Affiliation Theravada Buddhism Completed 5 May 1960 | Country Myanmar Founder U Nārada | |
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Location Monywa Township, Sagaing Region | ||
Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung (Burmese: မဟာဗောဓိတထောင်, lit. 'a thousand great Bo trees') is a famous Buddhist region and monastery located in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar (Burma). It is famous for the Giant Standing Buddha statue, the second largest in the world, and for the Gratitudes of U Narãda, who built the monastery. The site contains thousands of Buddha images and Bo trees, the Giant Reclining Buddha Image, Aung Sakkyã Pagoda, and other large Buddha Images in the Sãsanǎ region. Many Buddhist monks can study the Buddhist Pariyatti literature at the monastery. Moreover, meditation centres or Vipassãnã centres are opened at the monastic region both for monks and laypersons.
Contents
- History
- Lay Kyun Sakkya Standing Buddha statue
- Reclining Buddha Image
- Aung Sakkya Pagoda
- Leadership
- References
History
Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung was founded by Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Sayadaw Ven Nãrada on 5 May 1960. He planted thousands of Bo trees throughout his life. He started to plant them on a 15 acres (6.1 ha) plot, with Nan Oo Sayadaw, the grandson of King Mindon, at 8.55 AM on 6 May 1960. Bo trees hold religious significance for Buddhists since it is the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.
Before he reached this monastery, the monastery is just one for Khatakkan villagers. Now, the 15 acres (0.061 km2) Bodhi Ta Htaung (One Thousand Bo Trees) Auspicious Ground has been extended to a 250 acres (1.0 km2), it is lush and green with more than 9,000 Bo trees. The monastery is famous in both Myanmar and the world since it has got many thousands of Bodhi trees.
Lay Kyun Sakkya Standing Buddha statue
Built in 1995, the Laykyun Setkyar Buddha statue is 424 feet (129 m) high with thirty one floors (referring to the 31 planes of existence). It is the second largest Buddha statue in the world. Construction of the statue was finished in 2008. On Banda vah mountain in Bodhi Tahtaung monastery, the Sitting Buddha statue is planned to build soon.
Reclining Buddha Image
The Reclining Buddha Image was built on January 8, 1991. It has a length of 333 feet (101 m) and width of 60 feet (18 m).
Aung Sakkya Pagoda
It is like Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon. It was built in 1979 (1341 ME). It is about 225 feet (69 m) high.
Leadership
The site is led by a chief abbot known as a sayadaw. The founding abbot, Ven. Narada, died in Mandalay on 22 November 2006. Since his death, five Chief sayadaws have succeeded him as the Nayaka Sayadaws according to his will.