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It is said that every Myanmar should visit Bagan and without visiting Ananda you cannot be said to have visited Bagan. Ananda Temple is like a museum. You can study all kinds of Myanmar arts here — architecture, stone sculpture, stucco, glazed plaques, terra cotta, wood carving, artwork of blacksmith …..

Ananda Temple was constructed in Koza Sakarit 452 M. E (A. D. 1091) by King Kyansittha. He was also known as Hti Hlaing Shin. His regnal title was “Sri Tribuvanaditya Dhamma Yaza" meaning "the King of Justice who shines like the sun over three auspicious worlds"

Sakka Devaraja

In the Buddhist scriptures, this powerful deity is known as

Sakka Devaraja.

He has many names, but Sakka is the

most commonly used name in

the Pali scriptures,

while devaraja means “king of

the devas (deities)”.

Sakka Devaraja

There are three different versions regarding the name of this temple: 1. When King Kyansittha asked eight Arahats (Saints) to provide him with a design for the religious monument he was about to build, they created the image of Nanda Mula Cave Hall held to be in the Himalayas. So the temple was constructed on the model of that image and it came to be known as "Nandamu" which in course of time corrupted to sound "Ananda” 2. The Sanscrit word "Anand” means "very beautiful”. The name "Ananda" must have been derived from this Sanscrit word. The Temple is extremely beautiful 3. There is a Pali word “Ananta Panna" which means “the endless wisdom of the Buddha“. The temple symbolizes this attribute of the Buddha. Hence it is called "Ananta Temple"

It cannot be said for certain which version is correct because the original stone inscription was silent about its name. But "Ananda" is the traditional name known to the Myanmar people for generations

The Ananda Temple’s central square measures 53 m (175 ft) long, and its gabled porches protrude some 17 m (57 ft) from each of the square’s faces. Its main building stands 10.5 m (35 ft) in height, while its central tower measures 51 m (167 ft). The temple’s overall length from end to end is around 88 m (290 ft).

Statues of the guardian Lions on the roof of ancient Ananda Temple

The Chinthe is a leogryph (lion-like creature) that is often seen at the entrances of pagodas and temples in Burma and other Southeast Asian countries.

The chinthe is featured prominently on the kyat, the currency of Burma. They typically appear as animals, but are sometimes found with human faces.

The chinthe is revered and loved by the Burmese people and is used symbolically on the royal thrones of Burma. Predating the use of coins for money, brass weights cast in the shape of mythical beasts like the chinthe were commonly used to measure standard quantities of staple items.

The manussiha, a combination of Pali manussa (man) and siha (lion) is a half-lion half-man mythical creature that is symbolic of a guardian, usually found guarding the four corners of a pagoda. It has a human head and torso and lion hindquarters. It is comparable to the sphinx.

The story of why chinthes guard the entrances of pagodas and temples are given as such:A princess had a son through her marriage to a lion, but later abandoned the lion who then became enraged and set out on a road of terror throughout the lands. The son then went out to slay this terrorizing lion. The son came back home to his mother stating he slew the lion, and then found out that he killed his own father. The son later constructed a statue of the lion as a guardian of a temple to atone for his sin

Among the monuments in Bagan which have glazed works, Ananda Temple has the best.

Mara's Army

The lower terraces have a complete numbered set of 537 Jataka plaques (scenes from the lives of the Buddha) in Pali;

Below each glazed plaques are inscribed the name and number of the Jataka depicted. It will take about two days to study in detail all the glazed plaques on five terraces above and those on either side of four devotional halls

Deva's Rejoicing

Deva's Rejoicing

Mara's Army

Mara's Army

Six terraces rise pyramid-like to the central tower. The lower terraces have a complete numbered set of 537 Jataka plaques (scenes from the lives of the Buddha) in Pali; the upper terraces have a set of 375 Mon language plaques depicting the last ten Jataka. Including those on the interior, this is the largest Bagan collection of terracotta tiles.

Large temple bells are donated to the temple by lay people and are highly regarded – they are struck three times at the end of personal spiritual practice as an invitation for all to share in the good fortune accumulated and others show their approval by declaring thadu, thadu, thadu, which means well done, well done, well done. The casting of these imposing temple bells was an auspicious occasion shared by the entire village with much rejoicing. During the casting, onlookers sometimes threw in silver at just the right time which would then appear on the surface of the bell as white streaks

Ananda Temple is one of the four main temples remaining in Bagan. Ananda temple is considered to be one of the most surviving masterpiece of the Mon architecture. Also known as the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. During the 1975 earthquake Ananda suffered considerable damage but has been totally restored.

The Chinthe is a leogryph (lion-like creature) that is often seen at the entrances of pagodas and temples in Burma and other Southeast Asian countries. The chinthe is almost always depicted in pairs, and serve to protect the pagoda.

Burmese women feel great pride when they are asked to explain the golden paste covering their faces. This traditional skin conditioner has been used in Burmese society for centuries and is a cherished part of national identity.

There is a legend saying that there were 8 monks who arrived one day to the palace begging for alms. They told the king that once they had lived in the Nandamula Cave temple in the Himalayas. The King was fascinated by the tales and invited the monks to return to his palace. The monks with their meditative powers they showed the king the mythical landscape of the place they have been. King Kyanzittha was overwhelmed by the sight and had a desire for building a temple which would be cool inside in the middle of the Bagan plains. After the construction of the temple the king executed the architects just to make the style of the temple so unique

It is said that there are 10000 surrounding Zedis, 1000 niches, and three vaulted corridors. 10000 surrounding Zedis include zedis on the fencing walls, those on the walls of the vaulted corridors and those around the main stupa.

The Ananda Temple is

surrounded by an enclosing wall with four

arched gateways containing

seated guardian deities

The Chinthe serve to protect the pagoda.

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu & InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Saung Zaw Win Maung - The Auspicious Song