Shwedagon Pagoda which is also known as the greatbDagon Pagoda or the Golden Pagoda is a beautiful stupa which is located in Yangon of Myanmar a place known for adventure and tours. This pagoda which is 325 ft is located on a Singuttara Hill, west of Kandawgyi Lake. This pagoda is one of the most revered Buddhist pagodas in Myanmar because it contains some relics of the four previous Buddhas of the recent Kalpa. Some of the relics include:
- The staff of Kakusandha
- The water filter of Konagamana
- A piece of the robe of Kassapa
- Eight strand of hair from the head of Gautama
The History of Shwedagon Pagoda
Archaeologists and historians have maintained that this pagoda was erected by the Mon people between the sixth and the tenth centuries. Contrary to the historians date, legend believe that this pagoda was built above 2,500 years ago thus, making it the oldest Buddhist pagoda in the entire world. Traditions holds the belief that two merchant brothers named Bhallika and Taphussa who come from Balkh, the present day Afghanistan, met with the Lord Gautama Buddha when he was alive and collected eight of his hair. The two brothers came to Burma to find Singuttara hill a place where other relics of the Buddha were enshrined. It was believed that incredible things happened when the king of Burma opened the casket on which the hair of the Buddha was carried. The pagoda has been damaged several times and rebuilt to its present state of adventure tours it has attracted to Myanmar.
The Design of Shwedagon Pagoda
The various designs of the pagoda are enough adventure and tours for Myanmar’s tourists
- The bottom of the pagoda is made with bricks decorated with golden plates. On top of the bottom, there are terraces that only males and the monk can access.
- The bell shape part.
- The turban that is above the bell shaped part of the pagoda
- The inverted alms bowl
- The upright and inverted lotus petals
- The umbrella crown and the banana bud
- The tipped crown with about 5,500 diamonds and 2,300 rubies
- The flag shape vane
- The very top tipped with about 15g diamond
The Rituals of Shwedagon Pagoda
Most Burmese are Buddhists who also follow the practices of most Hindu astrology. They recognize the moon, Saturn, the sun, Jupiter,mercury, mars and venus. They also believe in two more planets such as Ketu and Rahu. The Burmese believe that ketu is the king of all plants. It is very important for the Burmese Buddhists to know the day of the week in which they were born because to an extent, it determines their planetary post.
The Political Arena of the Pagoda.
Burma has only one university whose students met at the Shwedagon Pagoda in 1920 to protest against the new school act that favored only the rich and lead to colonial rule. The pagoda has given birth to various political gathering since its inception. Taking tourists around these places is the duty of TNK Travel to ensure real adventure tours in Myanmar.
Source: TNK Travel
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