Abeyadana Temple- Myanmar (Burma)

Address

Abeyadana Temple- Taung Ywar Naung, Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Abeyadana temple is a 12th century Buddhist temple in Bagan, Myanmar. The temple complex has a large central temple, which has a rectangular plan. The main idol of the temple is a brick image of Gautama Buddha. On the west side of the Buddha image, a portrait-figure shows Abeydana praying to him.

Puranic Significance

Abeyadana temple was built during A.D 1102-1103. The temple is located at the north of the royal palace of King Kyanzittha. It is a temple of classical architecture, bases square and large porch in north where there lies a central pillar, and then a great sitting Buddha. Paintings are the true treasure of this temple and they are rich of teaching on the atmosphere of Bagan of the ancient time. The history of this temple says, while Kyanzittha sheltered at Nagayon during his flight from Sawlu, his wife Abeyadana waited for him a short distance away. At that site he subsequently built this temple, which is similar in plan to the Nagayon. The name of the temple was given after King Kyanzittha’s first queen “Abeyadana”, whom he married while he was still a young warrior. Abeyadana meaning the “abandoned jewel” was a follower of Mahayana Buddhism since the frescoes on the outer walls can be seen with images of the Hindus Gods like Indra, Shiva and Vishnu. The inner shrine contains a large, brick-built seated Buddha, but the fine frescoes are the main interest here. Of the many Buddha niches lining the walls, most are empty. Some contain bodhi-sattvas and showing a Mahayana influence accredited to the tastes of Kyanzittha’s Bengali bride.