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3. The arms 4 ft-11 in
4. Breadth from shoulder to shoulder
6 ft-1 in
5. Breadth at base 9 ft- 0 in
Continuous gilding with gold leaves has decidedly changed the said
dimensions.
Legend
This GREAT MAHA MUNI IMAGE of Buddha is
the most revered and venerated amongst
all Buddhist Myanmars and other devotees
alike. They firmly believed that the
GREAT IMAGE is blessed and hallowed by
Buddha himself due to the undying legend
that transfix in their memories.
In the Maha
Sakarit year 97, Dinnyawaddy Rakhine
Kingdom was ruled by the King, Canda
Thuriya. He was a devout Buddhist and
ardently desired to worship the living
Buddha and listen to his sermons.
He repeatedly pleaded
Buddha to pay a visit to his state. During the occasion of his 26th
anniversary of his reign, Buddha, accompanied by Shin Arahan and 500
disciples, came through air and alighted on the summit of Salagiri Hill near
Kyauktaw town. |
The Rakhine King was overwhelmed with delight and he
 readily
and promptly attended Buddha with his Chief Queen Sandra Mala (Sandramala)
with her 1600 ladies-in-waiting, and a retinue of ministers, generals and
officials. They paid homage to Buddha and listened to His erudite teachings.
When Buddha prepared to return to Thawuthi (Sravasti) the King supplicated
Buddha, “My
Lord, while you are away to distant lands, performing religious itinerary,
we will have no opportunity to pay homage to you.
For our benefits kindly
leave your image for that purpose”. Buddha obliged with the King’s request
and immediately called upon two celestial beings, Sakra and Indra and
Visva-karman, the celestial architect to mould the Image with the treasures
donated by the King and his people. Buddha asked them to produce an Image
with the very likeness of His body and even the breath of his hair. When the
Image was completed in an instant, Buddha breathed into the Image. Lo and
behold! The Image was exactly like the living Buddha in minute details and
measurements that all the people were awe-struck to see two Buddha sitting
side by side. They could hardly differentiate between the two Lords and made
out who the real living Buddha was. Until now, Buddhist devotees believe
this legend to be true.
King Bodawpaya of Amarapura happened to see the image of Maha Muni Image in
his dreams. He sent his son, the Crown Prince, Maha Upara Raja and other two
sons, Prince Saku and Prince Kama to bring Maha Muni Image to his capital.
The mission was achieved, overcoming great hardships on the journey and the
Image reached its destination in 1785.
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During the reign of King Thibaw, a fire broke out, devastating seven-tiered
wooden spire on the brick temple and devotional halls and arches of the
causeways and others. However, gold weighing 5450 ticals were recovered and
made into a robe that now adorned the sacred Great Image. In 1887, Minister
Kinwun Mingyi U Kaung took charge of the management of the Great Image. In
1896, Kinwun Mingyi and Western architects constructed the present temple,
encircling the Image building formerly built by King Bodawpaya.
In the precints of the MAHA MUNI PAGODA there are stone slabs and copies of
inscriptions recorded under the command of King Bodawpaya near the western
entry, one will find six bronze figures, two men, three lions and a
three-headed elephant placed in a square building. These were brought from
Rakhine state together with the GREAT IMAGE. In fact, these statues original
from Cambodia were taken away by Thais during the war they won. Again,
Myanmar King Bayinnaung seized and carried them to his capital, Hanthawaddy,
Bago
during his triumphal return from
Thailand. |
In the year 1660, King Razagyi of Rakhine State removed them to his capital, Mraung
U. From there, these figures finally reached their destination to
Amarapura. This is the interesting and exciting story of the figures. People
believe that
 whatever
ailment one suffers, it can be remedied by rubbing the organic
sections of the said statues. For example, if you have stomach trouble, you
rub the navel of the figure. Hence, you will now witness those parts shining
where the people rub most.
There is a big pond of turtles in the south-east of the pagoda. During the
conveyance of the GREAT IMAGE, many captives were brought along and they
were settle around the precincts. If you wish to know the detail of the said
conveyance, you can study the stone inscription that lie in the north-east
of the shrine.
Face - Washing Ceremony
Myanmar Buddhist people have strong and staunch belief that the GREAT IMAGE
personified the living Buddha. They must do something in honor of Buddha
and
they initiate a ritual of washing the face with fragrant scented water and
cleaning the teeth of the GREAT IMAGE. In February 17, 1988, the current Ven.
Sayadaw Buddhanta Pannya Vamsa of South Htilin monastery, Pitaka Kyaung,
commenced his daily routine of washing and cleaning the face of the GREAT
IMAGE at dawn.
The washing
and cleaning ceremony starts at early
4.30 a.m. every day. The towels are
offered by lay devotees and after the
ceremony, the towels are given to the
worshippers to be honored at their home
shrines. Only the male devotees are
permitted to apply gold leaf on the
IMAGE. For female worshippers, the said
kind of donation is carried out by
pagoda officials on their behalf.
all at e-books
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Maha Muni
Temple and
Pagoda
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Maha Muni
Buddha, Maha Muni Temple, Maha Muni Pagoda,
Myanmar,
Burma, Birma,
Mandalay,
Payagyi - the great Buddha, Myohaung Rakhine,
Bodawpaya
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