BAGAN

MONUMENTS AT BAGAN

Htilominlo Temple

Built about 1211 A.D. by King Nantaungmya , it is one of the greater temples of Pagan.It is a double-storeyed structure rising 150 feet above the ground level. The square base measures 140 feet on each side. The main vestibule faces east, while smaller projections on the remaining sides provide porches of arched entrances. Portions of fine plaster carvings still survive on the arch pediments, frieze and pilasters.The terraces are decorated with pieces of sandstone glazed in green. The mural paintings in the interior have weathered.There are four Buddhas facing the cardinal points on the ground floor as well as on the upper storey,which is reached by two staircases built in the thickness of the walls. Many horoscopes are inscribed on the walls in order to secure them against damage or destruction. Htilominlo is a misreading of Tiluikmanuiw, which is the Mon rendering of the Pali-Tilka Mingala-the Blessing of the Three Worlds. Nantungmya also is a misreading of Nataungmya-a king who has many earrings.

Upali Thein (Ordination Hall )

Situated close to the Htilminlo Temple. This ordination hall was named after a celebrated monk, Upali. He lived during the regin of King Nantaungmya and Kayzwa, and the foundation of the building may be assigned to the second quarter of the 13th Century A.D. It is a structure of fine proportions enclosed within brick walls. It is rectangular in plan, and contains a hall with an image of the Buddha placed on a pedestal near the western end.The roof is ornamented with a double row of battlements in simulation of wooden architecture, and its centre is surmonunted by a small , slim pagoda. The arches on which the superstructure rests are well-built; and the fine and brilliant frescoes covering its walls and ceilings are in a fair state of preservation. They belong to the late 17th or early 18th century A.D Shorn of the Buddhistic architectural details, the external appearance of this ordination hall reminds the spectator of the wheeless Vishnu-raths of South India, particularly of Conjee-varam and Mahabalipuram.

ANANDA TEMPLE

Built by Kyanzittha in 1901 A.D., it is one of the finest and most venerated temples at Pagan . Tradition says that it was built according to the plan furnished by Indian Buddhist monks, which pupported to be their cave-temple in the Nandamula mountain held to be in Himalayas. This temple symbolizes the endless wisdom (Ananta Panna)of the Buddha just as the Thatbyinnyu symbolizes the omniscience of the Tathagat. Hence the name Ananta, which changed later to Ananda , the name of Buddha’s cousin.
Its is in plan a square of nearly 200 feet to the side and broken on each side by the projection of large gabled vestibules, which convert the plan into a perfect Greek cross. These vestibules are somewhat lower than the main mass of the building , which elevates itself to a height of 35 feet in two tiers of windows. Above this rise successively diminishing terraces, the last of which just affording breadth for the spire which crowns and completes the edifice. The lower half of this spire is in the form of a mitre-like pyramid adapted from the temples of India; the upper half is the same moulded taper pinnacle that terminates the common bell-shaped pagodas of Pagan. The gilded htee(umbrella) caps the whole at a height of 168 feet above the ground.

Thatbyinnyu Temple

“Thatbyinnyu Temple” singnifies “omniscience”one of the attributes of the Buddha. The temple was built about the middle of 12th century A.D by King Alaungsithu, grandson and successor of the King who erected the Ananda.Standing within the city walls, some 500 yards to the south_west of the Ananda,the Thatbyinnyu rises to a height of 201 feet above the ground and overtops all the other monuments. Its general plan is not unlike the Ananda, but it does not,like the latter from symmetrical cross. The eastern porch alone projects considerably from the wall. It has two main storeys and the Buddha image is seated on the upper floor. The central stairway guarded by two standing figures of guardians faces the eastern hall and entrance. The steps lead to a circumambulatory corridor round the central mass. Climbing one of the pair of stairs built in the thickness of the walls one reaches the top of the vestibule from where an external flight of stairs lead to the upper storey.The high cubicles, the corner stupas on the terraces, the flamboyant arch_pediments and the plain pilasters combine to give a soaring effect to the monuments. The two tiers of windows in each storey make the interior bright and airy. But the walls are bare and the recesses along the plinth and terraces do not contain any glazed plaques.

Sarabha Gateway

It is the main gate of the east wall and the only structure left of the old city built by King Pyinbya in the 19th century A.D. Traces of stucco carvings on the frieze are visible on the exterior walls. The entrance to it is guarded by two guardian nats or spirits, brother and sister , each of whose image is deposited in a masonry shrine,the male on the left and the female on the right as one enters the city by it.

Thandawgya Image

It is a colossal seated image of Buddha in greenish sandstone,19 feet 6 inches high. It is deposited in a masonry temple a little to the north of That byinnnyu. Erected in 1284 A.D. by Narathihapati, the temple faces west because the royal palace was situated in that quarter.

