History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins

WAT KHOK SAENG (วัดโคกแสง)

Wat Khok Saeng or the Monastery of the Knoll of the Light is a defunct temple
formerly located on Ayutthaya's city island outside the Historical Park in present Pratu
Chai Sub-district.

Following a map of the 19th century the monastery was situated along the east bank of
Khlong Pratu Jin, a presently defunct canal. Wat Khok Suea (defunct) stood to its north
and Wat Khun Khon Jai, presently called Wat Khun Mu e ang Jai to its south. Wat Pa
Takua (defunct) was on its east.

Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown. The 19th century
map indicates the existence of a chedi. The temple is not mentioned on Phraya Boran
Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.

Making an assessment of all the monastic structures, in the zone demarcated by Chikun
Road, Pa Thon Road, Pridi Banomyong Road and U-Thong Road is rather difficult, as
the position and name of the structures vary on different maps. On a 19th century map,
there are 15 structures counted, while on the 20th century PBR map there are 13
mentioned. There is inconsistency in the names and the positions. Even maps drafted by
the Fine Arts Department, what I presume, based on excavations in the zone, shed no
light on this matter. Positions of monastic structures can be asserted, but their ancient
names will remain questioned forever.

The monastery is mentioned in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya during the reign of
King Borommakot (reign 1733-1758). Prince Suren Phithak became ill and ordained at
Wat Khok Saeng. Sena Phithak the son of the elder consort of the king and two of his
children laid an ambush for Suren, for a unknown reason. Suren escaped Sena Phithak's
attack and reported afterwards to the king. The elder consort, realizing her son was in
danger, smuggled Sena out of the palace in her palanquin and took him to Wat Khok
Saeng, where he was ordained. King Borommakot searching for Sena and unable to find
him, ordered the execution of the latter's two children. [1]

"When it was the seventh month of the year of the hare, seventh of the decade, the
Holy Lord Omnipotent became ill with a holy disease. His Majesty the Department
of the Fourth Rank Suren Phithak came in to stay at the Monastery of the Knoll of
Light and regularly came in to [C: pay visits to] [D: visit with] the Holy Lord
Omnipotent. One day, in the evening, the Holy Lord Child and Department of the
Fourth Rank Sena Phithak sent His Holiness Chün and His Holiness Thet, His sons,
out to [C: invite] [D: extend an invitation to] His Majesty the Department of the
Fourth Rank Suren Phithak [C: at the monastery], by saying, “A holy royal
proclamation has been issued to have Your Majesty invited to go [to the King].”
His Majesty the Department of the Fourth Rank Suren Phithak, assuming that it
was true, came and ascended in front of the Holy Victory and, advancing, reached
[D: the center of] the doorway where the Department of the Fourth Rank Sena
Phithak was hiding behind the doorway. He slashed at Him with His holy sword
weapon and tore His waist cloth and cold weather robe, but failed to cut into Him.
The Department of the Fourth Rank Sena Phithak ran on in to [C: a place in] the
interior. CD: His Majesty the Department of the Fourth Rank Suren Phithak
entered the place where the Holy Lord Omnipotent was [lying] ill. Looking with
His holy eyes and seeing Him, the King asked, “How come the cloth of Your cold
weather robe and of Your waist cloth is torn?” The Department of the Fourth Rank
Suren Phithak bestowed His holy blessing and said, “The Department of the
Fourth Rank Sena Phithak was playing a joke.” When the Department of the
Fourth Rank Suren Phithak bestowed His holy blessing [C: and] [D: ,] took His
leave [D: and came forth], Her Majesty the Department of the Third Rank
Aphainuchit, the Holy Mother of the Department of the Fourth Rank Sena Phithak,
followed after Him and pleaded with Him, saying, “If father doesn’t help, it
appears His younger sibling will die.” The Department of the Fourth Rank Suren
Phithak [C: asserted] [D: said], “Only the Lumnitzera dyed cloth, which is the
victory banner of the Holy Arahats, will accordingly be able to help Him.” The
Department of the Third Rank Aphainuchit having regained Her [C: holy] senses,
Her Majesty thereupon went in to ride Her holy canopied palanquin, hid the
Department of the Fourth Rank Sena Phithak [inside], took Him out by way of the
Gate of the Covered Passageway and had Him take His [C: holy] vows [as a
monk] at the Monastery of the Knoll of Light and stay with [C: the] [D: that]
Department of the Fourth Rank Suren Phithak. The Holy Lord Omnipotent had [C:
people search for] His person [D: searched for] but [C: they did not find Him] [D:
He was not found]. Finding only His Holiness Thet and His Holiness Chün, [the
King] accordingly had Them [C: sprinkled] [D: executed] with sections of
sandalwood."

Wat Khok Saeng was likely located in the vicinity of geographical coordinates: 14° 21'
6.33" N, 100° 34' 12.57" E.

References:

[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 428-430 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend Phonnarat & Royal Autograph -
Illness of the Prince-Monk, 1735.

Text & map by Tricky Vandenberg - November 2010
Updated October 2014

(Detail of a 19th century map - map is orientated S-N.)