amount of artwork and structures that testify to the grandeur of the Ayutthaya period, including the ruins of pagodas, Buddha statues, and ceremonial chambers.
Buddha statue in the tree
One of the most iconic sights at Wat Phra Mahathat is a remarkable Buddha head that has become entangled in the roots of a tree. The statue is believed to have been placed there during the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767, when many of the original structures and statues were destroyed. The head was supposedly left on the ground, and in time a nearby tree began to grow and entwine its roots around the stone statue.
This Buddha head in the tree has now reached a kind of sacred status. Visitors are encouraged to be respectful when photographing the statue, and it is customary to kneel so that your head does not rise above the Buddha's.
The mysterious sight of the Buddha's head, embraced by the roots of an ancient tree, is not only a popular tourist attraction, but also a powerful symbol of resilience and the interweaving of nature and culture. It evokes the cycles of construction and destruction, the passage of time, and the constant presence of the sacred in the midst of change and oblivion.