Sanda Muni Buddha Image

Sanda Muni Buddha Image is now located in Bandoola Monastery, of Mrauk U. During A.D 123, Gautama Buddha came to Mrauk U and from that time on, people started to believe in Buddhism and had beliefs in worshipping Buddha images and Pagodas.

History

A long time ago, King Sanda Thuriya reigned the Rakhine territory. When Gautama Buddha came to Mrauk U, the king begged for making of images as a symbol representing the real Buddha.

So, he made 4 Muni Buddha images which are

(1) Maha Myat Muni (located at Mandalay)

(2) Shwebonthar Muni (located at Pyay)

(3) Zalun Pyaydawpyan (located at Zalun)

(4) Maha Muni (located at Sittwe).

There were more jewelleries and gold left, so he made 5 more images known as (1) Sanda Muni (2) Kuja Muni (3) Sakkyar Muni (4) Deva Muni and (5) Sula Muni. These five images are also known as Maha Kyan Images. The Maha Muni was surrounded by these 5 images.

During the reign of King Saw Mon, he moved to Mrauk U as the capital. He took the Sanda Muni image along with him to Mrauk U. In 1852, lower Myanmar fell under the rulings of the British colony. The British took all the bronze images to melt and turn these into weapons. Since the people wear afraid that the Sanda Muni might be turned into weapons, they covered the image with concrete and left in the Bandoola Monastery. The British thought that this image was made of concrete and left it where it was.

It was April 27, 1988, Sunday. Sayadaw Ashin Sattkapalar was cleaning the floor in front of the image and suddenly an eye dropped down. The monk saw that the inner part was not made of concrete but of bronze metal.

So in May 19, 1988, the covered concrete of the Image was torn down and the real Sanda Muni Buddha Image was shown to public. The size of the image is 4 feet 10 inches high and 4 feet and 2 inches in width. This Buddha image became more and more popular with the locals.

Yadanar Pon Pagoda

Yadanar Pon Pagoda was built in A.D 1612, and was donated by King Min Khamaung and Queen Shin Htwe. The pagoda is located on the northern part of Andaw Thein. There are lots of architectural remaining of Mrauk U time.

 

There are seventeen smaller pagodas around the main pagoda. Each one was donated by Kings, Queens and other royal families of Mrauk U Dynasty. Those smaller pagodas are called as Ayan Zedi in Myanmar, meaning the surrounding stupas. Those seventeen Ayan Zedi (meaning surrounding stupas) were also donated by King Min Khamaung and Queen Shin Htwe in A.D 1612.

 

The main pagoda is circular at the base and measure a height of 200 feet. The pagoda was destroyed during the World War II and now has been renovated based on the original structure. The main pagoda and its surround smaller pagodas do not have any entrance, niches, arches nor any ornamentation. The main pagoda resembles the shape of a huge bell. The whole structure is enclosed within an octagonal border. The entrance of the wall consist of stone lions guarding the pagodas. No floral decoration of any kind can be found on this pagoda.

 

Traditionally, it is believed that the pagoda was built for the purpose of acquiring or securing treasures, both mundane and spiritual.

The Laungbanpyauk Pagoda

The Laungbanpyauk Pagoda stands at a distance of 500 feet to the Mokseiktaw. Minkhaungraza built the pagoda in 1525 A.D. Two walls surround it. The outer surface of the inner wall is decorated with fine designs and is formed by stones projecting an inch out of the wall; at the center of each is a rosette, containing eight colored clay tablets of red, yellow, blue, and green alternately, with a white center. The diameter of the ornament is 1′ 8″. An opening in the east and one from the west lead to a platform raised about 6 feet above the level of surrounding ground. The massive stone pagoda at the center is an octagonal pyramid; each side measures at the base 33 feet and rises in ever-receding tiers to a height of about 120 feet (at present only 75 feet remains.).

On the first tier, at the middle of each of the eight sides, originally-stood a porch consisting of two square pillars forming the sides of the porch. Each niche contains an image of the Buddha. The outer surface of the appendage displays an exquisite pattern of carving in stone. The design is so fine and outstanding that well-known architects have recorded it in detail.

