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Monywa pagoda complex like world-famous Borobodur of
Indonesia,
very similar in architectural design. The imposing and superb Pagoda surrounded by
satellite stupas, 864 in number bright and
shining in the tropical sun from the glass
mosaic covering outer and inner surfaces, each
measuring 132 ft in height and gilded all over.
In the entire
complex of Thambuddhe, there are colonnades of
pillars resembling the Mahabodhi Pagoda of Bagan
(the 13th century Mahabodhi), each one of the
pyramidal pillars of Thambuddhe are made up of
tiers, each housing row of seated Buddha
images.
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The pillars are topped by stupas of
various sizes.
Not only the pillars are filled
with Buddha images but the terraces and stupas all around the complex contain
seated pagoda images in the niches.
All in all, the confounding total Buddha images
are 582.363, all executed in the uniform size.
The remarkable Ven. Mohnyin Sayadaw built this
huge Pagoda complex in 1929, on an arid and
deserted land covering 37 acres. At that time,
it was in the nature of a thick forest. It took
more than 10 years to complete. Whoever took
refuge at the pagoda area escaped the |
ravages of World War II as it is a noted
place of purity and peace.
Monywa inside Thambuddhe Pagoda
Alaungdaw Kassapa
This famous Forest
Reserve Area, Alaungdaw Kassapa, is 60 miles
north-west of Monywa district in the Yinmabin
Township. The journey involves 17 miles of tough
trekking and elephant ride, ups and downs of
difficult terrain. This travel is definitely a
good attraction and interest to the hikers and
the bold and the brave.
 Legend
During the life-time
of Lord Gautama Buddha, Shin Maha Kassapa
occupied a second spot in seniority amongst
Buddha is highest Disciples. After Buddha’s
demise, Ven. Maha Kassapa convened the First
Buddhist Synod (Council) for the purification
and perpetuation of Buddha Sasana at Razagyo
kingdom.
In one of his former existences, the round of
Samsara (Round of Rebirths) Ven. Maha Kassapa
had kept a small bird playfully between small
rocks causing its death. For that bad deed, or
evil Kamma (Action), the Rev.Maha Thera, Maha
Kassapa had to pay in his last life before
liberation or deliverance from Samsara or
attaining Nirvana. Ven. Maha Kassapa knew the
effects fully well – he has to pay for that
misdeed. Near the cave, he made a solemn vow
that his corps would burn only in the hands of
potential Arimettaya Buddha, the fifth and the
last Buddha of the Buddha Universe. He then
entered the cave and lie on the rock bed
prepared by the Celestials and at once his body
turned into solid gold. When King Ajatassatu and
his retinue, came upon the Rev. Thera being
passed away, they had to make several valuable
offerings and returned.
Those who wish to reach the said cave have to
descend from the east of the chamber of the
reclining image. When you find a little stream
that is the sign that you have already arrived
at your destination. Unfortunately, you will not
be able to enter the cave where the golden image
is lying. A huge stone slab has blocked the
cave, which no one could open. It is said to be
the work of the Celestial just to keep away
intruders. However, one can tell the beads, practise meditation there. Devotees can also
offer food in bowls and pots, just along the
running water of the stream. If one offers only
food, the bowls and the pot will flow out of the
cave stream. If one offers everything, nothing
will come out. If you bury certain offertories
in the sand before the said cave, within
minutes, those offertories will disappear in the
sand.
Not far from chamber of the Reclining Image a
pavilion that houses 3 bells, a small pagoda and
over a hundred triangular brass gongs (kyesis).
Nearby is a stream and a pond where Ven. Maha
Kassapa is said to have washed his alms bowls,
and washed and dried his monk’s robe. A mile
from the Reclining Image, is the Atatassatu
village where the King Ajatassatu built 21
pagodas in memory of Ven. Maha Kassapa.
On the hillock, facing the Reclining Image,
there is a well named, Thitsa Well (Truth), or
Myitta Well (Loving Kindness). This small well
never dried up. The more the pilgrims arrive;
there is more water in the well. The water of
the well is believed to cure all kinds of
ailments.
Pilgrims from far and near, numbering 20,000 to
30,000 visit the shrine during the dry season.
There are 2600 National Parks all over the
world; 33 in Thailand, 5 in Sri Lanka, 12 in
Malaysia, 10 in Indonesia, 22 in India and 1 (Alaungtaw
Kassapa) in Myanmar. Popa is now earmarked to
become a National Park.
Some time ago, Col. John Blashford Snell, OBE,
(Hon.) FRSGS, Chairman of the Scientific
Exploration Society, England and his party of 13
people, mostly secientists and naturalists came
to Alaungtaw Kassapa for the second time, being
here in the late 1960s and 1970s remarked, “We
have never seen such good and pristine forest in
South East Asia, flora and fauna especially
tigers, thamin, golden deer, cenvus eldi (thamin)
which are already extint in the world. They can
be only found in Chattin Wild Life Sanctuary and
the Shwesettaw Wild Life Sanctuary.”
The wild life sanctuary is full of wild life and
fauna; the habitat of large mammals like sambers,
barking deer, wild pigs, tigers, Hinlyan bears
and wild elephants. Poaching and illegal hunting
are prohibited under the Myanmar National Parks
Law, 1994. In the streams and rivers, there are
variety of birds, like red-wattled lapwing, wag
tails, sand pipers, forest birds like
woodpeckers, lauging thrushes, babblers, orioles
drangos, mynas, parakeets, barbets, crucals,
jungle fowls, pigeons and doves, etc.
If one wish to breath fresh and clean air, enjoy
exhilarating and enlivening venture, and
experience mythical sensation and feeling, Alaungtaw Kassapa is the best choice and option.
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In short what you can find on this page:
Monywa, Bodhi Tahtaung, Thambuddhe Pagoda, Samsara,
reclining Buddha Image, Alaungtaw Kassapa,
forest reserve, trekking and elephant
ride, Myanmar, Burma, flora, fauna,
tigers, thamin, golden deer, cenvus eldi (thamin), Chattin Wild Life Sanctuary, Shwesettaw
Wild Life Sanctuary, Monywa,
Chindwin
river, sambers,
barking deer, wild pigs, tigers, Hinlyan bears,
wild elephants, birds, ed-wattled lapwing, wag
tails, sand |
pipers, forest birds, woodpeckers, lauging thrushes, babblers, orioles
drangos, mynas, parakeets, barbets, crucals,
jungle fowls, pigeons,
Myanmar, doves, Mohnyin
Thambuddhe Pagoda, Hsu-Taung-Pyae pagodas,
Myanmar commodities, textiles, clothing, carpets,
Myanmar tapestries,
brass wares, mats of
fine textiles, Thadingyut, pilgrim.
all at e-books |
