SHWEZIGON PAGODA
A BRIEF BACKGROUND
Situated about half a mile west of Nyaung U, Shwezigon Pagoda is a solid, cylindrical structure resting on three square terraces, a prototype of Burmese stupas. It has a bold waist-band round the bell shaped dome above which rises a series of concentric moldings ending in a final and crowned by an umbrella. It has up-turned lotus, petals, celestial stairways and so forth like a sacred reliquary of typical Bagan architecture. It was built by King Anawrahta under the guidance of Shin Arahan but left in unfinished state. And completed by King Kyansittha (1084 – 1113 A.D.). Around the terraces of the pagoda, there are, set in panels, enamelled plaques illustrating the scenes in the previous lives of Buddha. It is believed to contain the frontal bone and a tooth of Buddha and is thus held in great veneration by the Buddhists around Burma. On each of the four sides of the pagoda is a small temple which enshrines a standing Buddha, 13 feet high, of the Gupta school of art. On either side of the east of approach to the pagoda is a square stone pillar with Mon inscriptions on all four sides dedicated by King Kyansittha (Kyanzittha).
NINE FAMOUS WONDERS
Shwezigon pagoda embraces nine wonders:
(1) it’s umbrella being steadfast without being fastened with cable
(2) its shadow never extend beyond its fence walls
(3) gold leaf papers dropped from atop not getting beyond the walls
(4) its walled environs never being congested regardless of a huge mass of pilgrims
(5) no human could be the first in offering alms early in the morning
(6) the stupa seeming to be higher than it is
(7) the drum sounded from one side cannot be heard from the other side
(8) no rain water remains within the walls
(9) the star flower plants bear flowers all years round
Credits: My beloved Dad for his special gift, Pictorial Guide to Bagan…
It was around 20:00 when I arrived the pagoda, right after the rain stopped… A wide angle shot from north-western corner of the pagoda compound…
It was very first time I tried my Nikon D-90 Live View function with Long Exposure shot… Thanks Ko. J for his Long Exposure tutorial… Again there is the reflection on the floor…
It has up-turned lotus, petals, celestial stairways and so forth like a sacred reliquary of typical Bagan architecture…
One of the nine wonders of Shwezigon pagoda is that the stupa seeming to be higher than it is…
On each of the four sides of the pagoda is a small temple which enshrines a standing Buddha, 13 feet high, of the Gupta school of art…
The local produces and souvenirs are available along the corridor towards the pagoda…
GREAT!!!