History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins

WAT KHRUT (วัดครุฑ)

Wat Khrut or the Monastery of the Garuda was situated off the city island in the
northern area of Ayutthaya in Tha Wasukri sub-district. The temple was located north of
Wat Choeng Tha and the Dock of the Royal B arges in a locality called Thung Khwan.

Thung Khwan (ควัน) or "Field of fumes" is an area north of the city of Ayutthaya
bordered on the north by Thung Lum Phli, on the east by Khlong Sra Bua and Thung
Kaeo, in the south by the old Lopburi River and in the west by Thung Phukhao Thong.

In situ is a brick mound covered with vegetation.

Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.

The temple was named after the sacred animal and mount of Vishnu; the Garuda. (1)

As most of the ancient temples in and around Ayutthaya, the site has been victim of
treasure farming in earlier years.

The monastery is only indicated on a 1993 Fine Arts Department (FAD) maps.
The ruins of temple are situated in Geo Coord: +14° 21' 51.22" N, +100° 33' 15.26" E.

There is also an active temple called Wat Khrutharam in Khlong Sra Bua sub-district in a
locality called Thung Kaeo.

Footnotes:

(1) Suparna and Garuda (Th: Suban and Khrut) are Sanskrit terms, denoting a race or
races of enormous, monstrous birds, whose chief occupation seems to be watching for
and pouncing on the weaker Naga serpents. The Garudas can only conquer the weaker
members of the family (218) as their power is not equal to that of the superior Nagas.
(192) The bird Garuda is the bearer of Vishnu, who is commonly represented in pictures
as being borne along by that bird. (212) Phya Khrut is the great enemy of the Nagas, but
not otherwise evil-disposed. (258) [1]

References:

[1] The Wheel of The Law - Henry Alabaster (1871) - Trubner & Co, London.