| The
Origins of the Wat Arun |
During the
golden era of Ayutthaya, then the flourishing capital of
the country, sea-faring vessels flying the flag of various nations
sailing up and down the "river of Kings" would make a stop at
this junction of the Chao Phraya River known as Thonburi
to obtain supplies and provisions which were in abundant supply
in this vicinity. The sailors would stop in front of the old temple
formerly known as Wat Makok (wad ma-gorg)
or Wat Makok Nok (wad ma-gorg-norg).
It is said
that the royal fleet of King Taksin (reading pra-jao
targ-sin), the founder
of the former capital of Thonburi, arrived at Wat Makok Nok precisely
at dawn which he deemed auspicious. He stopped his vessel and
disembarked to pay homage to the Holy Relic inside the pagoda.
Thus the temple was subsequently referred to as Wat Chaeng
(wad jaeng) the
temple of dawn.
When King Taksin established
Thonburi as the capital of the new kingdom, Wat Chaeng was designated
a royal temple within the grand palace and became the seat of
the statue of the Emerald Buddha. Later King Rama II restored
the temple to its former glory and changed its name to Wat
Arun Rachatharam. With a keen eye for art and architecture,
the next king, King Rama III, the restoration of the temple
structure was completed with the adornment of small pieces of
fine china glinting in the sun. The name of the temple was changed
once again to Wat Arun Ratchavararam (wad
a-run rad-cha-wa-ra-rarm).
Source
: The Tourism Authority of Thailand
