For almost travelers traveling in Mandalay, Myanmar, visiting Buddhist pagodas is a thing that cannot miss in any travel tour. One of the most famous pagodas in Myanmar is Sandamuni Pagoda. The Sandamuni Pagoda in Mandalay is famous for the largest iron Buddha image and 1774 slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings.
The location of Sandamuni Pagoda
Sandamuni Pagoda is located to the southeast of Mandalay Hill. It bears a resemblance to the nearby Kuthodaw pagoda because of the large number of slender whitewashed ancillary stupas on the grounds. The pagoda was erected on the location of King Mindon’s provisional palace. It was built as a memorial to crown Prince Kanaung. He was murdered in 1866 by two of King Mindon Min’s sons; who were unhappy not to be the first in line to become the next King. The bodies of the crown Prince and three of his sons who were also killed were entombed on the Sandamuni pagoda grounds. In the early 1990’s the tombs were moved to a mausoleum in Mandalay. Indochina tours Myanmar
The Sandamuni pagoda in Mandalay is known for its large golden zedi. Its hundreds of shrines contain inscribed marble slabs and the largest iron Buddha image in Myanmar, the Sandamuni, after which it is named. It was cast by King Bodawpaya before the founding of the city Mandalay. During the Great Mingun Pagoda built, King Bodawpaya temporarily reigned in Nan Taw Kyun, the Royal Palace Island. The image was cast out of 18563.94 kg of iron in M.E 1164, then carrying reverently to the Royal City of Amarapura. Myanmar tours packages
The structure of Sandamuni Pagoda
Surrounding the central pagoda are 1774 shrines, each housing a single marble slab. The slabs are inscribed with the teachings of the Buddha. They consists of Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka, the three baskets that make up the Tripitaka, as well as commentaries and sub commentaries. Each slab measuring 1.68 meters tall and 1.07 meters wide is enshrined in a small white shrine named Dhamma ceti. Dhamma is the teachings of the Buddha and ceti the Burmese word for chedi or stupa.
The white shrines are topped with a hti, an ornamental spire shaped like an umbrella. The grounds are more cramped than the nearby Kuthodaw pagoda. The little space is left behind the rows of Dhamma cetis. The Dhamma cetis were built several decades after the central zedi. They were erected in 1913 by U Khanti the hermit, who is known in Burma for having renovated a great number of Myanmar temples and pagodas.
Being famous for the largest iron Buddha image and 1774 slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings, Sandamuni Pagoda is always attractive with tourists when visiting Mandalay. Surely, with a visit to Sandamuni Pagoda – one of the most famous pagodas in Myanmar, travelers will have chance to learn more about unique Buddhist culture of Myanmar.
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