Shwedagon Pagoda, The Golden Wonder Part 5

We go around the Bo Bo Aung Shrine and at the back we stand in front of the Dhammazedi and Dhammapala Temple built by King Mon Dhammazedi. Usually temples, pagodas, shrines, etc. they are guarded by a pair of chinthes, devas, nagas, ogres, etc., but this is different in this temple in that it is guarded by a chinthe (left) and a tiger (right). The temple houses two Buddha statues and people say that the temple is positioned where the concentrated beam of light from the diamond orb (sein bu) of Shwedagon Pagoda hits the terrace. This may be true, but I have never seen lightning nor have I met anyone in person who has. Some sources say that the Temple of Dhammazedi and Dhammapala is one of the nine wonders of Shwedagon Pagoda and that Sandawdwin Pagoda is not one of them; others say the other way around.

We continue south and now we have reached the East Staircase. Here, at the top of the staircase, King Dhammazedi placed in 1485 the Dhammazedi stones that we have seen in the northeast corner, where they were moved in 2008. This staircase, more precisely the entrance at street level, was also the where they were at 15 In March 1929 a celebration was held to mark the return of control of Shwedagon Pagoda to the Burmese by the British.

Facing the eastern stairway is the Kakusandha Buddha Worship Hall. Inside the hall are several Buddha statues, but the main Buddha is, of course, the one this hall is dedicated to: the 25th Buddha, the Kakusandha Buddha, in an illuminated cave at the rear of the hall. This statue has, like the other main Buddhas, a neon halo and is made of stone after the original statue was severely damaged in the great fire of 1931. What is striking here is the fact that not only the palm Kakusandha Buddha’s hand is facing up. to be, as usual, turned downwards, but also those of three of the four in front of the cave of him sitting Buddha statues. This is surprising insofar as this mudra is not in conformity with any of the many mudras prescribed in the ancient scriptures.

The Kakusandha Buddha is one of the nine wonders of Shwedagon Pagoda.

The Kakusandha Buddha Adoration Hall which fell victim to the great Shwedagon Pagoda fire in 1931 was originally built in 1841 by King Tharrawaddy Min’s chief queen Ma May Gale and first renovated in 1869. After being, after the great Fire, re -built on the basis of the original plans, was reopened in 1940.

On the right side of the Kakusandha worship hall you can see the Golden Shan Umbrellas.

To the left and right of the room is a Planetary Stand for the Moon. One of you said that he is Tigre; It was you? Well, so you were born on a Monday and this is your place to perform your ‘yadayar’ devotional. We are waiting for you and when you return I will tell you something about Tawa Gu Buddha.

We now take a look at the Tawa Gu Buddha which stands on the upper terrace of the Shwedagon Stupa in a niche above and behind the Kakusandha Buddha worship hall. The terrace is about 18 feet/6 meters wide and can be accessed by stairs located next to the Konagamana Buddha Worship Hall on the south stair.

As you may recall, this terrace cannot be visited by women and requires permission from Shwedagon Pagoda Security for men. However, we can see the statue from here on the monitor on the column over there in the Kakusandha Buddha devotion hall. The Tawa Gu Buddha who is said to have a ruby ​​inside his head and to be able to work miracles. The statue is relatively small and differs from all other Buddha statues at Shwedagon in that its eyes give a different expression to the face. I have heart people who describe eyes as ‘real’ or ‘alive’. Because of the rubies on his forehead and in his eyes enshrined there by Bo Bo Aung (well, people believe that) and his ‘animating’ eyes, Tawa Gu Buddha is also called ‘Animating Ruby-Eyed Buddha’ in Burmese’ Padamya Myet Shin Buddha ‘. Tawa Gu Buddha is one of the nine wonders of Shwedagon Pagoda.

After admiring the Tawa Gu Buddha, we see diagonally on the right side of the east stairway the U Nyo Pavilion, which was completed in 1938. What makes this pavilion worth mentioning is that here you can see a selection of jatakas from Beautifully carved wood carvings depicting scenes from the life of Gautama Buddha, including the scene of Siddhartha’s birth celebration during which the hermit Asita foresaw that Siddhartha would one day become a great king or great holy man.

