Shwedagon paya pagoda

Driving past the abandoned colonial houses that once housed British administrators, you notice that you can see the road through a foot wide hole in the rusted out bottom of the 20 year old Toyota Corolla you have hired as a taxi. Getting out of the car, there is only one thing that commands the skyline, shwedagon paya pagoda.

The Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. Built on the metre ft high Singuttara Hill , the m ft tall pagoda stands m ft above sea level, [note 1] and dominates the Yangon skyline. Legend holds that the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed more than 2, years ago — while the Buddha was still alive — which would make it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. In so doing, they became the first lay disciples to take refuge in the teachings of the Buddha. Contemporary inscriptional evidence, the Shwedagon Pagoda Inscriptions from the reign of King Dhammazedi of Hanthawaddy r.

Shwedagon paya pagoda

History : The history of the Shwedagon Pagoda begins with the story of two Burmese merchant brothers, Tapussa and Bhallika. On a trading expedition to India, they visited the Buddha as he sat under the bodhi tree on the 49th day after attaining Enlightenment. The brothers offered him honey cakes, and when the Buddha had eaten them, they asked for a gift from him. Buddha passed his hands over his head and produced eight hairs, which he gave to Tapussa and Bhallika. The brother journeyed back to Burma, with the sacred hairs. They gave two to the King of Atjjhatta and and two to the serpent king Jayasena. With the aid of these leaders and several nats or spirits, the brothers arrived in present day Yangon with the four remaining hairs. With the help of the King of Ulkuppa, they set out to enshrine the hairs, contained in a ruby casket, on the Singuttara hill. This was already a shrine, containing the the relics of the three previous Buddhas--the water filter of Kakusandha, the robe of Konagamana, and the staff of Kassapa. The relics were committed to a chamber, over which was built a stupa or zedi of gold. This was encased in a silver pagoda, then in a pagoda of gold and copper alloy, then in an iron pagoda, then in a marble pagoda, and then finally in a brick pagoda. That is the legend of the origins of the Shwedagon Paya. Since then it has been ravaged by war and earthquakes, built upon and added to until the present day. Layout :.

Third edition Look for the scale model of the stupa and the beautiful painting of the temple by MT Hla.

One of Buddhism's most sacred sites, the ft zedi stupa here is adorned with 27 metric tons of gold leaf, along with thousands of diamonds and other gems, and is believed to enshrine strands of the Gautama Buddha's hair as well as relics of three former buddhas. Four entrance stairways lead to the main terrace. Visit at dawn if you want tranquillity; otherwise, pay your respects when the golden stupa flames crimson and burnt orange in the setting sun. The following covers the history and layout of Shwedagon Paya. Tour agencies can also arrange guides; a good, regularly scheduled tour that also includes the surrounding area is offered by Khiri Travel.

Perhaps the grandest of the entrances with its marble floors and regal columns, the western gate creates the feeling of entering a dreamy palace. This entry also has escalators. If an elevator is necessary, use the southern, northern or eastern gates. The Shwedagon Pagoda is open daily from 4 a. ATMs and moneychangers are located at various points within the grounds of the Shwedagon. Dress modestly and remove shoes. For a small donation, footwear can be dropped off on the way up to the main platform. The central stupa, rising approximately feet above the terrace, is perfectly framed from this angle.

Shwedagon paya pagoda

The Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. Built on the metre ft high Singuttara Hill , the m ft tall pagoda stands m ft above sea level, [note 1] and dominates the Yangon skyline. Legend holds that the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed more than 2, years ago — while the Buddha was still alive — which would make it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. In so doing, they became the first lay disciples to take refuge in the teachings of the Buddha. Contemporary inscriptional evidence, the Shwedagon Pagoda Inscriptions from the reign of King Dhammazedi of Hanthawaddy r. In particular, Queen Shin Saw Pu r. By the beginning of the 16th century, Shwedagon Pagoda had become the most famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in Burma. A series of earthquakes during the following centuries caused damage.

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Well, the use of neon-lights is not particularly Burmese. Finally, at the northern directional shrine, is that of the fourth Buddha, Gautama. The main platform of Shwedagon Pagoda, its Information Centers, and concessions are wheelchair accessible. Look for the…. The Golden Shwedagon Zedi Continuing round on the edge of the platform, you begin your circling of the Naungdawgyi Paya elder brother pagoda. Next, at the western directional shrine , is that of the third Buddha, Kassapa. This article is part of a series from Myanmar, describing my travels in August It is customary to circumnavigate Buddhist stupas in a clockwise direction. It is believed there are relics of four Buddhas enshrined in the pagoda, including eight strands of hair from Gautama himself, the founder of Buddhism. On the outer edges of the open space there was another ring of shrines, or what I would call chapels in a Christian cathedral context. Shwedagon Pagoda on Singuttara Hill. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The tomb of one of Myanmar's most celebrated poets and public intellectuals is the furthest away from Shwedagon Paya in the quartet of mausoleums here…. The first orientation Relieving myself of the wonderful sight I looked around and noticed that there were a number of very small structures at the square base of the golden stupa. On Sunday, about nuns joined the marchers.

The bedazzling golden Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred site in all of Myanmar and a must-see for any visitor planning a trip to this emerging Southeast Asian destination. Many Irrawaddy River Cruises offer an excursion at the Shwedagon Pagoda, however, it is also quite easy to visit on your own.

Noone seemed to notice, and to my relief I even spotted small groups of monks walking the same way I did. Tools Tools. It is too much to see in one glance. Had I been spotted? The main gold-plated dome is topped by a stupa containing over 7, diamonds, rubies, topaz and sapphires, the whole giddy concoction offset by a massive emerald positioned to reflect the last rays of the setting sun. Meilamu Paya 5. Gold fills your vision. The brothers offered him honey cakes, and when the Buddha had eaten them, they asked for a gift from him. Toggle limited content width. On part of my meditative walk, I used the plastic mat that was laid out to protect feet from getting scorched under the shining sun. The giant stupa The stupa rising 98 metres over my bare feet was incredible. They're regilding it now. Shwedagon Pagoda Festival Tabaung.