Time always has a profound influence on my thoughts which eventually proliferates through my writings. I feel, when time walks with us, everything blooms and when it leaves us, we see the ruins.
Wat Maha That at Ayutthaya
Today I will take you all to Wat Maha That at Ayutthaya, a beautiful temple city in Thailand – a place which was once an important center of global diplomacy and commerce, but now an archeological ruin which has liberated time.
I feel, when time walks with us, everything blooms and when it leaves us, we see the ruins. Click To TweetTip: Read about Thai customs and Koh Phangan, another beautiful destination in Thailand.
Wat Maha That in Ayutthaya.
The ruin was echoing the time passed by!
Wat Maha That in Ayutthaya.
The famous tree
I stood still when I saw a tree which is famous not in itself, but rather for the Buddha’s head that is firmly lodged in its tangled roots.
Wat Maha That in Ayutthaya.
History
It is told that in 1767 the Burmese attacked and destroyed Ayuthhaya. In the process, they chopped off the heads of all of the Buddha statues. This particular head must have fallen among the prop roots of a Bodhi tree. Over the centuries the roots have grown around the head in such a way that it almost seems intentional. Perhaps the wisdom of an enlightened one is beckoning the perpetual time forever.
Myself in Wat Maha That in Ayutthaya.
Tip: If you have 3 days to explore Bangkok, then here is a perfect itinerary for you.
Travel Realizations
I was lost amidst the ruins. In me, that day, various thoughts and emotions were coupled together in silence.
I felt as if the Time was echoing to me these simple words….
I am so close, I may look distant. So completely mixed with you, I may look separate. So out in the open, I appear hidden. So silent, because I am constantly talking with you.
Me and my mom in Wat Maha That in Ayutthaya.
Ruins everywhere
I realized that in our perpetual journey, a door to new dawn is the truth!
There arose some contradictions as well! I felt the future is but an illusion. With each passing moment, I’m becoming part of the past. There is no future for me, just the past steadily accumulating.
I wanted to ask,
Who am I? What will be my existence after hundreds of years?
I think my place is the Placeless and my trace is the Traceless. (Perhaps for all of us)!
Yet we love to think that we belong to some place, some relations and so on. Perhaps creating a small boundary is our fundamental limitation. But sometimes these limitations help us to live.
Me and my brother in Wat Maha That in Ayutthaya.
We cherish our love, affection, compassion and solace – that’s the beauty of being brother and sister!
Me and my husband, Siddhartha in Wat Maha That in Ayutthaya.
Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two
Buddha
Let me complete the story of visiting this famous ruin by these three lines.
“Dhammang saranang gacchami ” (I go to the Dhamma for refuge)!
“Sanghang saranang gacchami” (I go to the Sangha for refuge)!
“Buddhang saranang gacchami” (I go to the Buddha for refuge)!
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Justin McCarty
Thank you for this enlightening and beautifully articulated piece on “Wat Maha That” in Ayutthaya. I’m truly captivated by the vivid portrayal of the historical incident, which is a stark reminder of our past and the relentless power of time. Your writing so elegantly paints a picture of this sacred location and gives life to its history. I am particularly moved by your interpretation of the Buddha’s head enveloped by the Bodhi tree roots – the idea that enlightenment continues to persist through the ravages of time is profound. Your insights have significantly added to my understanding and appreciation of Ayutthaya’s historical richness and resilience. Truly, this article is as timeless as the wisdom it illuminates.
Justin
Chirasree Banerjee
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and generous response. I’m deeply touched that my piece resonated with you on such a profound level. Indeed, the resilience and wisdom embodied in Wat Maha is a symbol of the enduring spirit of Ayutthaya and its people. I aim to bring the often silent whispers of history to a louder resonance through my writing, and your appreciation validates this endeavor. I am truly grateful for your keen interest and understanding, and I hope my future articles continue to inspire and intrigue you. Once again, thank you for your heartfelt comment.
Optimistic Existentialist
This is such an amazing-looking place indeed!!
Travel Realizations
Hi Keith,
This is a place where one can easily spend hours.
Amazing indeed .
Beate
That is a beautiful place! And I do believe that the buddha's head in the tree is no coincidence. So amazing!
Travel Realizations
Yes Beate, it is all about ruins yet so exciting and beautiful!
Plowing Through Life (Martha)
What a fantastic post, and what an amazing place. Your images are spectacular. I really enjoyed touring this area through your photos. "With each passing moment I'm becoming part of the past." This is going to be the most profound thing I read this week. Very thought-provoking.
Travel Realizations
Thank you so much Martha! When I was visiting the ruins, I really felt that with each passing moment, we are becoming part of the past! Perhaps present/future is our solace and past the concrete truth!
Susan Flett Swiderski
What a wondrous place to visit. Places like this, stark reminders of the past, seemingly frozen in time, have a way of making us more aware of our own place in the universe. Very humbling and uplifting, at the same time. Your photos… and words… are beautiful. I especially like the image of the Buddha head in the tree roots. It's one of those pictures that seems to be steeping in meaning.
Travel Realizations
The fulfillment of a writer is achieved when a reader's expression after reading, surpasses even the writer's! I am completely in love with your words.