Vesali described by the chronicles Skip to main content

Vesali described by the chronicles

Vesali described by the chronicles
http://i2.wp.com/pathsunwritten.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/vesali-mrauk-u-5.jpg
The annals of the great cities in Rakhine history, the story and glory of Vesali has been well recorded. This great city lies about five miles north of Mrauk-U.

The city of Vesali was strategic sea-port in trade between India and central Myanmar. In Ananda Candra Stone Inscriptions inscribed in eight century A.D. of Vesali period, it is beautifully coined that "King Dven Candra founded the city that ridiculed the beauty of 'abode of celestial beings' (nat-pray) commemorating victory over one hundred and one kings."

Map of Vesali

Twenty successive kings ruled the kingdom from this city spanning from fourth to eight century A.D. For trade currency purposes, five sizes of gold and silver coins were used in the coins used earlier bore the titles of the ruling monarchs. As flourished in Vesali, pagodas were built, images of Lord Buddha sculpted, monasteries constructed and donated, and the use of Sanskrit became common and later used the official language.

Entering the area of old city from the south, one will first come across "Aboung-daw" lake. Close to it is Thun-kyat-taw pagoda atop 510-foot high hill. From the platform of the pagoda one can enjoy the bird's eye view of old Vesali city site.

The city wall s of Vesali are actually the palace city walls. In the compound of the palace city now locates Pi-pun-runn village. In it's centre, the site of the Palace, now lies the Vesali village on the Palace Heights. One can witness the broken bricks and other pieces scattered all around there.
https://nyiwin.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/vesali-image-2.jpg?w=450&h=600
Half a mile north of the Palace Heights is the 17-foot high Vesali Buddha Image sculpted out of a boulder in 327 A.D., the year of founding the city. To the east of the image lies the 70-foot high Hill where Buddhist Synod took place in Vesali period. During the Vesali period, King Thiri Dhamma Wizaya sponsored the Buddhist Synod holding celebrations on this hill in 638 A.D. participating 1000 Bhikkhus from Sri Lanka and 1000 Bhikkhus from Vesali Rakhine Kingdom.

West of the Palace Heights is the Stone-stairs (jetty) of the port. With reference to these stone-stairs, the city was named Vesali, the Stone-stairs City".

The excavation of this old city was started in the year 1980 by the Myanmar Archaeology Department. On excavating Hill No. (1), the ruined religious structures, Hill No.(2), a ruined building measuring 70 feet and 50 feet in length and breath respectively, Hill No.(3), part of the buttocks of an ox in the crouching position made of stone were discovered and transferred to Mrauk-U museum.

On excavating Hill No(4), part of the city wall and sandstone inscriptions bearing Sansrit scripts, and Hill No(5), interior rooms of a building with measurements of 74 feet and 50 feet in length and breadth respectively and also an ordination hall with a stone plate used as the pillar in consecrating the ground were discovered. The ordination hall uncovered at Hill No.(5) is the most ancient type of its kind.

On the bank of Thari-chaung creek west of Vesali city is "Shun Kyaw" Buddha Image. This Image is famous next to Mahamuni Image in olden days. As the original Image was brought to Amarapura, the present Image casted in 1924 A.D. for substitution.

https://nyiwin.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/vesali-1-2.jpg
Vesali Palace Heights
The Vesali city walls covers an area of 2.7 square miles. The walls of Vesali are that of Palace City at the centre of which lies the Palace Heights. At present, the Vesali village is located on the site and that the walls of Vesali can still be seen vividly.

When Hill No.(3) of Vesali was unearthed part of the buttocks of an ox in crouching position made of stone was found out. Now, it has been exhibited at Mrauk-U museum. At Hill No. (5), the interior rooms of a building measuring 74 feet in lengths and 50 feet in breadth and stone plates used in consecrating the gound to erect the ordination hall were unearthed.

Credit:
 Aung, Myar. Famous Monuments of Mrauk-U (Useful Reference for Tourists and Travelers). (2nd ed.). Yango

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chronology of the Press in Burma

1836 – 1846 * During this period the first English-language newspaper was launched under British-ruled Tenasserim, southern  Burma . The first ethnic Karen-language and Burmese-language newspapers also appear in this period.     March 3, 1836 —The first English-language newspaper,  The Maulmain Chronicle , appears in the city of Moulmein in British-ruled Tenasserim. The paper, first published by a British official named E.A. Blundell, continued up until the 1950s. September 1842 —Tavoy’s  Hsa-tu-gaw  (the  Morning Star ), a monthly publication in the Karen-language of  Sgaw ,  is established by the Baptist mission. It is the first ethnic language newspaper. Circulation reached about three hundred until its publication ceased in 1849. January 1843 —The Baptist mission publishes a monthly newspaper, the Christian  Dhamma  Thadinsa  (the  Religious Herald ), in ...

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do...

Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera

The Life Story of A Distinguished And Outstanding Bhikkhu The Most Venerable Saradawpharagree Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera The Buddhist missionary Saradaw Ashin U Chandramani was endowed with great gifts and led a famous and long life. He was a very well known, distinguished and outstanding Bhikkhu Mahathera. While living in the Kushinagar Monastery, a place close to where the Lord Buddha had passed away to Nirvana, the Government of India had offered, and he had accepted, the highest, most honourable and respected title "Guru Guru MahaGuru". He became the first ever President of all Buddhists in India.A World Buddhist Conference took place in Kathmandu during the reign of King Mahindra of Nepal. The Conference was very well attended by over one hundred thousand Buddhists from various parts of the world and it was opened by King Mahindra himself. As requested by the King, Saradawpharagree blessed all the participants with the power of Triple Gems...