The Ruined Image House of a Buddhist Hospital

Map of Si Mahosot ancient town show the location of

The Ruined Image House of a Buddhist Hospital

          The Ruined Image House of a Buddhist Hospital or the ruined No.11 is located in the north-east area outside the ancient town of Si Mahosot. The rectangular laterite floor on which two pedestals of images found in situ in association with some religious items,  is identified with an image house. Since the late 11^th century CE, a stone image of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, erected on the first laterite pedestal, had been worshipped by the Mahayana Buddhist devotees. Nowaday, this stone image is on exhibition at Prachin Buri National Museum.    

Hand of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara displays at Prachin Buri National Museum

        Between the late 12^th and 13^th centuries CE an additional function of the image house can be recognized by the second pedestal made of sandstone with three holes for standing three images (Buddha flanked by two Bodhisattvas), and a number of bronze offerings like a mirror stand, and a candle holder inscribed with the Khmer characters referring to King ‘Jayavarman’ presenting offerings to the ‘Arogyashala’ (the Buddhist hospital) in the town of ‘Avadhyapura’. This ruined  is presumed to have a one of 102 hospitals that King Jayavarman the seventh ordered to build all around the Khmer empire. Now these bronze offerings are on exhibition at Prachin Buri National Museum.

Bronze offerings display at Prachin Buri National Museum.

          According to the Royal Gazette no 110, chapter 220, dated December 24^th, 1992,    The Fine Arts Department announced that this monument has been listed as the nation’s historic site.

Plan of The Ruined Image House of a Buddhist Hospital