Sandamuni Pagoda - Mandalay
| Myanmar Name: | á áášááŹááŻááááŻááŹá¸- ááášáááąá¸ |
| Other Name: | áááşá¸ááźáąááŻáśááŹá áś áááşá¸ááąáŹáşáᏠá áášááŹááŻááá áąááŽááąáŹáşááźááşááźáŽá¸ |
| Type of Asset: | Architecture [ááááŻááŹáááşááŹááťáŹá¸] |
| Location: | 12th Street, Bet: 62nd Street and 66th Street, Aungmyaythazan Township, Mandalay. [áááááşá¸á áááááşá¸áážááˇáşáááááşá¸ááźáŹá¸á áĄáąáŹááşááźáąááŹá áśááźááŻáˇáááşá ááášáááąá¸ááźááŻáˇá ááášáááąá¸áááŻááşá¸á] |
Asset Information
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Built by King Mindon in 1867, the Sandamuni Pagoda in Mandalay exemplifies the architecture of the Yadanabon period (late 19th century). Its namesake and primary draw is the Sandamuni image of the Buddha, an 11,368-viss (approximately 19-tonne) cast-iron statue. This revered statue was originally a donation from King Bodawpaya and was brought to the pagoda from Amarapura.
In 1913, the esteemed hermit U Khandi initiated the monumental task of inscribing the Tripitakaâcomprising the Sutta, Vinaya, and Abhidhamma, the three principal Buddhist scripturesâonto stone tablets. These sacred stone inscriptions were subsequently housed within dhamma cetis, which are small, stupa-like structures designed to protect and honor them.
The history of the Sandamuni image is quite fascinating. It was first brought to Amarapura by King Bodawpaya (Badon Min) in 1815. It was then moved to Innwa by King Bagyidaw in 1827, back to Amarapura by King Tharrawaddy in 1838, and finally to Mandalay by King Mindon in 1867. This series of relocations of the Sandamuni image provides valuable historical context about the shifting capitals and palaces of the Burmese kings. It also offers insights into events such as the assassination of Crown Prince Kanaung. The stone inscriptions, which include commentaries and sub-commentaries on Buddhist scriptures, are extremely valuable for the preservation of the Buddhist faith. An annual festival, the Buddha Pujaniya festival, is held here from the first to the third day of the full moon of Thadingyut.
The pagoda, damaged by the 2025 earthquake, is currently undergoing repairs. Its board of trustees and donors are dedicated to ongoing maintenance and preservation. However, the persistent threat of natural disasters such as earthquakes necessitates professional expertise, advanced conservation techniques, and substantial funding for continued preservation.
It is worth noting that there are two other pagodas named Sandamuni: one in Innwa and one in the Tampawaddy ward of Chanmyathazi Township in Mandalay. These pagodas provide opportunities to study the architecture of the Nyaungyan era (17th century) and the Amarapura era (19th century).
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