Mahamuni Buddha Temple

MYANMAR, Mandalay

Mahamuni means Great Sage and the temple was built by King Bodawpaya (reigned 1782–1819) of the Konbaung dynasty in 1784, at a location northwest of the palace. The pagoda was damaged by fire in 1884 and was later repaired. It houses the famous Mahamuni Buddha statue, which originates from the Arakan Kingdom (present day Rakhine). Thus, it is also known as the Arakan Pagoda.
The temple building is in the form of a seven-tier pyramid-shaped pagoda. The tiers are elaborately decorated with upturned corners and wave-like formations. The spire of the pagoda consists of a square vase, surmounted by a canopy, stacked rings, and jeweled finial. The 4 m high seated Mahamuni Buddha statue is located in the main shrine. The statue, cast around the year 150, is a symbol of the old Arakan Kingdom. The statue is made of bronze but has been continuously gilded by devotees over the years. There is a covered walkway in front of the pagoda, where there is a collection of 600 stone steles collected by King Bodawpaya from the temples in Rakhine.