Oh, you’re lucky. Look over there. Do you see the people with the Htishwes (golden umbrellas) over there? Yes, you are right. That is a Shin Pyu procession.

Continuing south we now find ourselves at the Hamsa Prayer Pillar. The Hamsa prayer pillar is named after the golden bird at the top. The Hamsa bird, also called the Hintha bird, is the sacred bird of the Mon Hamsawaddy (Hansawaddy) dynasty. For this reason, the Hamsa (Hintha) bird, which represents perfect union, perfect balance and perfect life, was on the flags of the Mon kingdoms and is still on the flags of the Pegu (Bago) Division and the Mon State. . Devotees who pray at this stall believe that they will become as healthy, successful and wealthy as the kings and queens of this dynasty.

Just to the right of the Hamsa prayer pillar in the direction of the main stupa, we have here the Planetary Post for Mars located on the southeast terrace of Shwedagon Pagoda. As you will remember, Mars corresponds to the Tuesday born and is associated with the lion. Was any of you born on a Tuesday? You? Well then here is the place to make your ‘yadayar’, in other words to promote your luck. When you are ready we will continue.

Now we turn to the right and there we can already see the pavilion of the south stairway where we have started our tour of the central stupa, our circumvallation, respectively. But before we go to the southeast corner to rest for a few minutes under the Bodhi tree that was planted there and then return to the east stairway to leave Shwedagon pagoda and continue our ‘Yangon Pagoda Sightseeing Tour’, let’s go to the building located to the left of the upper landing of the south staircase.

Here we are. This is the Carousel Hall. Come closer and you’ll see why this building is called the Carousel Hall. Yes, because there is a slowly rotating carousel with four silver bowls. Do you see what these locals are doing? Correct, they try to throw coins into the bowls. Here I have some coins for you and you should join them and do what they do. Because? Well, because when you manage to place your coin in one of the bowls you will have good fortune. I think it’s worth a try.

Ha, you see, some of you made it. Be happy, that’s a good sign. By the way, here on the walls you can see very beautiful wood carvings. Starting from the left side, they tell the story of Bhuridatta, the Naga Prince, known as Bhuridatta jataka.

Leaving the spree room, we have the central stupa in front of us and we turn right in an easterly direction.

Having reached the southeast corner of the main platform, we can see diagonally in the southeast corner the bodhi tree. That is where we are now going to rest a bit in the shade of the Bodhi Tree.

Okay, let’s sit down to enjoy the view and have some cookies and water. This is like the Bo trees in the northwest corner growing from a cutting of the same Bodhi tree in northern India under which Buddhists believe Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment (bodhi).

Having gathered some strength, we return to the eastern staircase and leave the Shwedagon Pagoda. Now we are about two thirds of the way up the pagoda platform and we have to cross Ar Za Ni street which divides the stairway into a lower part and an upper part.

From here you can take taxis whenever you want to leave the pagoda or get here by taxi if you wish. Heading south, Ar Za Ni Road leads to the old Lake Road, now U Htaung Bo Road, where the southern stairway we used to climb Shwedagon Pagoda is located. Heading north it is past the north entrance which leads to West Shwegondaing Road.

We have reached the bottom of the stairs and here in front of the fence at the end of the stone slaps is the paved ground with which we can put on our slippers.

We have now left the Shwedagon Pagoda complex and as you can see here there are also two chinthes protecting the stairway. However, these are much smaller than the chinthes that guard the entrance to the south stairway.

This is now Kyar Taw Ya street. There are some small food and souvenir stalls here and a few steps further down the street is the corner of Kyar Taw Ya Street and Yae Ta Shae Street. So, here to our left is the Bahan (Zay) Hall Market. Along Yae Ta Shae street, to the left, there are shops selling food, flowers, paper umbrellas, fans, monk’s robes, monk’s slippers, monk’s umbrellas, well, everything devotees could wish for before to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda and/or one of the monasteries.

This is the end of our visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda. I hope you liked it and that we meet again.