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Anatta

Anatt1 is the last of the ‘three characteristics’ (ti-lakkha7a) which is according to Buddhism the general characteristics (samañña-lakkha7a) of the universe and everything in it. Like the teaching of the four Noble Truths, it is the teaching peculiar to Buddhas (buddh1nam samukkamsik1 desan1: M I 380). Etymologically, anatt1 consists of the negative prefix an plus att1 (cf. Vedic Sanskrit 1tman). There are two Pali forms of the word, namely, att1 (instr. Attan1) and atta (instr. attena). Neither form seems to be used in the plural in the Tipi5aka.

ARAKAN, THE LAND OF BUDDHISM

ARAKAN, THE LAND OF BUDDHISM - A Brief History of Mahamuani by Khaing Kyaw Kyaw According to almost all Arakanese chronicles, it is asserted that the Mahamuni Image was cast during the reign of King Candasuriya of Arakan in the middle of six century B.C. when the Lord Buddha in his life time made his sojourn to Dhanyawadi, the ancient city of Arakan.1 ( the old site of Dhanyawadi is situated on the focus of East longitude 93º 3´ and North Latitude 20º 52´).

11,000 people convert to Buddhism in Ahmedabad

Express News Service, Jan 25, 2010 Ahmedabad, India -- Cose to 11,000 people, including those from the Koli and Kshatriya communities as well as Christian families, embraced Buddhism at a function in Saijpur Bogha here on Sunday. Buddhist monks from Bhante Pragnyasheel administered the pledges to the new converts. The Ahmedabad district collector, however, said no conversion could be effective unless an official permission was granted.

Burmese Buddhist monks share plight with Tibetan exiles

ANI, January 27, 2010 Dharamsala, India -- An 18-member Burmese monks' delegation, which arrived here on a three-day visit, shared their plight with Tibetan exiles here on Tuesday. "We have few Burmese who are visiting Dharamsala and also with them they have brought a very powerful documentary called Burma VJ. This (the documentary) is about the Burmese monks protest in 2007 and how people inside Burma are struggling for freedom and democracy," said Tenzin Cheoying, a Tibetan activist.

Thich Nhat Hahn pleads for religious freedom in Vietnam

AFP, Jann 25, 2010 HANOI, Vietnam -- One of the world's most influential Buddhist monks made a plea for religious freedom in Vietnam Monday after his followers were forced from two temples. Devotees of French-based Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh say they have gone underground in Vietnam since last month when they were driven from the Phuoc Hue temple where they sought refuge after an earlier eviction.

Rapping Monk Slings Buddhist Rhymes

CNN, Jan 22, 2010 'Mr. Happiness' Says Using Hip-Hop Good Way To Attract Young Tokyo, Japan -- Outside the 400-year-old Kyoouji Temple, Kansho Tagai, dressed in his traditional monk robes, paused and began a sutra. He bobbed his head and then broke into a lyrical rap. << Tagai, a monk also known as Mr. Happiness, serves up Buddhism to a hip hop beat. "This is an old, old story, a fantasy and longing cosmology. Hey, hey, what's the story about? It's about the Buddha, yo. Hey brother, listen carefully! You got it? No? You don't?

Buddhists in Shimla demand PWD to handover monastery

ANI, January 23, 2010 Shimla, India -- Buddhists have been demanding the legal possession of a monastery in Rampur town of Shimla district from the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD). The foundation stone of the monastery was laid down by Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on 5th January 1990. It then took 16 years and a total cost of one crore rupees for the completion of the Buddhist temple.

The Buddhist Art of Ancient Arakan (1)

By U SAN THA AUNG The Author U San Tha Aung is a native of Arakan State (Burma). He passed B.Sc (Hons) in Physics from Rangoon University and A.M. in Physics from Harvard University. Served as Professor of Physics, Arts and Science University, Rangoon until 1970. Since then he is serving as the Director General of Higher Education. Ministry of Education, Burma.

On Gratitude

by Lim Kooi Fong, The Buddhist Channel, January 20, 2010 In this exclusive interview with the Buddhist Channel, Ajahn Sumedho – the foremost western disciple of the late Ajahn Chah – talks about how gratitude and respect for tradition have preserved and sustained his training as a monk. And in the process, he explains how these values have preserved the Thai forest tradition, the Buddha’s pristine Dhamma and its spread throughout the world. Gratitude seems to be a virtue that is seldom emphasized. How important is it in our practice?

Buddhism and Social Action

Buddhism and Social Action An Exploration by Ken Jones © 1995–2010 Contents * Acknowledgments * Part One: The Fundamentals * Part Two: The Action * Conclusion * References * Note Acknowledgments I am grateful to Mr. Paul Ingram who, as the then editor, published the original, very much abbreviated, version of this paper in the Buddhist Society's journal "The Middle Way" (Vol. 54, No. 2 Summer 1979, 85-88). My thanks are also due to the Ven. Nyanaponika Mahathera who encouraged me to develop my ideas further. For these, however, I must accept sole responsibility. Part One: The Fundamentals 1.1 Buddhism and the new global society It is the manifest suffering and folly in the world that invokes humane and compassionate social action in its many different forms. For Buddhists this situation raises fundamental and controversial questions. And here, also, Buddhism has implications of some significance for Christians, humanists and other non-Buddhists.

