Spectacular 2,500 Years Old Shwedagon Pagoda In Myanmar – World’s Oldest Pagoda
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - According to an ancient legend the Shwedagon Pagoda is 2,500 years old dating back to the lifetime of the Buddha, making it the oldest historical pagoda in the world.
The Shwedagon Pagoda enshrines strands of Buddha's hair and other holy relics.
Legends say that there's been a stupa on Singuttara Hill for 2,500 years, ever since two merchant brothers, Tapussa and Ballika, met the Buddha.
He gave them eight of his hairs to take back to Myanmar, a land ruled over by King Okkalapa. Okkalapa enshrined the hairs in a temple of gold, together with relics of three former Buddhas, which were then enclosed in a temple of silver, then one of tin, then copper, then lead, then marble, and, finally, one of plain iron-brick.
A grand festivity was held to celebrate this event.
Inside the mysterious Shwedagon Padoga.
Lord Sakka and four spirits descended from the heavens to choose a worthy place to store Buddha's hairs. They helped to discover three forgotten sacred places, and, as a result, it was decided to keep all sacred objects together with proper honors.
The Shwedagon is the only temple in the world that holds four Buddhist relics of such high value. Furthermore, it's one of the few structures created during the life of Buddha.
This glittering Buddhist monument is located in the heart of Yangon, the capital city of Myanmar, (Burma).
The Shwedagon Pagoda consists of hundreds of colorful temples, stupas, and statues that reflect the architectural era spanning almost a 2,500 years.
Stupa is a dome symbolizing Buddha's teachings.
Archaeologists suggest that the original stupa was built by the Mon people some time between the 6th and 10th centuries.
During its history, the Shwedagon Pagoda has been re-built on several occasions.
It is evident that, over the centuries, the Shwedagon Pagoda has survived difficult times. It has withstood earthquakes, invasions, pillaging, foreign occupation, and an internal stairwell fire in 1931 that destroyed many ancient monuments. Each disaster brought damage to the pagoda, but it has always withstood the onslaughts and endured the renovations. The fact that the Shwedagon Pagoda has survived these all this damage and still stood firm adds to its sense of majesty.
The Shwedagon Pagoda, also known in English as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda is completely covered with gold. It rises 326 feet (99 m) on a hill 168 feet (51 m) above the city.
Image credit: Air Pano
All sixty-eight surrounding stupas are gilded, while the Shwedagon itself is sheathed with golden plates from top to bottom. 8000 gold plates, 5000 diamonds, 2000 gemstones and semiprecious stones were used to decorate the main pagoda.
There are bells hanging along the perimeter of the temple complex with wooden mallets lying nearby. It is believed that if you make a wish and hit the bell three times it will come true. So here and there you can always hear a bell ringing in the distance.
Image credit: Nino Jim Bacalso
There are 4 entrances leading into the base of this great Shwedagon Pagoda. No one is sure what is inside. According to some legendary tales, there are flying and turning swords that protect the pagoda from intruders. Some say there are even underground tunnels leading to Bagan and Thailand.
Image credit: Air Pano
Image credit: Air Pano
Some of these absolutely stunning images were taken by Air Pano, a non-for-profit project focused on high-resolution spherical panoramas shot from a bird's eye view.
AirPano Travel Book is a collection of unique spherical photo panoramas of the most amazing places in the world. To say it's amazing is an understatement!
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
More From Ancient Pages
-
4,000-Year-Old Scottish Clava Cairns Were Built To House Dead
Civilizations | Nov 27, 2018
-
Utukku: Sumerian Spirit From The Underground That Obeyed The Will Of God Anu
Featured Stories | Jun 17, 2016
-
Jigai – Suicide Ritual For Wives Of Samurai – Feminine Counterpart Of Seppuku
Ancient History Facts | Feb 24, 2018
-
Irkalla – Underworld With No Return Ruled By Ereshkigal, Granddaughter Of Enlil And Sister Of Inanna
Featured Stories | Oct 20, 2021
-
Ancient Village Of Monsanto, Miraculously Balanced Giant Boulders And Knights Templar Connection
Civilizations | Dec 20, 2018
-
Achaemenid Empire Was The World’s Largest Ancient Empire
Featured Stories | May 24, 2021
-
Pharaoh Ramses II’s Sarcophagus On Display For The First Time In 50 Years
Artifacts | Apr 11, 2023
-
Plants, Trees And Food Brought To Earth From Space
Featured Stories | Dec 7, 2014
-
Aristotle’s Influence On Education Of Alexander The Great – Historical Encounter Of Two Famous Men
Featured Stories | Dec 24, 2018
-
World’s Oldest Evidence Of Dogs Wearing Leashes Could Be 8,000-Year-Old Rock Carvings
Ancient History Facts | Jan 9, 2024
-
Butterfly: Powerful Ancient Symbol Of Beauty, Transformation, Hope, Rebirth And Happiness Featured In Myths And Legends
Ancient Symbols | Sep 26, 2019
-
Genetic Fingerprints Of Unknown Species Discovered In Human DNA
Human Beginnings | Dec 31, 2019
-
Neanderthals: How A Carnivore Diet May Have Led To Their Demise
Featured Stories | Nov 7, 2022
-
Mystery Of Ancient New York Giants – Who Was Really Buried In The Druid Barrow?
Featured Stories | Oct 28, 2017
-
Unique Ancient Aryan Bow Reconstructed By Archaeologists
Archaeology | May 20, 2022
-
Utiseta – Norse Vision Quest – Ancient Spiritual Tradition Of Northern Europe
Ancient Traditions And Customs | Oct 3, 2019
-
Huge Unknown Ancient Lost World Discovered Inside Giant Sinkhole In China
News | May 19, 2022
-
Discovery: Massive Gawro Wall Dated To The Antique Age: Was It A Symbolic Or Defensive Structure?
Archaeology | Nov 9, 2019
-
Mysterious Utah: Prehistoric Ancient Petroglyphs Of Santa Clara River Reserve
Civilizations | Oct 2, 2018
-
Beer ‘Chicha’ Helped To Keep Peruvian Wari Empire Stable – New Study
Archaeology | Apr 23, 2019