First peirod
The construction was done in 236 BE(307 BC)
It was Praya Chanthabury Pasithisak, the founder and the first ruler of Vientiane, who led the work together with five Arahata monks:
1. Ven. Rattanathera
2. Ven.Chularattanathera
3. Ven.Suvannapasadathera
4. Ven.Chulasuvannapasadathera
5. Ven.Sangavijathera
These five monks were Lao monks, who had completed their studied in Rajgir, India.On their returning home, they brought with them a holy relic of Lord Buddha, a Bosom bone.
After their arrival, they pursuaded Phraya Chanthabury Pasithisak and the people of Vientiane to build a Stupa to enshrine that relic for those who wish to pray and worship.
The Stupa built by Phraya Chanthabury was tamulus-shaped and made of stones, having four flanks, each 10 metres wide, 4 metres thick and 9 metres high. That stupa is encompassed in the present That Luang Stupa.
Second period
The second construction was taken by King Xayasethathirath, who formerly was ruler of Chiengmay and then of Xiengthong ( later Luangphrabang).
He later moved out to establish his capital city Vientiane in 2103 BE (1560 AD).
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Vientiane, after its construction was given a new name " Nakhone Chanthabury Sisattanahud Utama Rajathani.
Thereafter under Sethathirath's patsinage, the people throughout the country, particularly the Vientiane people and the king himself built a great stupa encompassing the small stupa previously built by phraya Chanthabury Pasithisak.?The construction was started in the month of January 2109 BE (1566 AD) and named "LOKACHULAMANI" but the people commonly call it "Phrathat" meaning Great Stupa.
On the second floor there are 30 smaller Stupas built around the foot of gtreat Stupa on its four flanks which called Samatiamsa Palami?or that Parami samsib-that.
Inside of each smaller Stupa is deposed on small gold Stupa weighting four ounces and one gold palm-leaf ( Lankham). Each leaf has the lenght of a forearm and is engraved with Buddha's mots precious teachings: " Ye dhamma Hetupabava Team Hetum Tathagato Tesancayo Nirodho ca Evamvadi Mahasamano"( All events are arising from the causes and those causes have to overcome by the calmer). These are the world of the Lord Buddha.
Under each of the 30 smaller Stupas lays one gold stupa and one gold palmleaf. The meaning of the 30 smaller stupas is that once who wishes to become enlightened has to perform the 30 perfections, starting from the stage of almsgiving upto that of indifference.
The Phra That Luang has been destroyed a number of times.
Phra That Luang besides being the holy ahrine and spiritual worshipping place , is a representative masterpiece of popular art and architecture, a historical witness of the glorious 16th century period of the kingdom of Lanxang Vientiane.
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