Buddhist Ethics and Social Criticism

Buddhism arose in India during a period of intense intellectual and social ferment. It was a period during which the authority of the Vedas had been placed in doubt, the concept of god as a supreme being and creator was in question, the hereditary restrictions on caste mobility were under attack, and the efficacy of Brahminical rituals was being challenged. The authors of the Upanishads had opened the door for various heterodox currents to emerge in society, and amongst the most significant of these were the Lokayatas who polemicized against religious charlatans, and the Nyayavadis whose rational epistemology created the foundation for intense philosophical debate and encouraged the investigation of the real world based on reason and logic, freed from the burden of superstition and irrational adherence to burdensome rituals. Various ideological sects competed for the attention and acceptance of the ruling elites and the public. The most important amongst these were the Jains and the Bu

Buddhism is about human emotions: Dalai Lama

KalingaTimes, Jan 15, 2010 Bhubaneswar, India -- Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama addressed the people of Bhubaneswar on Thursday. The function was organised by the Utkal University of Culture in association with Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha. “Any unrealistic method brings disaster. The message of non-violence, love and compassion keeps our mind calmer. We must look objectively, our mind must be unbiased. An agitative mind can't see reality and objectivity. Buddhism is carrying these teachings,” observed the spiritual guru.

Demand to establish stupa over Lord Buddha's mortal remains

TNN, 13 January 2010 VADODARA, India -- The forthcoming international seminar on Buddhist heritage has brought with it new found interest among various groups in mortal remains of Lord Buddha which have been in the possession of MS University (MSU). On Wednesday, some groups led by Jan Jagruti Abhiyan demanded that the state government should construct a stupa in Vadodara where the relic casket that contains the ashes of Lord Buddha will be displayed for public view to convert Vadodara into a tourism hub.

Former Nazi soldier fights to save Nepalese monastery

Indo-Asian News Service, Oct 14, 2004 Kathmandu, Nepal -- At the age of 93, a former Nazi soldier has taken up a new battle -- fighting to restore a 200-year-old Buddhist centre in Nepal ravaged by time, nature and human hands. Conscripted into Hitler's army against his wishes, Karl Henrik Wagner was part of the troops that occupied Norway in the spring of 1940. More than six decades later, Wagner came to Nepal in 2001 to celebrate his 90th birthday and retrace a journey he had undertaken way back in the 1960s.

Shwetaung pagoda

Shwetaung pagoda is located on the hill which is 300 feet high and half a mile away from the east of the palace site. The pagoda is the solid conical structure. The future Gaw Ta Ma Buddha lived in the mountain as a king peacock in a previous life of his to fulfill his minor perfection. The name of the mountain is Gandagiripatpada. King Thu Ri Ya Sak Ka in Dynyawaddy period, built a pagoda enshrining the head relic of Buddha in the pagoda according to the prophecy of Buddha. After fall of Laungkyat, king Min Saw Mon looked for a place to found the new city. When he was looking for it, the earth deity pointed out the place of the new city from Shwetaung mountain by wearing the white clothes. When king Min Saw Mon founded Mraukoo, he renovated Shwetaung pagoda as well as five city-settlement pagodas. In the regime of king Min Bar, a yogi called Zawgyi made the soil of Shwetaung to be gold by blowing bellows it. King Min Pha Laung donated the whole pagoda the golden robe by embellish

Laymyatnar Pagoda

Laymyatnar pagoda stands 150 feet far away from the northern part of Htoakkanthein pagoda. The pagoda built by king Min Saw Mon in 1430 AD, is one of the first five pagodas in Mraukoo. The pagoda is called Laymyatnar pagoda because the four entrances of the pagoda face the four directions. The pagoda was built in the form of arising of the great pagoda amidst the four surrounding pagodas. Dadugatba and the inverted golden bowl are above the bell-shaped dome. The pagoda is enclosed with the stone wall in four directions. There is the entrance at each of the eastern and the western stone walls. There are five Buddha images in the niches of the wall between the two entrances. There are eight stone Buddha images facing eight directions at the center of the cave tunnel. The total number of Buddha images are twenty eight depending on the verse of Thanboatday. The pagoda built by Na Ra Nu in AD 1433 who was a younger brother of king Min Saw Mon, is in the northern part of Laymyatnar pago

Burbutaung Pagoda

The mountain is called Barkula mountain because Ashin Bar Ku La stopped for awhile on the mountain when he came to Dynyawaddy taking Buddha relics from king Athor Ka of Patalipoat kingdom. On the other hand, it is also called Burpu mountain as Bur Pu ogre lived. Future Gaw Da Ma Buddha lived in the mountain as a barking deer in a previous life of his while he was fulfilling the minor perfection. The name of the mountain is Nithapatpada. King Thu Ri Ya Sak Ka of Dynyawaddy kingdom erected a pagoda enshrining Thiri relic of Buddha in it after Buddha had gained Parinibbanna. King Min Saw Mon rebuilt the pagoda in AD 1430 as the pagoda fell into ruins. There are still two pagodas built in Mraukoo period and one pagoda built by the townpeople during the British regime.

