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The entrance to the Phra Viharn Luang (meeting hall) at Wat Suthat, one of the most important Buddhist temples in Bangkok

two viharns and a chedi at Wat Phra That Chang Kham, Nan

chedi and viharn at Wat Suan Tan, Nan

Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang, Laos

A wat (derived from the Pali word avasa as well as from the Sanskrit word avasatha) is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Laos or Thailand. The word "wat" (Thai วัด) (sometimes rendered "vat" when referring to Laos) means "school." Strictly speaking a wat is a Buddhist temple and school with resident monks. A Buddhist site without resident monks cannot correctly be described as a wat, although the term is frequently used more loosely, even for ruins of ancient temples.

In everyday language in Thailand a wat is any place of worship except a mosque. Thus wat cheen is a Chinese temple (either Buddhist or Taoist), wat khaek is a Hindu temple, and wat kris or wat krit or wat fa-hrang is a Christian church.

Structure

A typical Buddhist wat consists of the following buildings:

• chedi - (from Sanskrit: Chaitya - Temple) เจดีย์ usually conical or bell-shaped buildings, often containing relics of Buddha;

• viharn or wihaan (from Sanskrit: vihara and Pali vihaan ) - วิหาร a meeting and prayer room;

• mondop (from Sanskrit: Mandapa) - มณฑป a usually open, square building with four arches and a pyramidal roof, used to worship religious texts or objects.

• sala- ศาลา a pavilion for relaxation or miscellaneous activities; from Sanskrit: Shala - School)

• bot or ubosoth - อุโบสถ the most holy prayer room, also called the "ordination hall" as it is where new monks take their vows. Architecturally it is similar to the vihara; the main differences are the eight cornerstones placed around the bot to ward off evil. The bot is usually more decorated than the viharn. (from Pali: Uposatha)

• haw trai - Tripitaka library where Buddhist scriptures are kept ;

• haw klawng - drum tower ;

• haw rakhang - bell tower.

The living quarters of the monks, including the kutis (monk cells) are separated from the sacred buildings.

Examples

Some well-known wats include:

• Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Pha That Luang, Vientiane Laos
• Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang
• Wat Suthat, Bangkok Thailand
• Wat Benchamabophit, Bangkok
• Wat Ratchanadda, Bangkok
• Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok
• Wat Arun, Bangkok
• Wat Bowonniwet, Bangkok
• Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai
• Phra Pathom Chedi, Nakhon Pathom
• Wat Phumin, Nan
• วัดไทย มินีโซต้า Thai Buddhist Center of Minnesota U.S.A.

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