 

The palace site

Before visiting any other place in Mrauk U priority should be given to the ruins of the inner palace city where the Royal palace once stood magnificently. The place is surrounded by three wall encirclements. When Mong Saw Mon started buildings the palace, underground canals were first dug, then stone walls were erected and finally the three hills were leveled down. Some of the canals that carried off the water to the Thinghanadi creek to the south of the palace can still be found.

 

The area of the whole palace was 1.2 square miles and the walls were originally made of brick. King Mong Ba Gree reinforced the palace walls with a new structure of stone in 1531. The height of the walls today averages 12ft and thickness runs about 7ft. Three sites of the palace are guarded with moats. The moats in the east and west are manually made, whereas the southern one is a natural Thinghanadi Creek. The Royal flotilla used to be manned in this very creek. The northern side had buildings for the Queens and also includes the strategically important Haridaung Hill.

The Golden Palace

The inner enclosure of the palace had all the important structures. From here all teh 48 Kings of the Mrauk U Dynasty reigned with pomp and grandeur, making the country as prosperous as any other city of that era.

 

The Golden Palace had roofs of five guarded series supported on tall, straight and giant pillars, gilted with gold on a coat of vermillion. The roof was plated with gilding sheets to copper that would reflect the crimson rays of the sun in the early morning, transforming the palace into a fairytale Palace of the Arabian Night awash in gold.

 

The King’s Palace was essentially a complex of many separate buildings. The King and his attendants stayed in the palace proper whereas the queens, princes and princesses were assigned separate buildings within the palace city.

 

To the west of the Royal family’s quarters, there were the quarters of the Duty Officer and from there proceeding to the south was the quarter of the Port Officer.

 

The Thinghanadi creek running across the city offered easy communication with the Lemro river in the east so that the agricultural products and handicrafts from the Lemro made their way into the five central markets of Mrauk U.

Nearby Attraction

Laksaykan Lake

Lying side by side with Anuma Lakey south-west of Zina Banaung Pagada is the Laksaykan Lake. This scenic lake is about 100 acres wide and its embankment connecting the two hill ranges has two 12ft high gates. The western gate, know as Laksaykan gate is 24ft long, 17ft high and 8ft wide. In case of an enemy raid from the south of the palace, this gate was to be used flood the lower plains in the north to defer the enemy.

Pagodas around Mrauk U

The Myatanzaung Pagodas

The Myatanzaung Pagodas lie to the north of Laymyetnha Pagoda at a distance of 500 feet. There are two pagodas named Eastern Myatanzaung and Western Myatanzaung. These pagodas are situated on a hillock, 40 feet high. The main structures of these pagodas are constructed of blocks of pure sandstone. But turrets, staircases and walls were built of bricks.

Minsawmon, the King of Mrauk-U Dynasty, erected these pagodas in 1430 A.D. These two are of the same type, measuring 120 feet in circumference, and 50 feet high.

 

The Mokseik Taw Pagoda

To the north of Myatanzaung and at a distance of 300 feet is the Mokseik taw Pagoda. It stands on a hillock, which rises to 100 feet. King Minsawmon erected the pagoda in 1430 A.D. According to the chronicles, Mok­seiktaw is also one of the five-city settlement pagodas in the new city of Mrauk-U.

There are two terraces on this hillock. A Pitakataik (Library) is situated on the lower terrace. The library is built of pure sandstone. Most of the monasteries and pagodas of Mrauk-U especially the large teaching monasteries and the pagodas donated by the kings usually had a library attached to them. The height of the main pagoda is 50 feet above ground and 100 feet in circumference at the base. The central pagoda is circular and has a bell shape. A small turret stands on each of the four corners. On the eastern side of the pagoda there is an image of a foot­print of the Buddha, 34 inches long, on a large stone. The footprint is plain and the sole of footprint shows neither marks nor any lineaments by which chiromancy could interpret.

 

The Htuparyon Pagoda

According to the local records, King Minranaung, the sixth king of MraukU Dynasty, erected Htuparyon in 1494 A.D. In the year of 1613 A.D the King Minkhamaung and his chief queen, Shin Htway rebuilt this pagoda. The pagoda is built of stone blocks and the base is octagonal. A wall surrounds the spacious temple court, which is in disrepair. Each of the four corners of the pagoda walls is guarded by the figure of a lion having two bodies and a head. The walls are thought to be the walls of a square sima or of the ordination hall for Buddhist monks.

