Wat Arun , Bangkok Thailand Royalty-Free Stock Photo

Wat Arun & x22;Temple of Dawn& x22; is a Buddhist temple & x28;wat& x29; in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. The main feature of Wat Arun is its central prang & x28;Khmer-style tower& x29; which is encrusted with colourful porcelain. This is interpreted as a stupa-like pagoda encrusted with coloured faience. The prang & x28;spires& x29; are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain. Over the second terrace are four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan. The central prang symbolises Mount Meru of the Hindu cosmology. The satellite prangare devoted to the wind god, Phra Phai. The demons & x28;yaksha& x29; at the entranceway to the ubosot are from the Ramakien. The white figure is named Sahassa Deja and the green one is known as Thotsakan, the Demon Rāvana from Ramayana. The central prang is topped with a seven-pronged trident, referred to by many sources as the & x22;Trident of Shiva& x22;. In the Buddhist iconography, the central prang is considered to have three symbolic levels—base for Traiphum indicating all realms of existence, middle for Tavatimsa where all desires are gratified and top denoting Devaphum indicating six heavens within seven realms of happiness.