Unveiling Si Mahosot: Thailand’s Oldest Buddha Footprints & Ancient Khmer Ruins

The Si Mahosot Buddha footprints are Thailand’s oldest replica footprints, carved into a large laterite slab. They feature a central Dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma) with a swastika-shaped hole, an ancient auspicious symbol. Housed in an open pavilion, they are among the largest in Thailand and are venerated with offerings like flowers, incense, and gold leaf.

These carvings mark the spread of Theravada Buddhism from Sri Lanka to Thailand during the decline of Khmer influence. Discovered in modern times (post-20th century) in Dong Si Mahasot, they reflect a shift from Mahayana to Theravada traditions, symbolizing the Buddha’s presence in an aniconic form.

The Khmer hospital temple (likely part of the Noen Phra or nearby ruins) is a laterite and sandstone structure typical of Khmer architecture. It was one of the 102 arogayasala (hospital temples) built by King Jayavarman VII (1181–1218) across the Khmer Empire to provide medical care and spiritual healing.

Constructed in the 12th–13th centuries, the temple reflects the Khmer Empire’s Buddhist-influenced healthcare system. It likely included a central sanctuary, library, and medicinal facilities, with carvings and statues (e.g., Bodhisattvas) indicating Mahayana Buddhist practices. Excavations reveal its integration into Si Mahosot’s religious landscape.

Si Mahosot hosts Thailand’s oldest offshoot of the Phra Sri Maha Bodhi tree from Bodh Gaya, India, where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Spanning 30 meters high and 20 meters wide, its roots intertwine with Dvaravati-era bricks, and it remains a focal point for worship.

Brought from Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, by order of King Thawanampayadit (likely 14th century), this tree is 900–1,300 years old, as confirmed by the Fine Arts Department. It symbolizes enlightenment and is a registered national heritage site, venerated during festivals like Makha Bucha.

The baray is a large, rectangular water reservoir typical of Khmer urban planning, used for irrigation, water management, and religious purposes. Si Mahosot’s baray, part of the town’s moated layout, is smaller than Angkor’s but integral to the site’s infrastructure.

Built during the Khmer period (9th–13th centuries), the baray supported agriculture and symbolized cosmic order in Khmer cosmology. It complemented the town’s temples and moats, reflecting Si Mahosot’s role as a trade and religious hub under Khmer influence.

Si Mahosot, a Dvaravati-era Mon settlement, flourished as a trade and religious center, blending Hindu and Buddhist elements. Under Khmer rule, it adopted Mahayana Buddhism and Khmer architecture, seen in the hospital temple and baray. By the 14th century, the Buddha footprints and bodhi tree marked the rise of Theravada Buddhism, aligning with Thai kingdoms like Sukhothai. Today, the Si Mahosot Historical Park preserves these relics and drawing pilgrims as well as historians, especially during Makha Bucha.

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