PHRA PATHOM CHEDI

In BudBuddhism took root in Siam long before the present day Siamese migrated into the country, as is evidenced by the many ancient Buddhist stupas in different parts. Of the latter we may reckon Phra Pathom Chedi to be the oldest. In actual fact, the well-known Chedi that we see nowadays is not the original one, which is inside having been built over by the newer structure. The stupendous bulk of the new conceals the ancient edifice.
I will try to relate in brief the history of Phra Pathom Chedi, from what I have been able to gather in my researches on the subject. The history of this great sanctuary may be divided into four periods:
The period of Suvarnabhumi (approx.193 B.C. 457 A.D.) when the sanctuary was first erected.
The period of Dvaravati (approx. 457-1057 A.D.) when the sanctuary was enlarged.
The period of decay (1057-1853 A.D.)
The period of restoration (from 1853 A.D. to the persent time).
Most of the earliest part of this history is, however, based on conjecture. So I have to pologize if my theories are incorrect.

In order to realise when and by whom Phra Pathom Chedi was built, we must go back to the first diffusion of Buddhism from India. When Buddha died, his creed had already spread all over the central India. But it was King Asoka who spread Buddhism beyond the confines of India. He sent missionaries to many lands. There is a passage in Mahavamsa (History of Ceylon) difining various countries to which Asoka had sent his mission, of which this is an extract: Sona Dhera and Uttara Dhera went to Suvarnaphumi. “

Professor Rhys Davis and others have agreed that this land of Suvamabhumi was a dingdom stretching from the land of the Mons (Southern Burma) to Annam, and from Burma to the Malay Peninsula; but where its Capital was still provided scholars with a subject of contention. The majority, however, state that the site of Nakorn Pathom ought to be the Capital of this cncient kingdom, and the town was probably called Suvarnabhumi at that time. They also point out that Nakorn Pathom was then nearer the sea than it is now, thus rendering communications easy. Many relics have also been found there, especially those made after the style of Asoka which are rarely found in such number in other places, such as various stupas (including Phra Pathom Chedi), stone wheels of law, tablets bearing the Buddhist credo, carved altars (asana) and Buddha’s footprints, all of which preceded the making of the first Buddha Images in 143 B.C.