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Mrauk U
Mrauk U. An ancient 15th century capital of
the Kingdom of Rakhine for 355 years. was founded by Rakhine
King Min Saw Mun in 1430A.D.. Mrauk U is known and become
growing destination for its old temples and wall paintings of
Indian influence. The stone pagodas in Mrauk U were built three
ad four centuries ago.Mahamuni Shrine, Shittaung Pagoda, Dukka
Thein Pagoda, Wai-tha-li Ancient City and Mrauk U Palace are
some of the interesting places to visit.
Shitthaung or "temple of the 80,000 Buddhas"
located about half a mile to the north of the palace site was
built by one of the most powerful kings of the Mrauk-U Dynasty,
called by the people, Minbargyi. It is an ancient temple, in
Mrauk Oo of northern Rakhine state, Myanmar.
Htukkan (or Dukkhan), the temple stands on a
hill, 30 feet high, having a flat surface like that of a drum.
King Minphalaung built the pagoda in 1571 A.D. Like the
Shitthaung and the Andaw shrines, Dukkhanthein was built of hewn
sandstones and layers of bricks over the roof. It measures 190
feet from north to south and 200 feet from east t o west. It is
reached by stone stairways, 8' broad, situated on the east and
south. These stairways measuring 106 feet are built of massive
stonewalls on the north, east and south. The west one which is
slightly convex is connected to an oblong chamber. The pagoda
entrance on the east side, closer to the south-east corner,
leads to a long vaulted passage which spirals up in two tiers
till it reaches the central chamber. The superstructure, a
bell-shaped dome on receding terraces, is similar to the one on Shitthaung, but here a tall square arch is provided on the east
side to admit light into the central chamber. The inner chambers
and passages of the temple are constructed with well fitting and
cemented stones. The pagoda is well-known for the stone
sculptures in the vaulted passages, especially the figures of
seated ladies, with different styles of coiffure, in the manner
of offering lotus buds to the Buddha. Traditionally it is said
that there are sixty-four kinds of hairstyle and all the figures
are of the wives of noblemen. Besides, on both sides of the
entire passage, niches of 1½ feet broad, 1 foot deep, and 2 feet
high are dug at regular intervals of 20 feet in the wall and
each contains a stone image of the Buddha in sitting posture.
There are one hundred and forty-six niches along the passage.
About a distance of 150 feet to the northwest
of the Dukkhanthein Pagoda is the Laymyetnha Pagoda or "the
fourfacaded pagoda". King Minsawmon, the first king of Mrauk-U
Dynasty, built it in 1430 A.D. It is one of the five pagodas
built at the beginning of the establishment of the city. It is a
square structure, with a long protruding portal towards each
cardinal point. The interior room is octagonal. In the center of
the latter there is an octahedral column intended to support the
circular tower erected over the center of the roof. Over each of
the four corners of the terrace a smaller circular stupa was
built. Each side of the square of the shrine measures 55'; the
portals are 13' broad and protrude 17' into the platform.
The central tower is circular and has the shape of a dome, with
a circumference of 80 feet at the base and is 70 feet high.
There are 28 Buddha images as mentioned in the Sambuddha
scripture.
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