BAGAN

BAGAN

THE SHWEZIGON PAGODA GUIDE

The Shwezigon Pagoda or Shwezigon Paya is a Buddhist
temple located in Nyaung-U, a town near Bagan, in
Myanmar. A prototype of Burmese stupas, it consists of a
circular gold leaf-gilded stupa surrounded by smaller
temples and shrines.

FACTS ABOUT SHWEZIGON PAGODA…

This pagoda, a Buddhist religious place, is believed to enshrine a
bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha. The pagoda is in the form
of a cone formed by five square terraces with a central solid
core. There are footprints below the four standing Buddha
statues here. Jataka legends are depicted on glazed terra-cotta
tiles set into three rectangular terraces. At the entrance of the
pagoda there are large statues of guardians of the temple. There
are also four bronze standing statues of Buddha which are stated
to be of the current age Buddha. At the outer limits of the
pagoda there are 37 nats deified along with an intricately carved
wooden sculpture of Thagyamin a Burmese version of Hindu
god Indra. Within the compound of the Shwezigon Pagoda there
is a stone pillar containing Mon language inscriptions dedicated
by Kyansittha.

THE DAMMANGYI TEMPLE GUIDE

Dhammayangyi Temple was built by the tyrant King Narathu
during his three year reign. From a distance, or ballooning
above, the temple looks like an Egyptian pyramid and it’s the
most massive in size structure in Bagan. Locals refer to it to the
haunted temple and think it is haunted with the sins of the
ruthless King Narathu who killed his own father, brother, and
queen. Others think there are hidden treasures behind the
blocked up walls. The temple is also home to the rare double
Buddha statues.

ANANDA PAGODA FACTS

Ananda Pagoda
This is one of the first temples to be built in Bagan and very well
preserved. It looks different from other temples and their
architecture and paintings are quite impressive. History of this
perfectly dimensioned temple structure built in 1105 is credited
to King Kyansittha. It denotes "the stylistic end of the Early
Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period".[2] The
timing of building this temple is considered as a culmination of
religious education that began during the Pahothanya temple
building activity in 1080 AD. The Theravada Buddhism adopted
by the King motivated him to present the teachings of Buddha to
his people in an accurate and a genuine way through the medium
of this temple, to unite Burma under one flag and thus "creating
mass religious enthusiasm". It has been inferred that the King, as
the upholder of the Law wanted to convey his firm belief in the
Buddhist doctrine according to his interpretation:[3]

BUPAYA PAGODA

The Bupaya pagoda is believed to be build by King Pyusawhti,
who ruled Bagan during the end of the 3rd century. According to
local legend Pyusawhti, before he was King, managed to free the
Bagan Kingdom of five nuisances, one of which was the
infestation of the Irrawaddy river banks by the bu, a kind of
gourd plant.
As a reward he was given the hand of the King’s daughter. It is
said that when Pyusawhti became King, he build the pagoda at
the spot where the bu plant was eradicated. Buddhist relics were
enshrined in the pagoda. With bu meaning gourd and phaya
meaning pagoda, Bupaya Pahto literally means pagoda shaped
like a gourd. The structure is in the shape of a bulbous dome and
somewhat resembles the fruit of a gourd plant.
The cylindrical stupa sits on top of a number of terraces, that
looks like a fortress like structure when viewed from the river.
On top is a gilded hti, a finial shaped as an umbrella found on
almost all Burmese temples.

GAWDAWPALIN TEMPLE

The top of the Gawdawpalin temple comprises of a sikhara and a hti, a
spire ornament shaped like an umbrella found on top of most Burmese
temples. The sikhara, an Indian style tower structure is much like that of
the Ananda, although the sikhara of the Ananda is completely gilded.

Each side of the pagoda has an entrance with porticoes protruding out
from the structure. The Eastern one is the main entrance and protrudes
out more, which breaks the symmetry of the structure.

The pediments over the windows and entrance gateways contain
intricately carved motifs; some of the original stucco is still in place.

Inside the temple are Buddha images seated on pedestals as well as a
number of Nat spirit statues; most of the temple’s murals have faded.
The temple grounds are surrounded by a wall with four entrance gates.
The main entry to the complex on the East end is guarded by two large
white lion statues.

The Gawdawpalin has been extensively restored after the 1975
earthquake that seriously damaged the temple.

Built by King Alaungsithu (1113-
1163), the Thatbyinnyu is a transitional temple, standing
between the Early Style of the Ananda, half a mile to the
northeast, and the Late Style of the Gawdawpalin, half a mile to
the northwest. It is one of the earliest double-storeyed temples,
but the arrangement is different from that of later double-
storeyed temples, much as if it were still an experiment in the
new form.

The plan of the Thatbyinnyu is not unlike that of the Ananda-
square, with porticoes on all four sides-but the eastern portico
projects further than the others, breaking the symmetry. This
plan is followed in such later temples as the Sulamani and the

Gawdawpalin.

These are some of the famous temples and pagodas in Bagan. In
conclusion, Bagan is a great place to explore and learn about the
Myanmar culture. Whenever tourists come Myanmar, Bagan is
always to first requirement to come to!