Moatsatetaw Pagoda

Moatsatetaw pagoda is situated on the hillock which is 100 feet high and 300 feet far away from the northern part of Myatansaung pagoda. The pagoda was built by king Min Saw Mon as one of the five city-settlement pagodas in AD 1430. The hillock has two levels and the first level was made of stone and it contains a repository for Buddhist scriptures. It is surrounded by the stone wall in four directions. Three stone Buddha images are in the cave. The cave has damaged due to the burglar. Moatsatetaw pagoda is loacted on the topmost level of the hillock. The pagoda was built at the center of the brick substructure called the big terrace which is 100 feet in lenght, 100 feet in breadth and 55 feet in height. The form of the pagoda is that Dadugatba is put over the bell-shaped dome. The pagoda is 50 feet high and 100 feet in circumference. There are four surrounding pagodas at the four corners. A Buddha foorprint was in the east of the pagoda. Nowadays, the trustee of Chitthaung pagoda mo

Shwegutaung Pagoda

Shwegutaung pagoda stands on the hill in the east of the palace site. The pagoda was built in the east of the palace, and the successive kings of Mraukoo worshipped that pagoda as a palace-head pagoda. The pagoda was built by king Min Saw Mon is AD 1430. The pagoda has three levels of the pagoda court in the west of the hill. There is a wall containing eight small caves in the lowest level. The peacock figures exist between every two small cave. In the previous time, the Buddha image cast in nine jewels, was in the cave. In the present, that Buddha image is dwelling in Nyaungpin Market monastery to be worshipped. The pagoda has a cave at the base and in the previous time, the cave had the bell-shaped pagodas. Each of the small pagodas is at the four corners. The small caves adjacent to the wall, are in the south, the north and the west. The British chief commissioner Mr. Aran Hal built a conical pagoda on the cave in AD 1937. The original upper part of the pagoda had been in ruins,

Myatansaung Pagoda

The eastern Myatasaung pagoda and the western Myatasaung pagoda built by king Min Saw Mon, are situated on the hills which are 41 feet high and 500 feet far away from the north of Laymyatnar pagoda. Those pagodas are the contemporary pagodas of founding Mraukoo. The pagodas were made of stone, and the wall of the surrounding pagoda and the stairway, were made of bricks. Both of the pagodas have the same size and similarity. The stone Buddha image which is 6 feet high, is inside the pagoda. There are four surrounding pagodas which were made of bricks at the four corners within the brick wall. There were monasteries in which the monks lived near the pagoda. That monastery was called Myatansaung monastery. It has been said that the monks from Myatasaung monastery went to Srilanka for their missionary work in the time of king Min Hla Ra Zar and king Min Ra Zar Gyi. Nowadays, the pagodas look collapsed and it is necessary to restore them.

Mahavizayyaranthi Pagoda

The pagoda is located on the hill which is one mile away from the palace site. The pagoda was erected by king Min Saw Mon in AD 1430. When king Min Saw Mon moved the capital from Laungkyat to Mraukoo, he invited twenty monks to Mraukoo from Laungkyat including Maha Vi Zay Ya, a head of Samgha. Kin Min Saw Mon honoured monk Maha Vi Zay Ya with donating a big monastery at the appropriate place in the south of the palace. That monastery was named as Mahavizayyaranthi monastery. The pagoda was also built on the hill near the monastery. The pagoda was called Maha Vizayyaranthi in reference to the name of the monk. The pagoda is one of five city-settlement pagodas. When monk Shin Maha Ra Hta Tha Ra and monk Shin Tay Zaw Tha Ra visited Rakhine, they sojourned in that monastery for three months of lent in 1516 AD. The pagoda is octagonal in shape at the base and it is built in the form of tiers of the terrace. There are eight opening caves in the four directions of the first and the second

Wathay Buddha Image

King Min Saw Mon took the throne of Mraukoo in 1432 AD. Two years later, after king Min Saw Mon had gained the throne of Mraukoo, he erected the Buddha image on Kyatchar mountain in AD 1432. In the same year, he also built Yanaung Buddha image, Natebuza Buddha image, Bopyo Buddha image, Sutawpan Buddha image, Thattawchay Buddha image and Latthukywe Buddha image at seven mountain ranges. King Min Bar ascended the throne of Mraukoo in 1530 AD. In the year of accession of king Min Bar, he managed to recapture twelve cities of Bengal. Before the king began the military operation, he consulted with ministers. Therefore, minister Kaung Kyaw Tin Sar spoke to the king humbly according to the ominous saying that all the mosques must be placed only Baungdweat quarter, and the new umbrella must be replaced for the old one of Wathay Buddha image after renovating it, and all muslims must be shaved heads. In accordance with the minister’s advice, before he started the military operation, the king

Nyidaw Pagoda

The pagoda was built by king Min Kha Ree in AD 1433. The pagoda is called Nyidaw pagoda because king Min Kha Ree built the pagoda he wanted the successive generations of Rakhine to imitate him that he paid respect to his elder brother Min Saw Mon according to 38 kinds of blessing. The pagoda has a perfumed chamber. The evidence of belief of 28 Buddhas, can be found because the 28 niches of 28 Buddhas were made at both sides of the entrance way to the pagoda. The stone sculpture of the early Mraukoo period, was sculpted at Buddha throne.

Htuparyoon Pagoda

Htuparyoon pagoda stands on the flat land in the north of Laungpanprauk pagoda. The pagoda was built by king Min Ran Aung in AD 1454. King Min Kha Maung and his queen Shin Htwe reconstructed the pagoda in AD 1613 and donated the golden robe for the whole pagoda. In Mraukoo period, the kings came to the pagoda to make reverence to the pagoda for the victory after their coronations. The pagoda is surrounded by two layers of the wall. Every four direction of the wall has the entrances. The man-lion statues with the body of the lion and the head of the human being, were made at every corner of the innver wall. The pagoda was made of sandstones, and the base of the pagoda is octagonal in shape. The lotus leaves and buds were made at the terraces. Every four direction of the two terraces has the opening caves. There are stone Buddha images in such caves. The pagoda was built in the form of zigzag. In the reign of king Min Pha Laung, there were free dispensaries between the two walls. The

Ratanamankin and Ratanasanrwe Pagoda

Ratanamankin and Ratanasanrwe are the pagodas built of King Ba Saw Phyu on the spur of Haymawon mountain in AD 1459. Only the stone Buddha images can be worshipped in the perfumed chamber as the pagoda fell into ruins. It is a distinction that the Buddha image and the throne were built separately without joining to the western wall in the perfumed chamber.

