Bagan Mahabodhi Paya, Myanmar

Address

Bagan Mahabodhi Paya, Myanmar

Old Bagan,

Myanmar (Burma)

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

The Mahabohdi is a Buddhist temple, erected during the reign of Nadaungmya (r. 1211-1234), is modeled after the temple of the same name in Bodhgaya, India. The original Mahabodhi had been erected on the place where Siddhartha first attained supreme enlightenment in the 6th century BC. It is a 140 foot (43 m) high brick and whitewashed stucco structure characterized by a large square pyramidal tower and topped by a conical spire and umbrella. Similar Bagan-era structures may be seen about 20 miles (32 km) south of Bagan on the Ayeyarwady.

In addition to its pyramidal tower set on a quadrilateral base, the Mahabodhi is almost unique among Bagan structures because it’s extensive exterior ornamentation. Its numerous niches enclose over 450 Buddha images not only on the tower but also on the corner stupas and to a lesser extent on the exterior walls of the two story base. The Mahabodhi was badly damaged by the 1975 earthquake. It was repaired between 1976 and 1979 and strengthened in 1991-1992.