Pyay Leimyethna Paya Temple, Myanmar

Address

Pyay Leimyethna Paya Temple, Myanmar

Pyay Road, Tharay-Khit-taya,

Myanmar (Burma)

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

Leimyethna Paya literally means the “Temple of the Four Faces” in reference to its square, symmetrical layout. It stands on a low hill and was once surrounded by a moat. The interior includes a central pillar with a square corridor for circumambulation, allowing worshipers to pay homage to four Buddha reliefs originally installed on each side of the pillar. According to the historian Elizabeth Moore, the sculpture on the south side is stylistically similar to Gupta specimens from 7th century India, and may depict Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, seated to the right of the historical Buddha. Another Buddha image remains in situ on the west side of the pillar, and a third is still present on the north wall, whereas the east image is missing.

The roof of the temple comprises three or four tiers of brickwork rising to a central tower, most of which is no longer present. The tower may have resembled the one still visible at the nearby Bebe Paya.

There is some controversy regarding the age of the monument. Although the Buddhist reliefs suggest an early 7th century date, the temple may have been built (or rebuilt) in the Bagan era with Pyu-era artifacts reinstalled as objects of worship.