GAW TAW PALIN
BACKGROUND
The construction of GAW TAW PALIN TEMPLE was launched during the reign of King Sithu II (also known as King Narapatisithu, 1165 – 1211) and completed during the reign of his successor, King Nadaungmya. It is Bagan’s second tallest structure and the most imposing of the Bagan temples. There are two suggested origins of the name of the temple, which means, “throne on platform to which respect or homage is paid.” One interpretation is that it formed part of traditional ceremonials honoring royal ancestors. The other explanation, wrapped in myth, is that King Sithu had demonstrated such pride and had created so many hardships through his construction of the Sulamani Guphaya that the eminent monk Panthagu Mahathera fled to Sri Lanka for six years in protest. The king persuaded him to return and paid him great honor and homage on this spot upon his return.
STRUCTURE
The GAW TAW PALIN, a large eastward-facing two-storey temple, set on a low platform in the center of a walled enclosure with four gateways. It is located just to the north of the present Archaeological Museum. It is a brick masonry structure with stone reinforcement. Its exterior dimensions are 213 x 170.5 ft (65 x 52 m), with a solid inner core on the ground floor of almost 92 x 93.3 ft (27.99 x 28.45 m). The ground floor corridors around the central core are almost 7 ft wide (2.20 x 2.19 m). The entry shrine on the ground floor is almost 23 x 38.5 ft (6.95 x 11.72 m). The second story solid core is less than half the size of that of the ground floor. There is another shrine and entrance hall, and for the first time in Bagan architecture, the primary shrine is on the second story. Barrel and diaphragm vaults cover the shrines and corridors.
The three lower terraces and four upper terraces are topped by a square tower, conical spire and umbrella that reached 180 ft (55 m); some suggest it was 200 ft (60 m.). Unfortunately, GAW TAW PALIN was near the epicenter of the 1975 earthquake; the tower was destroyed and upper parts were heavily damaged. There were repairs between 1976 and 1982; it was further strengthened, when the tower was rebuilt as a hollow reinforced concrete structure in 1991-92. About 40% of the exterior stucco moldings are still in place.
The eminent scholar G. H. Luce in comparing GAW TAW PALIN to THATBYINNYU, wrote that the romantic style has succeeded the classic, while Strachan suggests that there is a streamlining of mass in the GAW TAW PALIN with an “upwardly directed movement” that is “tall, refined and quite elegant” and, I would add, majestically unique. Such a sublime style was never again attempted at Bagan.
* * * * *
That’s the grand entrance to Gaw Taw Palin…
It is Bagan’s second tallest structure and the most imposing of the Bagan temples…
The Buddha image on the ground floor of the temple…
Gaw Taw Palin is the first time in Bagan architecture, the primary shrine is on the second story…
Gaw Taw Palin is a fine brick masonry structure with stone reinforcement…
REFERENCES
Clark, Michael and Joe Cummings. Myanmar (Burma), Lonely Planet Publications, 2000.
Guide to Bagan. Archaeology Dept, Ministry of Culture. 1979.
Myat Min Hlaing. Ancient Pagodas in Myanmar Vol. I. 1993.
-
Saw Yu
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Naing
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
http://www.delicious.com/emilyjohn Htutyimon
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Gina Khine
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Nan Kham Moon
-
Myat Noe
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
http://moemaka.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3520&Itemid=1 Yan Win (Taung Da Gar)
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
TDA
-
http://www.myokyawhtun.com Myo Kyaw Htun
-
ေက်ာ္ဇင္
-
http://www.stanleykay.com Stanley Kay
-
စုလတ္
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Crystal
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
၀င္းထြဋ္
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Su Hnin
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
၀ါဆို
-
http://www.action-and-sports.de/ Peter Frank
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
http://www.action-and-sports.de/ Peter Frank
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Hnin Wai
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
တြတ္တြတ္
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Pon Gyi
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Min ⎝⏠⏝⏠⎠ Par Par (Facebook)
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Tay Zar
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
-
Win Win
-
http://yelwinoo.com/ Ye Lwin Oo
