Pindaya Caves

MYANMAR, Shan, Pindaya

These natural limestone caves are located in Pindaya. There are a total of three caves at the site; however, only the South Cave is currently open to the public. It has a circuitous interior layout, extending approximately 150 m from the entrance to the back wall, and contains over 8,000 Buddha images. Based on the style of the Buddha statues and the script on the accompanying inscriptions, it is believed that these caves and original images were sculpted during the Konbaung dynasty (1752–1885). Over the years, devotees from across the country have brought different Buddha statues to be enshrined within the cave; as a consequence, the statues reflect various styles spanning from the Konbaung dynasty to the present day.
The front section of the South Cave features a golden pagoda measuring 15 m in height. Arranged both in front of the walls and in small niches surrounding the pagoda are numerous Buddha statues rendered in various sizes, postures, and features. Many of the Buddhas wear headdresses and lavish ornaments, and have elaborate nimbuses and mandorlas decorated with lotuses, pagoda reliefs, floral patterns, birds, and kinnaras. Most of the seated Buddhas form the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra; however, instead of touching the earth directly, their fingers touch either an owl, an elephant, a lion, or a small stone. This is a distinctive feature of the Buddha images in this cave. Among the images are over 70 Medicine Buddhas, supporting the belief that the practice of the Medicine Buddha once prevailed in this area.