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Shwethalyaung Buddha and
Kyaikpun Buddha
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Shwethalyaung
Buddha and Kyaikpun Buddha,
Burma
travel, travel in Burma, travel
vacations, tour, Burma
travel agents, vacation travel
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A few minutes to the northwest of the Kayani Sima is
the temple housing the Shwethalyaung Buddha,
one of the largest and
most lifelike images in Burma. It is shown to
depict Gaudama Buddha on the eve of His entry into ‘
Nirvana’. Built in A.D. 994 by King Migadippa. It
is 180 feet (55 meters) long and 52 feet (16 meters)
high. Falling into a state of neglect and
disrepair for nearly five centuries, it was repaired
by King Dhammazedi and maintained by King
Bayintnaung until Bago was completely destroyed in
1757.
The Shwethalyaung
Buddha was covered by
the dense forest and disappeared for 125 years.
In 1881 the Shwethalyaung
Buddha was unearthed by
a contractor who was
building the Rangoon-Bago railway line for the British.
The jungle and undergrowth were cleared away and an
iron open sided ‘tazaung
(pavilion) was erected over the the Shwethalyaung
Buddha figure, in 1906.
The Shwethalyaung
Buddha temple is
approached along a ‘zaung dan’ (covered
stairway) lined with many stalls. Passing through a
glass-mosaic hall, shining and all glitter, climbing
a flight of steps guarded by two striking ‘ nagas’
(mythological serpents) and arriving in His presence
- an enormous white reclining figure, garbed in a
gilded robe, His head resting on a collection of
gem-encrusted caskets and wearing a serene smile.
The dimension of the Shwethalyaung
Buddha is posted on the
shown board and the soles of His feet have been
intricately carved to show the 108 distinguished
marks of a Buddha. There are also glass panels
painted to show scenes from His live on the wall
below His head. |
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They have been wrought in enamel and
mosaic. Guardian ‘nats ‘ flank each side of the
Shwethalyaung
Buddha and the immediate
vicinity is surrounded by attractive vegetation and
flora. The 108 distinguishing marks on both
soles of the Shwethalyaung
Buddha’s feet (see next
page) represents the three worlds in Buddhist
belief,
 
Shwethalyaung Buddah reclining Bago Burma
Shwethalyaung Buddah footprint Bago Burma
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Shwethalyaung Buddah head reclining Bago
Burma |
59 indicating
the inanimate world (Okassalawka), 21
indicating the animate world (Sattalawka)
and 28 indicating the world of the
conditioned (Sankharalawka). The
essence here is that Buddha is greater than
the 3 worlds. These marks became apparent
as soon as the Buddha was born.
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The Kyaikpun Buddha - Four 30 meter tall sitting
Buddha figures.
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About three km before
Bago, some 200 meters on a side road leading from
the main Rangoon-Bago Road stand the Kyaikpun
Buddha. Four, thirty meter high, sitting
Buddha
figures of Konagamana, Kakusandha, Kassapa and
Gautama placed back to back against a large, square
pillar. Built in 1476 under King Dhammazedi.
According to legend, four sisters who took part in
building this pagoda made a pact that if one of them
should marry, one of the Buddha figures would fall
off. People who believe this were sure that Kassapa
Buddha collapsed because one of the sisters got
married.
Coming back to the main road and proceeding
to Bago, the sparse, scattered huts by the roadside
become continuous, the communities more populous,
the houses larger, grander, with more brick
buildings forming the suburban area and we finally
cross the Bago Bridge to the east of the Bago River
and enter the town.
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The Great Shwethalyaung Buddha and
The Kyaikpun Buddha
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Shwethalyaung
Buddha and Kyaikpun Buddha,
Burma
travel, travel in Burma, travel
vacations, tour, Burma
travel agents, vacation travel
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