Pyay Payama Stupa, Myanmar

Address

Pyay Payama Stupa, Myanmar

Pyay, Pyay-Paukkhaung road

Myanmar (Burma)

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

The Payama Stupa stands northeast of the old city wall near Koneyoe village, immediately north of the Pyay-Paukkhaung road. According to oral sources and pseudo-historical records such as the Yazawin Kyaw (early 16th century) it was built by the legendary King Duttabaung in the 5th century BCE to enshrine relics of the Buddha. However, there is no archeological evidence supporting this early date which is almost contemporary with the life of Gautama Buddha.

Puranic Significance

A more plausible date is somewhere between the 4th and 7th centuries when the Sri Ksetran kingdom reached its zenith. The stupa may be one of the earliest prototypes of such structures in Myanmar, along with several others such as the Payagi Stupa located west of the city, which it greatly resembles. Donald Stadtner, the noted art historian of Myanmar, is more cautious of assigning a specific date, noting that “they [the Payama and Payagyi] are usually attributed to the Pyu, but it is hard to gauge their true date.

The stupa has a height of 42.1 meters and a circumference of 95 meters at its base. It is built of brick with lime mortar. It stands on a circular base which in turn rests on three progressively wider tiers each having sixteen sides (making each appear roughly circular). The golden hti finial is a modern addition.