Myanmar 75 Yangon Shwedagon Pagoda1

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Myanmar
Yangon
75
Shwedagon Pagoda
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Burma is one of the most overwhelmingly (about
90) Buddhist countries in the world. And for the
Burmese Buddhist there is no more important
pilgrimage site (domestically, anyway) than
Shwedagon Paya ("paya" meaning, roughly, "pagoda"
in Burmese). Sitting like a giant golden Hershey
kiss on the highest point in Yangon, Shwedagon
looks over everything, and everything looks up to
Shwedagon. It greets the first rays of sunlight
in the early morning and puts the sun to sleep at
night. Even at night it remains illuminated by
flood lamp, when it shimmers in stark brilliant
contrast to the inky Burmese night sky. It
outshines the moon.
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The Shwedagon Pagoda (officially titled Shwedagon
Zedi Daw), also known in English as the Great
Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, is a 99
metres (325 ft) gilded pagoda and stupa located
in Yangon, Burma.
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The pagoda lies to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on
Singuttara Hill, thus dominating the skyline of
the city. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda
for the Burmese with relics of the past four
Buddhas enshrined within the staff of
Kakusandha, the water filter of Ko?agamana, a
piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight strands of
hair from Gautama, the historical Buddha.
Uppatasanti Pagoda is an exact replica of
Shwedagon Pagoda in Naypyidaw, the new capital of
Burma.
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According to legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda has
existed for more than 2,600 years, making it the
oldest historical pagoda in Burma and the world.
According to tradition, two merchant brothers,
Taphussa and Bhallika, from the land of Ramanya,
met the Lord Gautama Buddha during his lifetime
and received eight of the Buddha's hairs in 588
BCE.
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Bo tree
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The brothers Taphussa and Bhallika traveled back
to their homeland in Burma and, with the help of
the local ruler, King Okkalapa of Burma, found
Singuttara Hill, where relics of other Buddhas
preceding Gautama Buddha had been
enshrined. According to some historians and
archaeologists, however, the pagoda was built by
the Mon people between the 6th and 10th centuries
CE.
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A series of earthquakes during the next centuries
caused damage. The worst damage came from a 1768
earthquake that brought down the top of the
stupa, but afterward King Hsinbyushin (lit. Lord
of the White Elephant) of Konbaung Dynasty raised
it to its current height of 99 m (325 ft). A new
crown umbrella called hti was donated by King
Mindon Min in 1871 after the annexation of Lower
Burma by the British. The pagoda is listed on the
Yangon City Heritage List.
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There are four entrances (mouk) to the Paya that
lead up a flight of steps to the platform (yin
byin) on Singuttara Hill. A pair of giant
leogryphs called chinthe (mythical lions) guard
the entrances and the image in the shrine at the
top of the steps from the south is that of the
second Buddha, Konagamana
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The base or plinth of the stupa is made of bricks
covered with gold plates. Above the base are
terraces (pyissaya) that only monks and men can
access. Next is the bell-shaped part (khaung
laung bon) of the stupa. Above that is the turban
(baung yit), then the inverted almsbowl
(thabeik), inverted and upright lotus petals (kya
hmauk kya hlan), the banana bud (nga pyaw bu) and
then the crown.
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Yangon Schwedagon Pagoda Diamond orb at the top
of the gold umbrella
The crown or umbrella (hti) is tipped with 5,448
diamonds and 2,317 rubies. Immediately before the
diamond bud is a flag-shaped vane (nga myat na).
The very top, the diamond bud (sein bu) is tipped
with a 76 carat (15 g) diamond.
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Most Myanmar people are Buddhist, at the same
time believing astrology which originated from
Hindu Brahmanism. It is very important for every
Myanmar Buddhist people to recognize the day of
their birth, such as Sunday, Monday, Tuesday etc.
Otherwise, he or she may not know which part of
pagoda platform to go and make special devotional
acts either his or her desire or by the advice of
Astrologer.
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Text Internet Pictures Sanda Foisoreanu
Internet All  copyrights  belong to their
 respective owners Presentation Sanda
Foisoreanu
2013
Sound Hlaing Win Maung - The Holy
Shwedagon