The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda (Burmese: ကောင်းမှုတော် ဘုရား[káʊɰ̃m̥ṵdɔ́pʰəjá]; Yaza Mani Sula Kaunghmudaw (ရာဇမဏိစူဠာ ကောင်းမှုတော်); Pali: Rājamaṇicūḷā) is a large Buddhist pagoda on the northwestern outskirts of Sagaing in central Myanmar (Burma). Modeled after the Ruwanwelisaya pagoda of Sri Lanka,[1] the Kaunghmudaw is known for its egg-shaped design, which stands out among more traditional-style, pyramid-shaped Burmese pagodas. The stupa's formal name Yaza Mani Sula signifies the enshrinement of Buddhist relics inside its relic chamber. But it is commonly known by its popular name, Kaunghmudaw (lit.'Royal Merit-Making'). It is an important pilgrimage and tourist destination in the Sagaing area.
Construction began during the reign of King Thalun on 25 April 1636 (Friday, 8th waning of Kason 998 ME). The pagoda's relic chamber was dedicated on 23 July 1636 (Wednesday, 7th waning of 2nd Waso 998).[2] The pagoda was completed 12 years later on 12 May 1648 (Tuesday, 6th waning of Kason 1010) towards the end of Thalun's reign.[3]
Architectureedit
Aerial view of Kaunghmudaw Pagoda
The pagoda is 46 metres (151 ft) high and has a circumference of 274 metres (899 ft). The hti (umbrella or crowning) of the pagoda is 7.92 metres (26.0 ft) high and weighs 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lb) (3440 viss). The pagoda differs from the traditional Burmese-style pyramidal structures by having an arched image chamber in the center of its base. The chamber houses a massive seated 7.3 metres (24 ft)-high Buddha statue, carved out of solid white marble. The head of the Buddha statue alone is about 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) in diameter. It is believed that the dome was built later around the massive statue.[4]
The lowest terrace of the pagoda is decorated with 120 nats and devas. It is ringed by 802 stone lanterns, carved with inscriptions of Buddha's life in three languages: Burmese, Mon and Shan, representing the three main regions of Restored Toungoo Kingdom.
The pagoda dome has been continuously painted white to signify purity, in Ceylonese tradition.
According to local lore, the relic chamber of the pagoda contains the lower left tooth relic of the Buddha, 11 hair relics, an alms bowl, statues, pagodas and other relics.
Controversyedit
The military government of Burma has initiated a project to paint the dome with gold paint, which has drawn criticism from some locals and other Burmese.[5]
^Ne Yee Lin Latt. "Locals Unhappy About Ancient Pagoda's Golden Facelift". The Irrawaddy. IPG.
Referencesedit
Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. 1829.
Hardiman, John Percy (1900). James George Scott (ed.). Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States, Volume 2, Part 1. Rangoon: Government Printing, Burma.
Myo Aung; H. Craft. Upper Myanmar Mandalay Pyin Oo Lwin Sagaing Monywa Mingun Mogok Shwebo'. Books on Asia.
External linksedit
The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda Festival
January 01, 1970
kaunghmudaw, pagoda, burmese, káʊɰ, pʰəjá, yaza, mani, sula, kaunghmudaw, ဇမဏ, pali, rājamaṇicūḷā, large, buddhist, pagoda, northwestern, outskirts, sagaing, central, myanmar, burma, modeled, after, ruwanwelisaya, pagoda, lanka, kaunghmudaw, known, shaped, des. The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda Burmese က င မ တ ဘ ရ kaʊɰ m ṵ dɔ pʰeja Yaza Mani Sula Kaunghmudaw ရ ဇမဏ စ ဠ က င မ တ Pali Rajamaṇicuḷa is a large Buddhist pagoda on the northwestern outskirts of Sagaing in central Myanmar Burma Modeled after the Ruwanwelisaya pagoda of Sri Lanka 1 the Kaunghmudaw is known for its egg shaped design which stands out among more traditional style pyramid shaped Burmese pagodas The stupa s formal name Yaza Mani Sula signifies the enshrinement of Buddhist relics inside its relic chamber But it is commonly known by its popular name Kaunghmudaw lit Royal Merit Making It is an important pilgrimage and tourist destination in the Sagaing area Yaza Mani Sula Kaunghmudaw ရ ဇမဏ စ ဠ က င မ တ RajamaṇicuḷaReligionAffiliationTheravada BuddhismLocationCountryMyanmarShown within MyanmarGeographic coordinates21 55 57 92 N 95 56 16 63 E 21 9327556 N 95 9379528 E 21 9327556 95 9379528ArchitectureFounderThalunCompleted23 July 1636 12 May 1648 completed Contents 1 Construction 2 Architecture 3 Controversy 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksConstruction editConstruction began during the reign of King Thalun on 25 April 1636 Friday 8th waning of Kason 998 ME The pagoda s relic chamber was dedicated on 23 July 1636 Wednesday 7th waning of 2nd Waso 998 2 The pagoda was completed 12 years later on 12 May 1648 Tuesday 6th waning of Kason 1010 towards the end of Thalun s reign 3 Architecture edit nbsp Aerial view of Kaunghmudaw Pagoda The pagoda is 46 metres 151 ft high and has a circumference of 274 metres 899 ft The hti umbrella or crowning of the pagoda is 7 92 metres 26 0 ft high and weighs 3 5 kilograms 7 7 lb 3440 viss The pagoda differs from the traditional Burmese style pyramidal structures by having an arched image chamber in the center of its base The chamber houses a massive seated 7 3 metres 24 ft high Buddha statue carved out of solid white marble The head of the Buddha statue alone is about 2 4 metres 7 ft 10 in in diameter It is believed that the dome was built later around the massive statue 4 The lowest terrace of the pagoda is decorated with 120 nats and devas It is ringed by 802 stone lanterns carved with inscriptions of Buddha s life in three languages Burmese Mon and Shan representing the three main regions of Restored Toungoo Kingdom The pagoda dome has been continuously painted white to signify purity in Ceylonese tradition According to local lore the relic chamber of the pagoda contains the lower left tooth relic of the Buddha 11 hair relics an alms bowl statues pagodas and other relics Controversy editThe military government of Burma has initiated a project to paint the dome with gold paint which has drawn criticism from some locals and other Burmese 5 See also editSagaing Mingun Pahtodawgyi Hsinphyumae PagodaNotes edit Myo Aung Craft Chapter Sagaing Hmannan Vol 3 p 234 Hmannan Vol 3 p 245 Hardiman p 191 Ne Yee Lin Latt Locals Unhappy About Ancient Pagoda s Golden Facelift The Irrawaddy IPG References editHmannan Yazawin in Burmese Vol 1 3 2003 ed Yangon Ministry of Information Myanmar 1829 Hardiman John Percy 1900 James George Scott ed Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States Volume 2 Part 1 Rangoon Government Printing Burma Myo Aung H Craft Upper Myanmar Mandalay Pyin Oo Lwin Sagaing Monywa Mingun Mogok Shwebo Books on Asia External links editThe Kaunghmudaw Pagoda Festival Sagaing Division Yaza Manisula Kaunghmudaw Pagoda Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kaunghmudaw Pagoda amp oldid 1121076044, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
