What is Shwedagon Pagoda?
Shwedagon Pagoda is a sacred Buddhist pagoda constructed more than 2,500
years ago in Yangon, Myanmar. It’s a glided Stupa made with gold.
Where is Shwedagon Pagoda?
It is located on Singuttara Hill in the center of the Yangon (Rangoon),
previous capital of Myanmar (Burma).
History & Origin
Two Brothers and Hair Strands
Two merchant brothers Tapussa and Bhallika met the Gautama Buddha during
his life and received eight strands from the Buddha’s hair. The brothers
presented the eight strands of hair to King Okkalapa de Dagon who devoted the
strands with some relics of the three previous Buddhas of the Gautama Buddha in
a Stupa on Singuttara hill in the current Myanmar.
The Evolution
This Pagoda’s first mention dates only 1362/63 CE, when King Binnya U of
Martaban – Hanthawaddy raised the Pagoda to 18 m (59 ft).
The reign of King Dhammazedi of Hanthawaddy shows a list of several
repairs of the Pagoda going back to 1436.
Specifically, Queen Shin Saw Puraised its height to 40 m (130 ft).
In 1775, King Hsinbyushin raised the Pagoda to its present – day height
of 99 m (325 ft).
In 1871, the new hti (umbrella crown) was donated to Shwedagon by King
Mindon.
Some Interesting Facts
The Height
Constructed on the 51 m (167 ft) high Singuttara Hill, the 112 m (367
ft) (counting the height of hti) tall Pagoda stands 170 m (560 ft) above the
sea level.
The Structure
Its plinth is made of bricks and covered with gold plates.
Above the plinth, there are terraces which only monks and some males can
access.
After terrace is a bell shaped part of stupa.
Above that, there is the turban and then the inverted almsbowl and lotus
petals, the banana bud, and then the hti (umbrella crown). This crown is covered
with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies.
Just before the diamond bud is a flag shaped vane.
At the top, the diamond bud is covered with 76 carat (15 g) of diamond.
By Hintha - Source: Wikimedia Commons
Four Buddha in Four Directions
In the eastern directional shrine, there is the statue of first Buddha,
Kalpa.
Next in southern directional shrine, is the statue of second Buddha, Konāgamana.
Next, at the western directional shrine, is the third Buddha, Kassapa.
And finally at the northern shrine, is the fourth Buddha, Gautama.
By © Vyacheslav Argenberg - Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Astrology
The Burmese astrology originated from Hindu astrology, so it recognizes
seven planates – Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and in
addition Rahu and Ketu. But Burmese Rahu and Ketu are different from Hindu Rahu
and Ketu. Burmese considers them as distinct and separate planets. To them,
Ketu is the King of all planets.
Eight-day Week
Burmese have an eight–day week, with Wednesday being divided into two
days: Till 6:00 p.m. in the evening its Wednesday but from 6:00 p.m. until
midnight, its Rahu’s day. So, technically they have eight days in a week!
By Stefan Fussan - Source: Wikimedia Commons
Animals Represent Week-day
There are eight planetary posts. Garuda for Sunday, tiger for Monday, lion
for Tuesday, tusked elephant for Wednesday morning, tusk less elephant for
Wednesday evening, mouse for Thursday, guinea pig for Friday and nāga for
Saturday.
Barack Obama Performed a Ritual
This stupa is octagonal and surrounded by eight small shrines (one for
each planetary post).
Former US President Barack Obama performed a ritual by pouring water
over the statue of Buddha at Friday planetary post; Obama was born on a Friday.
By Pete Souza - Source: Wikimedia Commons
Story of Bells
Portuguese adventurer Filipe de Brito e Nicote (aka Nga Zinka to the
Burmese) plundered the Shwedagon Pagoda in 1608. His men took the 300-ton Great
Bell of Dhammazedi, donated by the Mon King Dhammazedi in 1485.
He wanted to melt the bell to make cannons. But when he was carrying it
across the Bago River, it fell into the river. This bell hasn’t been recovered from
the river till now.
Two centuries later, a 23-ton Maha Gandha Bell (aka Singu Min Bell) cast
in 1779 and donated by King Singu was carried off to ship it to Kolkata by
British officers but its fate was same as Dhammazedi Bell. It also fell into
the Bago River. But this time it was recovered. Divers went in the river to tie
hundreds of bamboo poles and floated the bell on the surface.
Its Replicas
Uppatasanti Pagoda situated in the capital of Myanmar – Naypyidaw, is a
replica of Shwedagon Pagoda. It is just 30 cm (12 in) smaller than the actual
Pagoda.
 |
| By Government of Thailand - Source: Wikimedia Commons Uppatasanti Pagoda |
Another replica is in Lumbini Natural Park in Berastagi, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
It is 46.8 m (154 ft) in height.
 |
| By WongRyant - Source: Wikimedia Commons Lumbini Natural Park (Tama Alam Lumbini) |
Other Replicas:
29 m (95 ft) high Global Vipassana Pagoda is in Mumbai, India.
Tachileik Shwedagon Pagoda near the Golden Triangle in Myanmar.
Damaged by Earthquakes
A series of earthquakes caused so much damage to the stupa. But the
worst damage caused by earthquakes was in 1766 which brought down the top of
the stupa.
By Glenn S. Hensley - Source: Wikimedia Commons
It’s a World Heritage Site
Shwedagon Pagoda is a popular place in Myanmar. It was declared as the
World Heritage Site on 6th December, 2018 by UNESCO. It attracts
more than 40,000 foreign visitors.
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