Myanmar 44 Mingun Pa Hto Daw Gyi & Mingun Bell

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MINGUN
Myanmar
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Pa Hto Daw Gyi Pagoda
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Mingun is a village on the western bank of the
river Ayeyawaddy, approximately 7 miles north of
Mandalay. It is reached by ferryboats across the
river and takes 1 hour for up-river and 40
minutes for down-river. It is famous for many
Buddhist shrines, monasteries, meditation centre
and monuments of historical and cultural
importance. Highlights in Mingun are Pa Hto Daw
Gyi (The world's largest unfinished pagoda), the
Great Mingun Bell and Mya Thein Dan Pagoda.
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Minguns main attraction is the ruined
Pahtodawgyi pagoda. The Mingun temple is a
monumental uncompleted stupa began by King
Bodawpaya in 1790.
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Pa Hto Daw Gyi Pagoda, was unfortunately
abandoned due to the death of King Bodawpaya in
1819. It was not completed, due to an astrologer
claiming that, once the temple was finished, the
king would die. The completed stupa would have
been the largest in the world at 150 metres
(490 ft).
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This unfinished structure was badly damaged with
cracks by the earthquake of 1838
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Huge cracks are visible on the structure from the
earthquake of 23 March 1839. It is a colossal
mound of brickwork.
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King Bodawpaya (1781-1819 A.D) had made a vow
while he was in hiding at Mingun that should be
ascend the throne he would implement four
projects as a deed of merit that should be
outstanding, Pagoda, Bell, Reservoir Two huge
leogryphs.
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Over 20,000 workers toiled for twenty years on
the construction of the Pa Hto Daw Gyi Pagoda,
which was unfortunately abandoned due to the
death of King Bodawpaya in 1819
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A 15feet miniature model of the pagoda is in
close proximity. Judging comparatively the work
done each length measuring 230 feet of square
base and completed to a height of 162 feet up to
the first terrace is less than one third of the
final height. Had this pagoda been completed,
then it would have been the largest monument.
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pondaw paya or working model of the stupa
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Like many large pagodas in Myanmar, a pondaw paya
or working model of the stupa can be seen nearby.
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Through King Bodawpaya did not complete the
pagoda project during his lifetime, yet he did
complete the other three projects successfully.
Remains of the pair of giant leogryphs called
chinthe (mythical lions) who guarded the entrances
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The Mingun Bell was east in 1808. During the
smelting of the bronze, the populace was allowed
to donate their contributions, who brought
ornaments of silver and utensils of brass,
copper, aluminum, zinc and iron metals. The bell
was cast perfectly and weighs 90 tons. It is the
world's biggest ringing bell.
Mingun bell
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The much heavier and larger bell at Moscow has a
crack and duel in sound. This colossal, weighing
bell was cast on a raised stand of sand and the
mounting on large teak trunks. When it was fitted
steadfast, the sand stand was washed away leaving
the bell hanging on the teak trunks.
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In many Buddhist traditions, the sound of a
ringing bell is thought to be purifying
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Though it withstood the quake of 1838, yet a
century later it dropped to the ground in the
quake of 1938, where it remained till the end of
World War II. The Ayeyarwady Flotilla Company
lifted the bell with mechanical cranes and
installed it on the existing pillars with a
befitting pavillion to shelter it. One can go
within the bell and stand upright
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The Migun bell was considered as the largest
ringing bell in the world until 2000. It was
built by the longest reigning monarch of the
Konbaung dynasty King Bodawpaya (1782-1819) and
weighs 55,555 viss (90.718 kilograms or 199.999
pounds). This number is engraved on the surface
of the bell. In more detail, the outer diameter
of the rim is 16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m). The
height is 12.0 feet (3.66 m) feet on the exterior
and 11.5 feet (3.51 m) in the interior. The
outside circumference at the rim is 50.75 feet
(15.469 m). The bell is 6 to 12 inches (15-30
cm) thick and stands 20.7 feet (6.31 m) high from
the rim to the top. Nowadays, the bell is still a
pride of Myanmar although it is no longer the
world's largest bell. Its title has been replaced
by the 116-ton Bell of Good Luck at the Foquan
Temple, Pingdingshan, Henan, China.
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Bells are struck with a wooden mallet (sometimes
a deer antler) and great importance is placed on
the sound. The bell is rung by worshippers after
making their devotions to Buddha - struck three
times to announce their actions and share merit
amongst all. Other watchers may shout thadu,
thadu, thadu which means well done, well done,
well done.
In Burma, massive, impressively decorated bells
weighing up to 90 tons are found in temple
grounds. Bells are second only in importance to
Buddha images as donations to a pagoda. Ringing
the bell represents an offering to all the
Buddhas and bodhisattvas in order to accumulate
positive karma. Also, the bell represents wisdom,
so ringing the bell is the sound of wisdom.
Striking the bell represents ringing away mans
108 passions. 
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Text Internet Pictures Sanda Foisoreanu
Internet All  copyrights  belong to their
 respective owners Presentation Sanda
Foisoreanu
2014
Sound Sein Bo Tint - Burmese
Traditional Orchestra leader