Wat Na Phra Men (วัดหน้าพระเมรุ)

Thai. A temple in Ayutthaya, located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, to the North of the former palace. It was built in 1503, during the reign of King Ramathibodi  II and was initially named Wat Phra Meru Rachikaraam (วัดพระเมรุราชิการาม). The temple has some historical importance, as it was here that King Mahachakraphat in 1549 AD, just one year into his reign, negotiated a truce with King Bayinnaung (Burengnong) of Hamsavati (Hongsawadih), during the earlier war with the Burmese. The temple's ubosot (fig.) houses an attractive, adorned Buddha image, seated in the maravijaya pose. A small  wihaan to the right of the bot houses Phra Khan Thanaraat (พระคันธารราฐ), a 5.2 meter tall Buddha image that dates back to the Dvaravati Period and which is seated in a western pose, i.e. with the feet in front (map - fig.), reminiscent of the pahng pah leh laai pose (fig.) and similar in style and features to the Phra Phutta Norachet (พระพุทธนรเชษฐ์) Buddha image in front of the Phra Pathom Chedi (fig.) in Nakhon Pathom, which is also in the Dvaravati style. See MAP. 回