Shwegugyi Temple

It is a lesser but elegant temple built by Alaungsithu in 1131 A.D. Standing on a high brick platform, the temple faces north and access to it is made by a flight of steps at the north-west corner. Both the hall and the inner corridor round the central mass have doorways and open windows which freely admit light and air. The arch-pediments, pilasters, plinth and cornice mouldings are decorated with fine stucco carvings. Its history is recorded on two stone slabs set in the inner walls. The lithic inscription in verse is celebrated for the style and elegance of its composition. It is mentioned therein that the temple was completed in seven months.

Nat-hlaung-kyaung Temple

It is the only Hindu temple now existing at Bagan. Probably built in the 11th century ,it is partly in ruins and what now remains is the main hall with the central mass and the superstructure. As it is dedicate to Vishnu,it is decorated on the present exterior walls with stone figures of the “Ten Avatars”, Gautama being the ninth. There are wall paintings in this temple which are contemporaneous with the building and the sculptures. These have become mostly obliterated. Occupying the centre of the temple is a huge square pillar in brick, around which there is the usual circumambulatory passage, vaulted over;this pillar supports the dome and sikhara above. On each fave of it there was originally the figure of a standing deity placed in a niche adorned with pilasters. These are representations of Vishnu cut in relief in bricks.

Ngakywennadaung Pagoda

The cylindrical body of this stupa placed on a high circular basements, bulges near the top and assumes a bulbous shape. Originally ,there might have been a finial above it through no traces of it now remain. The present height is 43 feet. A greater portion of the pagoda is still covered with green glazed tiles. Though it cannot be precisely dated the stupa seems to belong to early 12th century A.D. Popular tradition, however, attributes it to King Taungthugyi of 10th century A.D.

Monuments at Myinkaba

Kubyaukkyi Temple

The temple was built in 1113 A.D. by Rajakuma,son of Kyanzittha, as testified by the quadrillingual inscription dedicated by him. The temple consists of a square basement surmounted by a sikhara with curvilinear roofs resting on terraces, and a mandapa projecting on the east face.The interior of the building has a sanctum around which runs a valuted corridor adorned with niches enshrining images of the Buddha in stone.The building is lighted by perforated stone windows on which are incised geometrical designs of fine pro-porations. The architecture of this temple is typically Mon . The greatest importance, however, attaches to the paintings in the sanctum, in the corridors surrounding it, and in the entrance porch. These paintings are considered to be contemporaneous with the bilding and areamong the earliest now extant at Bagan. Additional interest attaches to these paintings on account of the legend in Old Mon under each of the scenes they depict. These inscriptions are also important from the epigraphically point of view.

Manuha Temple

It was buit by Manuha, the captive king of Thaton, in 1059 A.D. It is a reduplicated square structure with a battlemented terrace, the upper storey being smaller than the lower, so that the entire building appears to assume the form of a pyramid. It contains three images of seated Buddhas and a recumbent image of gigantic proportions representing the Buddha in the act of entering Nivana.
The temple is an allegorical representation of the physical discomfort and mental discomfort and mental distress the captive king had to endure. The builder’s grievance is graphically demonstrated by the uncomfortably seated an dreclining Buddhas.

Nanpaya Temple

Lies close to the Manuha temple. Accordig to tradition, it was used as the residence of the captive Mon king, Manuha. It is built of brick and mud mortar and surfaced with stone, and is square in plan with a porch projecting on the east face. Flanking the sanctuary in the main building are for stone pillars on the sides of each of which are carved triangular floral designs and the figures of the Brahma holding lotus flowers in each hand. Like other earlier temples at Bagan it has perforated stone windows to admit light into the building. The arch pediments over the windows and the carvings of the frieze are fine examples of architectural motifs in stone.

Abeyadana Temple

Tradition assigns it to King Kyanzittha and identifies it as the place where Abeyadana, his wife, came and waited for him when he was hiding near the place now marked b the Nagayon temple during one of his flights from the wrath of Sawlu. The temple faces north and consists of a square basement surmounted by a stupa with a pronounced relic chamber and a tall spire; the porch on the north has three entrances. The basement is ornamented with perforated stone windows, and there is a vaulted corridor running round the central block. In the latter there is a deep recess forming a sanctum on the north, and in it is enshrined a large image of a seated Buddha in brick. The chief interest of the temple lies in the paintings with which the inner faces of its walls are decorated. These mural paintings represent the Brahmanical gods and divnities of the Mahayana pantheon. The Jataka scenes with Mon legends cover the walls of the front hall.

