Maha Bodhi Tahtaung

Maha Bodhi Tahtaung
Taken from Monywa Township
Shown within Myanmar
Basic information
Location	Monywa Township, Sagaing Region
Geographic coordinates	22°04′49″N 95°17′21″E / 22.080199°N 95.289186°E / 22.080199; 95.289186Coordinates: 22°04′49″N 95°17′21″E / 22.080199°N 95.289186°E / 22.080199; 95.289186
Affiliation	Theravada Buddhism
Country	Myanmar
Architectural description
Founder	U Narada
Completed	5 May 1960 (1960-05-05)

Giant standing Buddha (under construction in the first picture)

Maha Bodhi Tahtaung.

Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung (Burmese: မဟာဗောဓိတထောင်, lit. 'a thousand great Bo trees') is a famous Buddhist region and monastery located in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar (Burma). It is famous for the Giant Standing Buddha statue, the second tallest in the world, and for the Great Atitudes of U Narãda, who built the monastery. This Sāsana (religious) site contains thousands of Buddha statues beneath thousands of Bo trees, the Giant Reclining Buddha Statue, Aung Sakkyā Stupa, and other large Buddha statues. Currently, a Sitting Buddha Statue, which is expected to become the world's largest Sitting Buddha Statue, is in construction. Many Buddhist monks can study the Buddhist Pariyatti literature at the monastery. Moreover, meditation centres or Vipassãnā centres are opened at this monastic site both for monks and laypersons.

History

Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung was founded by Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Sayadaw Ven Nārada on 5 May 1960. He planted thousands of Bo trees throughout his life on recalling the Buddha attained beneath the Bo tree in Bodh Gaya, India. He started to plant them on a 15 acres (6.1 ha) plot, with Nan Oo Sayadaw, the grandson of King Mindon, at 8.55 AM on 6 May 1960. Bo trees hold religious significance for Buddhists since it is the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

Before he reached this monastery, the monastery was just a small one for Khatakkan villagers. Now, the 15 acres (0.061 km²) Bodhi Ta Htaung (One Thousand Bo Trees) Auspicious Ground has been extended to a 250 acres (1.0 km²), it is lush and green with more than 9,000 Bo trees. The monastery is famous both in Myanmar and the world since it has got many thousands of Bodhi trees.

Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Sayadaw who founded the Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Monastery.

Lay Kyun Sakkya Standing Buddha statue

Built in 1995, the Laykyun Setkyar Buddha statue is 424 feet (129 m) high with thirty one floors, referring to the 31 planes of existence or 31 Realms of Life Cycle according to Buddhist literatures. The mural paintings in every floor for each Realm are very interesting and famous. From the feet to the top of the Statue, it is 381 feet high and the pedestal has a height of 44 feet. It is the second tallest Buddha statue in the world after the Spring Temple Buddha in China.^[1] Construction of the statue was finished in 2008.^[2][3] On Banda vah mountain in Bodhi Tahtaung monastery, a Sitting Buddha statue is also being built for completing the last desire of Sayadawgyi, U Nārada.^[4]

Reclining Buddha Statue

The Reclining Buddha Statue was built on 8 January 1991. It has a length of 333 feet (101 m) and width of 60 feet (18 m). It is hollow inside the statue and the Great Chronicles of Buddha are displayed.

Aung Sakkya Pagoda

It is like Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon. It was built in 1979 (1341 ME). It is about 225 feet (69 m) high. People can walk up the outside stairs or walk through the hollow walkway inside the stupa in to the dome of the stupa.

Leadership

The site is led by a chief abbot known as a sayadaw. The founding abbot, Ven. Narada, passed away in Mandalay on 22 November 2006. Since his demise, five Chief sayadaws have succeeded him as the Nāyaka Sayadaws according to his will.

References