Bawdishwegu Pagoda

Bawdishwegu pagoda is situated on the spur of Haymawan hill in the eastern part of Linpanpyauk pagoda. The pagoda was built by king Ba Saw Phyu in AD 1470. The base of the pagoda is octagonal in shape and the pagoda looks like a truncated pagoda. There are god figures associated with the planets at the corners of the pagoda. The pagoda is 30 feet high and 106 feet in circumference. The whole pagoda was made of blocks of stone. There is a cave opening in the east to enter the pagoda. Two hundred and eighty stone sculptures were sculpted in six classes on the walls of the entrance way to the cave. The figures based on 550 Zataka stories, were carved fully in both sides of the entrance way to the cave. The figure of the king who goes around the city, clothing styles of the ministers, the clothing styles of the general and the decorations of the elephant and the horse, were carved in detail. The small Buddha images are over those figures. The stone Buddha image which is 6 feet high, is i

Shwekyathein Pagoda

King Ba Saw Phyu ascended the throne of Mraukoo in 1459 AD. The king let the western-palace queen live in the western-palace chamber in the west of the palace near Mauktawgate. The western-palace queen gave birth a daughter called Saw Shwe Kya in such place. Minister Min Nyo of Bardugyun composed a lullaby, and presented it to sing in the cradle-swinged ceremony for princess Saw Shwe Kya. That Lullaby became well known as Rakhine princess lullaby in the history. Princess Saw Shwe Kya built a Buddha image and a cave in the site of her palace chamber as the donation in AD 1471. It is situated in the south-west of Anawma pagoda. The upturned lotus petals, were sculpted of stone at the terraces, and they are the scarce hand-artistic works of Mraukoo period. The pagoda is called Shwekyathein with reference to the princess’s name. In the past, the prayer hall was in front of the cave. Nowadays, the original prayer hall had already collapsed, therefore, the new prayer hall was built over t

Narazall Buddha Image (or) Rakhine Tasaung Buddha Image

The pagoda is situated on the right side of the way to Myothit quarter and it is half a mile way from the west of the palace site. The minister Na Ra Zall built the pagoda in AD 1471. The pagoda is called Narazall pagoda because it was built by minister Na Ra Zall. Na Ra Zall was a minister who had to choose the suitable time for the king. Thoat Daw Lyar, the son of king Ba Saw Phyu, took the throne of Mraukoo in 1481 when his father passed away. In the fifth year of his accession, monk Shin Maha Ra Hta Tha Ra and monk Shin Tay Zaw Tha Ra from Ava, arrived in Mraukoo. Both of the two monks dwelled for three months of lent in Mahavizayyaranthi monastery king Min Saw Mon donated. One day, they met princess Saw Nan Min Phyu, a daughter of king Thoat Daw Lyar, on the way back to the monastery from the downtown. So, monk Tay Zaw Tha Ra admired the beauty of the princess by writing Ratu which includes three stanzas of the verse. The princess received that Ratu while she was paying reve

Tayzarama Pagoda

The king who gained the throne of Mraukoo in 1494 AD, was Thein Ga Thu. At his reign of 7 years, he built a great pagoda as a customary good deed of the kings in the north-west of the palace site. The pagoda was called Tayzarama pagoda in reference to the name of the monk because it was built near the monastery of monk Tay Za Ra Ma, the head of the monk order. The pagoda is conical in structure. There are four porches in the second and the third terraces. Both sides of each porch have small pagodas in the form of Mahaboddhi temple. The pagoda was renovated by king Na Ra Pa Ti and king San Da Vi Za Ya. There is a particular stone cave built separately in the east of the pagoda. The ogre stone sculpture at the porch of the cave, is artistic. A stone Buddha image is in the cave. At the south of the pagoda, the list of the farms donated for the image, was inscribed in the cave. There are four stone inscriptions. Nowadays, the pagoda board of trustee takes care of it.

Myawtawmu Pagoda

The hillock on which Myawtawmu pagoda stands, is 100 feet high and two furlongs away from the palace site. Although the original donor was not known exactly, the year of renovation of king Min Pha Laung, must be recorded. The place on which Myawtawmu pagoda stands, is a plateau. The brick wall was made around the plateau and the entrance has porches. The brick stairway is an access to climb the top of the mountain. Kwansee entrance gate can be seen if one views from that place. In Mraukoo period, the soldiers who came back from the war, had to enter the city from only that entrance gate. he pagoda was called Myawtawmu pagoda because the women used to wait for the returning of their husbands, soldiers, to homes from that place. And, it was also the place the women prayed to Buddha by donating light for the victory of the war of their husbands. In the reign of king Min Kha Maung, a zone officer had to live with his family near Myawtawmu pagoda while he was performing his duties at Po

Nipuzar Pagoda

The three pagodas stand on the hill which is 100 feet high and half a mile away from the east of the palace site. King Min Saw Oho, the tenth king of Min Saw Mon dynasty, built the pagoda in AD 1515. Three Nipuzar pagodas are: lower Nipuzar, middle Nipuzar and upper Nipuzar. The words “Nipuzar” was derived from Napuza in Pali. Napuza means the place worshipped by the people. The nat figures worshipped by Brahmans called Ponenaw who lived in Mraukoo in the past, can be found near Nipuzar pagoda. Nowadays, such figures of Nat were kept in Mraukoo archaeological museum. The upper Nipuzar and the middle Nipuzar have been damaged and covered with creepers. Only the lower Nipuzar pagoda has the easy accessibility. That pagoda is also damaging at the upper part of the inverted alms bowl. Nipuzar is a stone pagoda and has terraces. The golden balls and the mouldings remaining at uppter part of the inverted alms bowl, still can be seen until now. The stone Buddha image which is 10 feet high,