At present, the pagoda is in ruin, and neglected. But, in the golden days of Mrauk-U the Htuparyon Pagoda was a well known site for pilgrimage. Most of the kings in Mrauk-U Dynasty came to pay respects to this pagoda soon after their coronations. Traditionally, it was believed by the kings that the site was “The Land of Victory and Prosperity”, and was very highly venerated.

Shittaung Pagoda

Shittaung Pagoda

Shitthaung or “temple of the 80,000 Buddhas” located about half a mile to the north of the palace site was built by one of the most powerful kings of the Mrauk U Dynasty, called by the people, Minbargyi. It is an ancient temple, in Mrauk U of northern Rakhine state, Myanmar.

History

According to records on inscriptions as King Minbin who reigned from 1513 to 1553. The king built this fortress-temple after repulsing a Portuguese attack on the City of Mrauk U.

The skill and art displayed in its construction and ornamentation are remarkable. Besides, we may observe here about the maze-like layout of this pagoda. In the accounts of this curious plan, some foreigners remarked that the Shitthaung Pagoda was built alike a fortress. The real purpose of the pagoda was for prayer, some rituals of initiation, and some of the King’s ceremonies, which were usually held secretly. It was constructed six feet thick of solid sandstone and like “rock cave tunnel”. No mortar was used in the construction and stones were connected with stone brackets. It is believed that 84,000 of the Buddha’s relics with the same number of the Lord’s images are enshrined in it. People who entered the tunnels of the temple felt that they were actually inside an endless tunnel. The pagodas had been built by one thousand architects and workmen for a year.

The central pagoda measures 160 feet long and 124 feet broad, 86 feet high. On the north and south walls stand at regular intervals circular, turret-like pagodas. There are one big and 14 smaller ones on the north and a bigger one and seventeen smaller ones on the south. Along the other two inner galleries are hundreds of Buddha images of various sizes.

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The Shittaung Pillar

The Shittaung Pillar is well-known and it is located just on the northern entrance of the Shittaung Pagoda. It is believed to have been brought from Vesali to Mrauk U. It was placed by King Minbin in 1535 A.D. The pillar was destroyed during the World War II. Now it has been renovated. The original pillar stands from 10 feet and each side is 2′ 4″ wide in surface. Three faces have Sanskrit Inscriptions and the other one was badly damaged. The pillar was made from red sandstone and decorated with double lotus petal motif at all the eight corners. The ancient petal pattern designs of the Mrauk U period can be seen on this pillar.

Pitakataik

Pitakataik

Pitakataik which lies close to Htupayon Pagoda and south of Shinkite wall was built by King Min Phalaung. It was square in plan with an entrance passage to the east like others pagoda in Mrauk U. Built entirely with stone, the outer walls are decorated with ornate floral and geometric design. It is said that there were 33 Pitakataiks, built in Mrauk U. The little library or Pitakataik, the Repository for the Buddhist scriptures was built in 1591 also by king Min Phalaung.

Structure

The Pitakataik measures only 14 feet from east to west, 10 feet from north to south and is only 9 feet in height. Built entirely of stone there are lovely designs on the outer walls making it look like a tiny jeweled casket shaped like a blooming lotus. There were 48 libraries in Mrauk U but only this one is preserved, though it is sometimes obscured by thickets of bushes and partly covered by moss and weeds which flourish in the 200″ of annual rainfall in the region. This library is reputed to have housed 30 sets of the Buddhist Tipitaka which King Narapatigyi (1638-1645) received from Sri Lanka.

Unfortunately it acquired an unpleasant appellation due to its dark windowless interior. The library is also known as Khraung Kaik Library meaning the name of the city wall which is close to the north of the library. If you have difficulty in finding this library ask for the Htupayon Pagoda as it is just north of this pagoda.

Mrauk U Museum

Mrauk U Museum

A new Mrauk U museum is located near the palace site. It displays some old artifacts of Vesali, Launggret and Mrauk U periods. The bronze Buddha icons of Rakhine are equisetic in design. Various inscribed stone inscriptions in Sanskrit, Rakhine and Arabic are also displayed Votive tablets, Krishna Vishnu, Bodhisattvas, dvarapala, stone htis (stone umbrella of pagodas), lintels coins, musical instruments, ceramic-wares are also on display.

