Phra Phiri Mongkol Hall

 

It is a Buddha image of the university. Lap size is 45 inches, made of Nawaloha material. 
 Designed by Professor Bamrungsak Kongsuk, Honorary Graduate Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts

The design concept is that the university is an educational institution, so it focuses on mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. The top of the head is a lotus bud, which is like wisdom. The university is located in Pathum Thani province. The Buddha image sits in the diamond meditation posture, inspired by the Chiang Saen era and the Gupta style of Indian art. The body and robes are inspired by the Gupta style of Indian art, sitting on a lotus pedestal. The university has placed the royal seal (Ministry of Public Health) of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the sacred cloth of the Buddha image to serve as a religious site and a spiritual anchor for administrators, lecturers, staff, and students, and to bring great auspiciousness to the university.

The Buddha image has a lap width of 45 inches because 4+5=9, an auspicious number. The Buddha image was created during the reign of King Rama IX and represents the progress of the university in mindfulness, concentration, wisdom, beauty, goodness, and truth. The beauty of Buddhist art, the goodness of Buddhism, and the truth in applying it to daily life and remembering the Lord Buddha.

Phra Phiri Mongkol Hall

On July 14, 2013, at Lan Anan Rangsan, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani Province, there was a ceremony to pour gold to cast a Buddha statue for the university. We received great kindness from Somdej Phra Wannarat, Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, as the chairman of the monks. There were 8 respected monks who were believed in by Buddhists who kindly came to pray and bless the statue, including Phra Sunthon Thammanuwat (Luang Pho Iad), Wat Pai Lom, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; Phra Khru Prachotithamwichit (Luang Pho Pluem), Wat Pom Kaew, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; Phra Khru Sombun Jariyam (Luang Pho Maen), Wat Na Tang Nok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; Phra Khru Sophon Thirakun (Luang Pho Sunthon), Wat Nong Sadao, Saraburi Province; Phra Khru Wichaikitcharak (Luang Pho Udom), Wat Phichai Songkhram, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; Phra Khru Siribun Khet (Luang Pho Mi), Wat Muang Khan, Ang Thong Province; and Phra Khru Suwan Silathikhun (Luang Pho Pun), Wat Ban Paen, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Phra Khru Adun Wiriyakit (Luang Pho Uen), Wang Daeng Tai Temple, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, with Phra Maha Pen Nueng Sunthoramethee, Wat Boromwong Isararam Worawihan, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

“Wisdom Pavana” is the design concept of Phra Phuttha Phiriya Mongkhon Hall, the Buddha image of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. The work of Mr. Anuwat Termjim, a lecturer in the Department of Architectural Technology, revealed that the design of Phra Phuttha Phiriya Mongkhon Hall is a traditional Thai architecture with the concept of “Wisdom Pavana” using lotus flowers as a symbol and used as a metaphor for the design of shapes and various architectural components. It aims to create an implied meaning, which is the growth of wisdom from effort in developing life by emphasizing the arrangement of the rhythm of progressive elements that show the implication of qualitative change, similar to wisdom that is gradually developed to the maximum, along with hidden meaning.

The Buddhist principles involved in the architectural elements are the four lotus flowers, the three wisdoms, the four meditations, the four noble truths, the eightfold path, the nine supramundane dharmas, and especially diligence, which is the dharmas that bring about happiness and prosperity, the heart of the highest success in the process of developing life, with the Buddha's own diligence as the representative and the proof of the highest success.

The result of the design is the unity of form and meaning between the Buddha image and the shrine, and it is a symbol that enhances the meaning of the place to Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, which is the location according to the meaning of "Lotus University", which is "a place of intellectual development." The important basis for creating the concept is the design to relate to the important symbol, the lotus flower, such as the lotus in the university's emblem which is an 8-petal lotus supporting the royal seal of King Rama IX, the golden lotus sculpture in the form of a 4-tiered lotus with 8 lotus petals stacked 3 layers in alternating, decreasing height to support the top of the lotus bud, the lotus of heaven, the university's tree. The Lotus Museum is a source of learning, studying and collecting lotus species, located in the university.

And the design is related to the Buddha's characteristics of Phra Phutthaphiriyamongkol. Phra Phutthaphiriyamongkol has a beautiful and peaceful Buddha image. The steady line with perseverance follows the concept of Samadhi Petcha posture. The art is simple with few but graceful lines, reflecting the completeness of the great man's characteristics. The upper part of the head has a lotus bud halo above the ushanisha. The shape is like a quadrangular prism. Combined with the image and meaning of the concept laid out above, it forms a vertical building shape following the style of a spire building or Kudakhara. The line of the chrysanthemum is used to control the overall shape. It consists of 3 important parts: the base, the chedi body, and the top. The base consists of 2 parts: the base layer and the building base layer.

The chedi is open on 3 sides. The back is a solid wall with floating pillars supporting the 4 sides, creating an airy shape. The top is divided into 2 main parts: the roof is a quadrangular gable with 4 receding sides, similar to the Charana arch without a pediment. The gable uses a span to connect the height. The pediment is a 3-tiered octagonal lotus cluster on the intersection of the roof ridge. Each tier is arranged between the sides and the corners, with decreasing sizes under the shape of the chrom waen, which is modeled after the golden lotus sculpture. The decorative element on the top of the Phra Hall is the dewdrop, designed as a 4-tiered lotus cluster in the shape of a lotus bud. Accessories and patterns The Lamyong decorations are the roof covering in front of the gable that is decorated in an intricately beautiful style. The Lamyong decorations used are in the style of Ruay Raka, Chofa, Bai Raka, and Hang Hong. All the designs are unified according to the concept of “Wisdom Bhavana”, which is the development of wisdom. The Sueksi base is in the style of a lion base but smoothed without details or patterns to match the characteristics of the Ratana Throne.

The shrine is considered a sacred place according to beliefs. Once built, it cannot be demolished. Therefore, it must be determined appropriately at the university master plan level. It should also have a suitable condition that promotes freshness and joy to all people. Therefore, the location of the shrine should be on the main axis of the university plan, aligned in an east-west direction. The east side is the front facing Khlong Hok. Important symbolic elements of the university are also located on this axis, starting from the west, including the Grand Auditorium, Anantrangsan Courtyard, the golden lotus sculpture, and the flagpole. There is a large pond and an open area in front. On the other side of the pond is a shady forest garden, suitable for building a shrine. Currently, the university has invited Phra Phutthaphiriyamongkhon to be enshrined in the shrine. Those interested in paying homage can visit the Rajamangala University of Technology (RMUT) Thanyburi, Pathum Thani Province.

Prayer to worship Phra Phiri Mongkol

Chant Namo 3 times.

Na Mo Phuttha Wi Ri Yat Sa Mang Kha Lat Sa Ti Na Ma Rat Mang Kha Le Su Hin Nat Sa Maha Witcha La Ye I Tha I Mat Sa A Nu Pha We Na Tu Me Kha Ya Mang Kha Lang Anta Ra Ya Wi Nat San Tu Sa Tha Sot Thi Pha Wan Tu Mo

Translation I humbly pay homage to "Phra Phutthaphiriyamongkhon" which was built and offered at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. With the power of this Buddha worship,
May I have victory and all auspiciousness. May all dangers pass away. May all happiness and well-being be with me forever. (Phra Phrombanhit)