Laungpwanpyauk Pagoda

The pagoda stands on the flat land which is one mile far away from the north of the palace site. The pagoda was built by king Min Saw Oho in AD 1525. The pagoda was named Laungpwanpyauk according to the ominous saying. The pagoda is surrounded by the stone wall in two layers. There are stairways and entrances to the pagoda in the east and the west. There are glazed-multicoloured big flowers around the inner stone wall. Each big flower has one yellow pollen and four sepals. There are 166 big flowers and 240 small flowers around the stone wall. The pagoda is octagonal in shape. Every terrace has niche Buddha images inside the porches which are similar to the pediments of the throne. The eastern porch is a very beautiful stone sculpture. The Buddha image in the eastern proch, is Pudumoathti Buddha image. The pagoda is inclining towards the east because the burglars broke in the bell-shaped dome. Nowadays, the pagoda was repaired by the department of archaeology and it is 75 feet high.

Rathaytaung Pagoda

King Min Saw Oho ruled the throne of Mraukoo in 1515 AD. Such king built many pagodas on the seven mountain ranges. Three pagodas were built on Sankar mountain in the west of the palace. Such mountain is called Rathay mountain because a hermit lived on the mountain during the Birtish regime. The devotee U Tha Tun renovated the pagodas damaged during the British regime. Nowadays, the small pagoda is nearly destroying because of digging of the treasure hunters.

Thattawshay Pagoda

King Min Khaung Ra Za built Thattawshay pagoda on the hill which is 50 feet high and a mile away from the west of the palace site in AD 1525. Thattawshay pagoda is the conical pagoda with the cave. The devotee U That Tun Oo repaired the pagoda in the British regime because it destroyed.

Thattawra Pagoda

King Min Khaung Ra Za built Thattawra pagoda on the hill which is 50 feet high and one mile away from the palace site in AD 1525. Eighty years ago, U Pha Taw renovated the pagoda because it fell into ruins. The base of the pagoda is in the form of substructure, and the upper part of the pagoda is in the form of conical pagoda. The pagoda is enclosed with the four small surrounding pagodas. The stone sculptural flowers, were sculpted at the whole cave.

Datphyutaung Buddha Image

Datphyutaung Buddha image is situated half a mile away from the palace site and stands on the hill which is 100 feet high. The original pagoda was erected by king Min Bar in AD 1530. That pagoda was named Datphyutaung because the white-bone relic of Buddha was enshrined. In the past, it was a stone pagoda, but it had already collapsed. Nowadays, the townspeople, therefore, erected the stone Buddha image on the lotus throne. The Buddha image is 8 feet high. The contemporary donors made the figures in the form of preaching Dhamacakka sermon and other figures on the mountain. The townspeople donated the prayer hall for the image and the pagoda board of trustee maintains the image.

Shwegugyi Pagoda

Shwegugyi Pagoda is situated in the valley between Shwetaung and Myawtawgutaung. The pagoda was built at the year of accession of king Min Bar. The pagoda has the substructure at the base, and the superstructure in the form of the inverted bronze bowl, is above it. The conical pagoda was erected at the top. The great pagoda is surrounded by four small pagodas. The sitting Buddha image made of the single stone, is in the perfumed chamber. The figure of Vishnu conveyed from Hindu Nat Shrine, is at the entrance to the cave. Both sides of the entrance porch have the stone sculptures in the form of paying homage to Buddha image. Nowadays, the whole pagoda was covered with the golden robe. The board of trustee preserves the pagoda.

Thingyishwegu Buddha Image

Thingyishwegu is one of the nine great caves in Mraukoo. Thingyishwegu stands on the hillock which is 30 feet high and one mile away from the south-east of the palace site. Thingyishwegu Buddha image was built by king Min Bar in AD 1532. The whole hillock was consecrated as the great ordination hall. The stone pillars used as the boundary pillars of the ordination hall, are still five feet high. Although the great cave had destroyed, the four facades of the wall have still remained. The Buddha image sat on the lotus throne in the cage, is 12 feet high. Nowadays, Shwetaung monk maintained the cave by expelling the residences around the hillock.

Chitthaung Pagoda

Ba Saw Ye, the governor of Thandwe, gained the throne of Mraukoo in 1531 AD. He was called Min Pyin prince because he was given Lamucriminpyin by the king to govern. When he became a king, he was called king Min Pyin, but later, his name became Min Bar. He accepted giving him the title of Thi Ri Thu Ri Ya San Da Mahar Dam Ma Ra Zar at the coronation. His chief queen was Phaw Saw Min. King Min Yay Kyaw Saw fought king Min Saw Mon who was ruling Laungkyat, the last capital of Laymyo period. Consequently, he had to take shelter under king Thu Ra Tan, and he had to give him twelve Bengal cities of Rakhine in order to get back the throne of Laungkyat. Therefore, the twelve Bengal cities of Rakhine fell to king Thu Ra Tan for 125 years from 1406 AD to 1531 AD. One year later, after king Min Bar had gained the throne of Mraukoo, Shin Mya Wa and Maha Pin Nya Kyaw suggested him to recapture the twelve Bengal cities of Rakhine, which fell to king Thu Ra Tan in 1406 AD. The king let Maha Pin

The Chief Queen Cave

King Min Hti Kha, the eldest son of king Min Bar, built Koethaung pagoda in 1553 AD. In the same time, Saw Than Dar, the chief queen of king Min Hti Kha, erected the cave on the hill which is fifty feet high and four hundred feet away from the west of Koethaung pagoda. That cave was called the chief queen cave because of the queen’s good deed. The Buddha image which is 100 feet high and the throne which is 5 feet high, were sculpted from the single stone. Only four walls of the cave remain. The roof of the cave is damaging.