Mrauk U is an ancient city in the Rakhine State, which is situated in the western part of the Union of Myanmar. Mrauk-U is also a place where cultural heritages have flourished for many years. The Rakhine State is close to the Bay of Bengal and the coastal region is full of rocks and reefs and may be that is why so many stone-sculptures can be seen as ancient cultural crafts in the Rakhine region.

The state opened the Archaeological Museum in Mrauk U; so that everyone interested in the cultural artifacts and ancient relics are find then in one place. In the Museum, a stone Wunti God Image of 15th century A.D in Mrauk U period and a part of stone pillars from Stupas of 8th century in Watha Li period are shown.

Moreover, the pieces of a stone Vishnu Image of 15th century in Mrauk U period can also be seen at the Museum. The Wetha Li coins from 4th to 8th century, the votive tablets and the motifs of stone-sculptures from Mrauk U period can also be seen at the museum. The household appliances in Mrauk U period, a glazed pot of 15th century from Mrauk U period and the glazed floor tiles from Mrauk U palace excavation site are also exhibited.

You can also find stone-sculptures such as God of Earth, Godness, Wathoundarei and Wathoundara at the museum. There is a replica of Ananda Sandra stone inscription carved in Danyawaddy alphabets from the 8th century. The inscription tells us about Watha Li King Ananda Sandra and his ancestors with 65 verses.

Moreover, the stone inscription of Purain Ah Song-Taung (AD-1430), Wara-Dhamma-Yar-Zar stone inscription (AD-1618) and An-Taw-Thein stone inscription (AD-1596) are also there to be studied. So, we invite you to pay a visit to “Mrauk-U Archaeological Museum” where all ancient cultural heritages and stone-sculptures in Rakhine State are shown in one place.

Lemyathnar Pagoda

Lemyathnar Pagoda

About a distance of 150 feet to the northwest of the Dukkhanthein Pagoda is the Laymyetnha Pagoda or “the four-faced pagoda”. King Minsawmon, the first king of Mrauk-U Dynasty, built it in 1430 A.D. It is one of the five pagodas built at the beginning of the establishment of the city. It is a square structure, with a long protruding portal towards each cardinal point. The interior room is octagonal. In the center of the latter there is an octahedral column intended to support the circular tower erected over the center of the roof. Over each of the four corners of the terrace a smaller circular stupa was built. Each side of the square of the shrine measures 55′; the portals are 13′ broad and protrude 17′ into the platform.

The central tower is circular and has the shape of a dome, with a circumference of 80 feet at the base and is 70 feet high. There are 28 Buddha images as mentioned in the Sambuddha scripture.

Dukkanthein

Dukkanthein

Dukkanthein also called as Htukanthein or Htoekanthein, stands on a hill which is about 30 feet in height. Its structure is like a flat surface in the form of a drum. King Minphalaung built the pagoda in 1571 A.D.

Structure

Like most of the ancient monuments in Mrauk U, Dukkanthein was built with sandstones and layers of bricks over the roof. The measurement of the temple is 190 feet from north to south and 200 feet from east to west. It has stone stairways about 8 inches broad in the east and south sides. These stairways measuring 106 feet are built of massive stonewall on the north, east and south. The west one which is slightly convex is connected to an oblong chamber.

The pagoda entrance on the east side, closer to the south-east corner, leads to a long vaulted passage which spirals up in two tiers till it reaches the central chamber. The superstructure, a bell-shaped dome on receding terraces, is similar to the one on Shitthaung, but here a tall square arch is provided on the east side to admit light into the central chamber. The inner chambers and passages of the temple are constructed with well fitting and cemented stones. The pagoda is well-known for the stone sculptures in the vaulted passages, es­pecially the figures of seated ladies, with different styles of coiffure, in the manner of offering lotus buds to the Buddha. Traditionally it is said that there are sixty-four kinds of hairstyle and all the figures are of the wives of noblemen. Besides, on both sides of the entire passage, niches of 1½ feet broad, 1 foot deep, and 2 feet high are dug at regular intervals of 20 feet in the wall and each contains a stone image of the Buddha in sitting posture. There are one hundred and forty-six niches along the passage.