Pyay East Zegu Paya Temple, Myanmar

Address

Pyay East Zegu Paya Temple, Myanmar

Pyay Road, Tharay-Khit-taya,

Myanmar (Burma)

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

The East Zegu Paya is located within the boundaries of the old city of Sri Ksetra, about 600 meters southeast of the old city center. Measuring about 7.5 meters on each side, its design suggests that it was built as late as the 13th century, long after the Bagan Kingdom conquered the area and during the twilight of Pyu culture.

Puranic Significance

The layout of the temple bears a number of Bagan-era characteristics such as the presence of four arched openings (now partly bricked up to keep livestock from entering the temple), the use of pilasters as corner elements, and a central vaulted chamber. The exterior of the temple was probably once covered in stucco in the manner of contemporary temples at Bagan. Its superstructure, which is now lost, may have included a central tower element, again following the Bagan motif brickwork on the roof, but even at the time it was too heavily eroded to determine the roof’s original shape.

The interior of the temple is unadorned but features a stone altar on the west side which probably once housed a seated Buddha figure.

At the time of the author’s visit (July 2017) the temple was somewhat difficult to find as it stands 180 meters west of the nearest road and is only accessible via a dirt path through several rows of trees that obscure the view. Cattle roam freely about the site as the temple is located in the midst of several family farms.