Koethaung Pagoda

Koethaung pagoda is situated one and half a mile away from the east of the palace site. After king Min Bar had passed away, the crown prince Min Taik Kha took the throne of Mraukoo in AD 1553. When king Min Taik Kha was ill, the prophets told humbly that the king would die next six months, but if he wanted longevity in life, he must make nine astrological contrivances in terms of Buddha therapy. According to the prophet’s advice, Koethaung pagoda was built in the east of the palace in AD 1553. He managed to finish the pagoda within six months. No sooner had the pagoda been finished then the king recovered from his illness. He was crowned as king with his queen Saw Than Dar, and he passed away after he had ruled Rakhine for three years. There is a cave tunnel around the pagoda. Nine stupas are above the cave tunnel. Nowadays, they fell down and debris of those stupas are blocking the cave tunnle. There are five levels inside the outter wall, and one hundred and eight pagodas which w

Minkhamaubg Pagoda

King Min Pha Laung, the youngest son of king Min Bar, ascended the throne of Mraukoo in 1571 AD. He was called Min Pha Laung because he was born at the time of Ba Yin Gyi Pha Laung’s arrival in Mraukoo. He built a stone pagoda by Kyatkhat city gate near Anuma lake in the south of the palace. The pagoda is called Gawyewa pagoda. His grandson Min Kha Maung ascended the throne in 1612 AD and renovated the pagoda. The pagoda was roofed with the prayer hall. He donated the golden robe for the whole pagoda. The pagoda has four walls at the base and one has a proch. The figures of two Devas making obeisance to Buddha, were sculpted at both sides of the porch pediment. The figure of minister in the form of squatijng, was sculpted under the king figure. The stone Buddha image which is three cubits high, was erected on the stone throne in the perfumed chamber. The remains of the golden robe donated for the Buddha image, can still be seen until now. Nine stone bowls in the form of the lotus flo

Htoakkanthein Pagoda

Htoakkanthein pagoda is located on the hillock which is 30 feet high and 300 feet away from the western part of Chitthaung pagoda. The donors of the pagoda are king Min Pha Laung and his chief queen Shin Lat. The pagoda was built in AD 1571. While King Min Pha Laung was governing the country, it was in chaos, therefore, his friends told him, “Build the pagoda called Htoakkan if the country is in chaos, and prop it up if the house is old.” Therefore, the pagoda was named Htoakkanthein. The pagoda is 100 feet wide from the south to the north and 137 feet long from the east to the west and it stands on the hillock which is 20 feet high. The structure of the pagoda is that there is a great pagoda in the form of the stupa at the center of the substructure (base monastery) and there are four small stupas in the four corners. Dhadugappa is placed over the inverted alms bowl at the central pagoda and the surrounding pagodas. The entrance is in the south in the substructure (base monastery)

Buraoat Pagoda

Buraoat pagoda is situated on the hill which is 50 feet high and half a mile away from the palace site. As the country was in chaos, after Htoakkanthein pagoda had been built, king Min Pha Laung built Buraoat pagoda as a monument in AD 1571 in order not to disintegrate the country. After the upper part of the pagoda had already ruined, one terrace only remained. The terrace has twenty nine small caves nad twenty nine Buddha images dwelled in those caves. The stone Buddha image which is 13 feet high, is on the lotus throne inside the chamber at the eastern entrance. .

Shinmyawa Pagoda

Shin Mya Wa was a courtier. His father was Maha Nan Da Thin Kyan, the governor of Sinetin. His mother was Zay Ya Khay Ma, the daughter of Sin Kay Aung Tin and Saw Than Da. He was born at 4 AM on Thursday in the fullmoon day of waso in 1542 AD. Shon(Shin) Mra (Mya) Wa Image King Min Bar was also born to Saw Nan Di, the elder sister of Zay Ya Khay Ma and king Min Ra Zar on Saturday in the month of waso in 1542 AD. Therefore, Shin Mya Wa and king Min Bar were cousins. Maha Pin Nya Kyaw was born in 1539 AD. Shin Mya Wa, king Min Bar and Maha Pin Nya Kyaw were friends. Those three friends. Those three friends were educated in the monastery of monk Agga Sein Day Ya until the age of 16. And then, those three friends went to India to study further education. King Min Bar and Maha Pin Nya Kyaw returned to Rakhine after they had completed in education. But, Shin May Wa changed into an ascentic and studied under the ascentic Thi Ri Vi Tha Noe for 23 years. After he had completed in education

Shinkite Pitakattike

Shinkite library of Buddhist scripture is one of the forty eight Buddhist scripture libraries in Mraukoo. The door was king Min Pa Laung. The gilded palm leaves written Pitakas, are in the library, and the monks of the nearby monasteries use them. Shinkite library is situated near Shinkite gate in the north of Htupayone pagoda. At the ancient time, king Min Pha Laung donated the library and Pitakas for the monks who lived in Taungnyo monastery in AD 1591. Each side to the library is 13 feet long and the porch of the library is 6 feet high. The wall is concave and it is in the form of the lotus flower. The outter wall of the library is decorated with flowers and flowering creepers. The seven levels of the graduated turret which are 15 feet high, are above the substructure. The library is enclosed with the wall. Previously, the bronze Buddha image was in the perfumed chamber. Nowadays, the Buddha image and the throne don’t exist in the library. The department of archaeology preserves

