Mahathat

Mahathat is a term used in Buddhist contexts, especially in Thailand, in temple names and descriptions. It is commonly rendered as "great temple" or "great relic temple" and denotes a temple of considerable importance, often one that houses a distinguished relic or serves as a principal religious center of a city or region.

The word derives from Sanskrit and Pali: maha meaning "great" and tathat (tathā) meaning "thus" or "suchness." In Thai, Wat Mahathat literally translates to "Great Relic Temple" or "Great Temple," a naming convention that signals status within the Buddhist monastic landscape.

Several temples bear the name. Wat Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat is a major Theravada temple and relic shrine. In Ayutthaya Historical Park, Wat Mahathat is an ancient temple complex famous for the Buddha head entwined in tree roots. In Sukhothai Historical Park, Wat Mahathat is the central temple of the historic city. The name is widely used for other temples across Thailand, reflecting the tradition of designating central or venerable sites as Mahathat.