[[File:Phimai City Layout.png|thumb|Phimai City layout in the late Ayutthaya period<br>

16px – Main stupa (Prasat Phimai)<br>

16px – Wat Srahin () — Wat Sorn Sila ()<br>

16px – Wat Prang Yai () — Wat Prasad ()<br>

16px – Wat Prang Noi () — Wat Chan ()<br>

16px – Wat Bot () — Wat Prang ()<br>

16px – Meru Brahmathat<br>

16px – Inner city wall<br>

16px – Southern Gopura<br>

16px – Dharamshala<br>

16px – Outer moats and walls<br>

16px – Chakkarat River<br>

16px – Barays<br>

16px – Arogayasala<br>

16px – Creeks]]

The Phimai Historical Park () is a historical park in Thailand, covering the ancient town of Phimai and the ruins of Prasat Phimai , ; , ) the largest ancient Mahayana Buddhist temple in Thailand. It is located in the town of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in the province.

Phimai had previously been an important town at the time of the Khmer Empire. The temple Prasat Hin Phimai, located in the center of the town, was one of the major Khmer temples in ancient Thailand, connected with Angkor by the Ancient Khmer Highway, and oriented to face Angkor as its cardinal direction.

History

thumb|left|160px|The central sanctum-tower in 1968

The temple marks one end of the Ancient Khmer Highway from Angkor. As the enclosed area of 1020x580m is comparable with that of Angkor Wat, it is suggested to have been an important city in the Khmer Empire. Most buildings are from the late 11th to the late 12th century, built in the Baphuon, Bayon and Khmer temple style. However, even though the Khmer at that time were Hindu, the temple was built as a Buddhist temple, since the inhabitants of the Khorat area had been Buddhists as far back as the 7th century. Inscriptions name the site Vimayapura (which means city of Vimaya), which developed into the Thai name Phimai.

In the aftermath of the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, attempts were made to set up five separate states, with Prince Teppipit, a son of King Borommakot, attempting to establish Phimai as one, ruling over eastern provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima. As the weakest of the five, Prince Teppipit was the first to be defeated and was executed in 1768.

The first inventory of the ruins was done in 1901 by the French geographer Etienne Aymonier. The site was put under Thai governmental protection by announcement in the Government Gazette, Volume 53, section 34, on September 27, 1936. Most of the restorations were done from 1964 to 1969 as a joint Thai-French project. The historical park, now managed by the Fine Arts Department, was officially opened by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on April 12, 1989.

Phimai has recently been the base of operations for the excavation of Ban Non Wat.

Khmer influence

As the northeastern part of Thailand was part of the Khmer Empire (once ruled by the Khmer Empire), Phimai's architecture and cultural decorations were built in Khmer architecture. Art and architecture shown on the temple itself shows great evidence of the ancient Khmer civilization.

thumb|Phra Buddha image in the Naga-protection posture ([[Naga Prok attitude|Naga Prok), inside the main prang (principal sanctuary tower).]]

Despite the fact that Phimai was built in a similar fashion to Angkor and other Khmer Buddhist temples, the religious origin of some structures within Phimai's walls are still debated. Evidence of Dvaravati influence, such as the sculpture of "the Wheel of Law" or the statue of Buddha, shows that Phimai was an important Buddhist spiritual location. Although a large quantity of Buddhist artwork has been uncovered in Phimai, evidence including the large pots that were embedded in some corners of the structure suggest that spiritual practices other than Buddhism were also practiced in Phimai. Phimai thus has been an important religious landmark for Buddhists.

The earliest engraved records of the Khmer is dated from the 6th century AD in the northeast of Thailand. For example, stone Sanskrit inscriptions were found along with statues and engraved images of Hindu deities, such as the image of Shiva's bull Nandin. The king during that time, Mahendravarman, ordered his men to obliterate the engraved inscription. Modern scholars debate about the possibility that evidence may have been lost.

Phimai, along with other Khmer temples in Thailand, were built mainly under the cause of the "Deveraja cult," or "the King that resembles a god." Jayavarman II was the most mentioned "devaraja." The Devaraja cult developed the belief of worshiping Shiva and the principle that the king was an avatar of Shiva.

References

Bibliography

  • Michael Freeman - A guide to Khmer temples in Thailand and Laos,
  • - Computer model of the temple
  • "Phimai Historical Park detailed description with pictures and video" from "Thai-Thaifood"
  • "Phimai Historical Park" in Korat Magazine