Andawthein Pagoda

Andawthein pagoda stands 100 feet away from the northern part of Chitthaung pagoda. The pagoda and the prayer hall are fenced with the wall which is made of brick. The hillock on which the pagoda stands, is the spur of Phoekhaung mountain and it is eight feet high. Before Andawthein was built, king Min Hla Ra Zar Saw Mon, the twelfth king of Mraukoo dynasty, built the prayer hall and Buddha image at the present place of Andawthein in AD 1521. By the time king Min Bar was the governor of Thandwe, the monks from Rakhine had to go to Srilanka for the missionary work because Theravada Buddhism was on decline in Srilanka. The mission of Samgha was led by Ashin Tay Zar Ra Tha from Thandwe and Ashin Dha Ma Vi La Tha from Mraukoo. When they got back from Srilanka. Ashin Tay Zar Ra Tha gave the molar relic of Buddha to Ba Saw Yee, the governor of Thandwe. The crown prince Ba Saw Yee built a pagoda enshrining the molar relic of Buddha in it on Warthura mountain of Thandwe near the present And

Parapaw Pagoda

King Maha Thu Ri Ya Tine San Dra founded Vesali in AD 327. His chief queen was Thu Pa Bar Day Vi, the Sakkya clan of Kapilawat kingdom. One day, the queen spoke to the king humbly that she wanted to make obeisance to Thakkyamuni Buddha image which was worshipped by the ancestors of Kapilawat kingdom in belief. The king sent his ministers to Kapilawat kingdom to convey the Buddha image to Vesali. Thakkyamuni Buddha image carried by the sailing ship to Vesali, fell into the water at Waykhanaungtheinzeetount because the sailing ship wrecked due to the storm. In such time, it has said that Waykhanaung was 120 feet in depth. However they dived into the water to look for it, they didn’t find the image. When the ministers arrived at the palace, they told the king that the Buddha image had fallen into the water. When the queen heard that news, she contracted with the psychological disease because she wanted to make obeisance to the Buddha image intensely. And then, king Maha Tine San Dra made

Ratanapoon Pagoda

Ratanapoon pagoda is situated on the hillock which is 10 feet high and 20 feet away from the northern part of Andawthein pagoda. The pagoda was built by king Min Kha Maung and his queen Shin Htwe in AD 1612. The pagoda was named as Ratanapoon because the treasures were heaped in the pagoda and in other words, the pagoda was called Ratanapoon in order to know that Rakhine people have taken refuge in three gems called Buddha, Dhamma and Samgha in strong faith. Ratanapoon was derived from Ratanapunya in Pali. The pagoda resembles Sanchi stupa in India and Kaungmudaw pagoda donated by king Thar Lun is Sagaing. Ratanapoon pagoda is enclosed with the wall. There are the entrance staircases in the east, the north and the south of the wall. There are lion figures which were made of stone at the entrances outside the inner wall. The pagoda is enclosed with seventeen brick pagodas. There are three stone pagodas adjacent to Ratanapoon pagoda in the east. The stone Buddha images are in the cav

Mingaungshwegu Pagoda

Mingaungshwegu pagoda stands half a mile away from the palace site and 200 yards away from the south of Pharaoat pagoda. Nat Shin May, the chief queen of king Thi Ri Thu Dam Ma Ra Za, built the pagoda. The pagoda is the solid conical structure. The pagoda was built by fitting the stones properly. The receding terraces have the porches. The workmanlike stone sculptures were made at the pediments of the porches. The upper part of the pagoda is inclining a little towards the ground because the treasure hunters burgled the inverted alms bowl of the pagoda. The department of archeology maintained the porches. Queen Nat Shin May was an outstanding queen in Mraukoo period. She was famous not only for good reputation but also for bad reputation. The examination of the repeating Buddhist scripture by heart, was held in the month of Nattaw in Mraukoo period. The honorable parade was made for the person who gets the first prize wearing the umbrella. Nat Shin May had to go around the city in

Thakkyamanaung Pagoda

Thakkyamanaung pagoda is situated half a mile far in distance from the eastern part of the palace site and it stands on the flat land. The pagoda was erected by king Thi Ri Thu Dam Ma in AD 1629. The pagoda was named Thakkyamanaung in commemoration of that Sakkya clan ruled the throne of Mraukoo consecutively from generation to generation. The pagoda is 240 feet in circumference and 114 feet high. The pagoda is surrounded by the stone wall. The figures of Tanawyatkha and Piliyatkha who are gurading the pagoda, and the figures of Vithajone and Pyinsathikha celestial beings who are playing obeisance to Buddha, can be seen at both sides of the western entrance. The pagoda was made of stone and it was built in the form of the sacred lotus. The form of booming of sacred lotus flower and the form of appearing of the pagoda from the plinth, represent that Buddha, the sacred lotus flower, appeared from the worldly realm, the mud. There are four porches in the two terraces. The porches we

Htintawmu and Myintawmu

King Sa Nay ascended the throne of Mraukoo as the ninth descendant of king Min Bar clan. After king Sa Nay had passed away, minister Nga Ku Tha La, the governor of Laungkyat, took the throne of Mraukoo with the name of Na Ra Pa Ti Gyi. He asked the monks humbly whether the rib relic of Buddha and the breast-bone relic of Buddha should be moved or not as they were near the residences of Latsay lake. The monks answered pointing out the quotations logically that the relics should be moved. So, the king built the new pagodas on the two hills which are 100 feet high by bringing back the relics from such pagodas. King Na Ra Pa Ti Gyi foretold himself that he would be a king according to astrology. That is why the pagoda in which the rib relic of Buddha was enshrined, was named Htintawmu and the pagoda enshrining the breast-bone relic of Buddha, was named Myintawmu. Nowadays, the pagodas are damaging and covering with creepers.

