Shwesandaw Pagoda Buddhist Stupa – Myanmar (Burma)

Address

Shwesandaw Pagoda Buddhist Stupa – Myanmar (Burma)

Old Bagan,

Myanmar (Burma)

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

The Shwesandaw Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda located in Bagan, Myanmar. It is the tallest pagoda in Bagan, and contains a series of five terraces, topped with a cylindrical stupa, which has a bejeweled umbrella. The pagoda was built by King Anawrahta in 1057, and once contained terra cotta tiles depicting scenes from the Jataka. Enshrined within the pagoda are sacred hairs of Gautama Buddha, which were obtained from Thaton.

Puranic Significance

The Shwesandaw was built in 1057 by King Anawrahta, founder of the Bagan Kingdom. Anawrahta wanted to further Buddhism in his empire. To this end he requested Manuha, King of the Mon Kingdom of Thaton, to be given a copy of the Tripitaka, the Buddhist teachings. In 1057, after Manuha’s refusal, Anawrahta invaded Thaton. Upon his return after the successful conquest, he had the Shwesandaw pagoda built to enshrine hair relics of the Buddha, which he had brought back from Thaton. The Shwesandaw is a white painted symmetrical structure consisting of a bell shaped stupa set on a base of five square receding terraces. The stupa is topped with a golden multi tiered hti, an ornamental spire in the shape of a ceremonial umbrella found on many Burmese temples. The hti is not the original which came down with the 1975 earthquake. The original one is on display next to the pagoda. The corners of the pagoda’s five terraces were adorned with statues of Ganesha, the God with the elephant head, in Burma known as Maha Peinne. Therefore, the pagoda is locally also known as the Ganesh pagoda or Maha Peinne pagoda. Several deities like Ganesha were worshipped in Bagan before the arrival of Buddhism