Bagan Monument 1148-49, Myanmar

Address

Bagan Monument 1148-49, Myanmar

Bagan – Chauk Rd, New Bagan,

Myanmar (Burma)

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

Monuments 1148 and 49 (13th century) this pair of small temples stands in the southeast corner of the outer enclosure of the So-min-gyi-ok-kyaung Monastery. Both are laid out as single-story structures housing a small shrine room topped with sikhara towers. Of the two buildings the east temple (Monument 1148) is in better condition even though it is the smaller of the two monuments, measuring 5 x 6.5 meters in plan compared to its neighbor which covers 6.5 x 7.5 meters.

Pierre Pichard remarks in his Inventory of the Monuments at Bagan that “It is really exceptional to find 5 [Buddha] images in so small a temple.” (p. 17), referring to the five statues arranged within the cramped confines of the east temple, measuring 2.24 x 2.15 m. The Buddhas are laid out with three set against the south wall and one each on the side niches. The west temple is less exceptional with only three images along the south wall. At present, the interiors of both temples are kept locked with solid iron gates, though one may peek inside through the iron bars.