Zinamanaung Pagoda

Zinamanaung pagoda is half a mile far away from the palace site and stands on Pantein hillock. King San Da Thu Da Ma Ra Zar ascended the throne of Mraukoo in 1652 AD. Firstly, the king built a pagoda just after he had ascended the throne. And then, the children shouted out that the good deeds done by the king on Pantain hill, were not worth to say “well done.” When the king heard those words, he consulted with the wise ministers. And, they spoke to the king humbly that the pagoda the king built, was very small, therefore, the Devas called god, made the children speak out to remind the king. As the king felt embarrassed about those words, he built another big stone pagoda near the former pagoda in AD 1658. The pagoda is an octagonal structure at the base and the guinea pigs which have single heads and double bodies, are at the corners. The entrance of the cave is in the east to enter the perfumed chamber. In the past, the bronze Buddha image was in the perfumed chamber. Nowadays, the

Ratanamanaung Pagoda AD

Ratanamanaung pagoda is situated half a mile away from the north-east corner of the palace site. King San Da Thu Dam Ma built the pagoda in AD 1658. The pagoda was named Ratanamanaung dedicating to that Rakhine people have taken refuge in three gems: Buddha, Dhamma and Samgha in belief from generation to generation. The pagoda was built step by step with the bell-shaped dome, the inverted alms bowl, the moulding, the downturned louts petals, the coloured-glass ball, the upturned louts petals, the banana bud, the umbrella, the triangular vane and the diamond orb. The pagoda is 150 feet high. There are planetary figures in all directions near the pagoda. The sabbath hall which is 54 feet in length, 13 feet in breadth and 10 feet i height, is in the northern part of the pagoda. That sabbath hall is called white cave. The monk who dwelled in the cave, was given the throne of Mraukoo in 1696 AD, and he ruled Rakhine for one year in the name of Mar Rone Pi Ya. The stone cave is in the east

Mingalamanaung Pagoda

Oak Ka Ba La, the son of king San Da Thu Dam Ma, ascended the throne of Mraukoo in AD 1674. After he had reigned the country for eleven years, he built a pagoda near Mingalar gate in the north of the palace. The king named the pagoda Mingalamanaung in order to know that Rakhine people complied with thirty eight kinds of blessing from generation to generation successfully. At the same time, Mingalaoo pagoda was also built in the old capital of Crake. One day, after the king had made obeisance to Mahamuni Buddha image, the courtier told the king in supplication on the way back to Mraukoo that Mingalaoo pagoda collapsed occasionally. And then, the king ordered his companions to go back to Mraukoo and he set off for the old capital of Crake with his two queens by the single boat. When the comrade Thi Ha who governed the southern part heard such news, he advanced towards the old capital of Crake to assassinate him. When king Oak Ka Ba La got to the port of the old Crake city, he disembark

Latkwaytaung Pagoda

King Na Ra Aba Ya Ra Zar ruled the throne of Mraukoo in 1742 AD. He built five pagodas on Datswan mountain which is 100 feet high and one mile away from the west of the palace. It is called Latkwaytaung pagoda because the pagoda was built enshrining the ring finger relic of Buddha in it. The five pagodas can be seen like a thumb, an index finder, a middle finger, a ring finger and a little finger by looking at in distance. Those look like spreading the human’s hand. That is why the mountain is called Latkwaytaung mountain. The devotee U Than Tun Oo renovated the pagodas in the British regime because they fell into ruins. Mauktaw gate exists between Rathaytaung and Latkwaytaung.

Haritaung Pagoda

The pagoda on Haritaung mountain was built by Na Ra Aba Ya Ra Za in the year of AD 1750. The pagoda is called Aritaw pagoda because it was built enshrining Aritaw relic of Buddha in it. Some historians say that the word “Hari” was derived from “Chari” in Sanskrit. Nevertheless, such Hari mountain has existed before king Na Ra Aba Ya Ra Za. That mountain was called Galone mountain, Thiri mountain and Hari mountain respectively since the time of founding Mraukoo of king Min Saw Mon. It is found in the record that king Thi Ri Thu Dam Ma Ra Za was called king Min Ha Ri because he was born in the place near Hari mountain.

The History of Mahamuni Buddha Image

By SAN SHWE BU (J.B.R.S Vol. 6, Part3. 1916) The great outstanding feature in the history of Arakan is the account of Buddha’s sojourn in this country and of his supervision over the casting of his image. The story of his seven day’s visit with five hundred Rahandas— his lengthly discourse pregnant with prophesy delivered on the top of the hill opposite the town of Kyauktaw– His Journey into the city of Dynnyawaddi at the request of King Sanda Thurya— the casting of the image by men and gods, have been very clearly set fourth by the able researches of the late Dr. Forchammer and need hardly be mentioned again in the present sketch. The Mahamuni tradition is the oldest of the kind we have. It permeates the whole religious history of Arakan and the images that at present sanctify a thousand temples and pagodas in this country are the replicas of the first great and only faithful copy of the Master. Interesting as all these facts may appear there is however one great flaw which defi