Seinnyet Ama Temple

Said to have been built by Seinnyet Queen in the 11th century A.D.but the design appears to belong to the alter Burmese style of 13thcentury. It is a square temple with four entrancs through projecting proches , the main one facing west. The superstructure consists of the usual terraces and a sikhara resting on a square basement. Itconstitutes a duad with the adjoining Seinnyet Nyima.

Seinnyet Nyima Pagoda

It is a solid stupa resting on three terraces. Traditionally assigned to 11th century A.D. The bell-shaped dome is ornamented with moduled bands and kirttimukha (ogre-head) pendants, between four pedimented niches facing the cardinal points. Each of these niches enshrines a seated Buddha. The terraces have miniature stupas at the corners and each stupa in the second terrace is guarded by a lion. The structure is crowned by a stylized umbrella in the form of concentric rings on a foliated relic-chamber.

Somingyi Monastery

One of the typical monasteries of the Pagan period It consists of a brick-enclosed platform surrounded by a lobby on the east, connecting it with the central platform by a passage. In the lower chamber of the chapel were found the remains, on a brick pedestal, of an image placed against the west wall.

Monuments at Minnanthu

Sulamani Temple

It is situated about three miles to the south-west of Nyaung-U. It was built in 1183 A.D.by Narapatisithu, and resembles the That-byinnyu in plan. The temple consists of two storeys, being set back one behind the other, and each is crowned by terraces ornamented with battlemented parapets and small stupas at each corner surmounted a deeply moulded cornice set with glazed plaques of different sizes and patterns. In plan each storey is a square and four proches facing the cardinal points project from each, the porch on the east face being larger than the rest.

Nandamannya Temple

(Originally-Anantapannya-endless wisdom).This tample is only a few hundred yards away from the Payathonzu. It is a small vaulted chamber with only one entrance on the east. The interior walls are entirely decorated with fine frescoes. The image of the seated Buddha inside the temple is much ruined. The structure may be assigned to miod 13th century A.D.

Payathonzu Temple

The Payathonzu is so called because the monument consists of three distinct small square temples with vaulted corridors and Porticoes, joined together by two vaulted narrow passages leading From the one into the other. There is a pedestal in each sanctum, but the images have disappeared and their exact nature is not known. The walls of the corridors and the vaults are covered with beautifully painted and well preserved frescoes of Mahayanist and Tantric character. The half decorated middle sanctum and the plain walls of the western temple indicate that the work was abandoned before completion. The date of the foundation of this temple is not known but it can safely be assigned to late 13th century A.D.

Monuments at Pwasaw

Dhammayazika Pagoda

Built by Narapatisithu in 1196 A.D. It is a solid circular pagoda of the Shwezigon type, but its design is elaborate and unusual. The three lower terraces, which are adorned with terracotta tablets illustrating the jatakas or Birth stories of the Buddha, are pentagonal,and at the base on each side, there is a small temple with a square basement enshrining an image of the Buddha. They are all built on a raised platform enclosed within a wall, and there is an outer circuit wall which is piecred with five gateways. There are some ink inscriptions on the interior walls of the projecting proches.

Archaeological Museum

With the idea that cultural antiquities should best be studied in the ambience of their original setting, a field museum was established at Bagan in 1904. Located near the Ananda temple, it had a modest collection of 57 inscriptions and 1,109 cultural objects. However, the collection soon expanded and by 1915 the Superintendent of Archaeological Survey was clamouring for an extension of the building, but to on avail.

The present Museum, on a new site, was opened in October 1975. Designed and built by the Construction Corporation in consultation with the department of Archaelogy at a cost of K.1.4 million, it features a rectangular open hall, to house inscriptions and stone sculptures, and an octagonal structure, with a spire-like skylight, to exhibit the smaller antiquities.

Among the many objects of interest is a lotus, the symbol of perfect- ions and purity, in brozone. Standing on a short stem on a circular base, the lotus has eight hinged petals. Closed, the lotus is a bud, opened, it becomes a full flower with a spire in its centre. At the base of the spire are exquisitely carved figures representing the Major Events of the Life of the Buddha.

There is also a dolomite plaque, five inches high, portraying the Eight Major Events of the Life of the Buddha. The Enlightenment, represented by the Buddh seated in the earth-touching attitude, is given prominence in the centre. Around it,clockwise, starting from the bottom left corner are; the Nativity, with Prince Siddhattha emerging from the right hip of his mother who holds a branch of the sal /tree; the First Sermon which the Buddha gave in the Deer Park; the Taming of the Nalagiri Elephant through love; the Parinbbana or Decease; the Descent from Tavatimsa, the celestial abode ; the Twin Miracles in which flames arise from Buddha’s shoulders while water pours from his feet; and the Sojourn in the Parileyyaka Forest in which a monkey offers the Buddha the gift of a honeycomb.