Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung

Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung

= Nadi Nain =

Lying in a hilly region south east of Monywa is the Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung, where thousands of Bo trees can be found, and each tree is sheltering a large seated Buddha image. Roughly meaning, a thousand sacred Bo trees, the holy ground was founded by Ven Nãrada the principal monk of Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung monastery. Also renowned as the Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Sayadaw, the venerable ago Buddhists regard Bo trees as religiously significant.

The holy venue can also be called a monastic region as it is now a place where monks can learn Buddhist Pariyatti literature at its monastery, and both the laypersons and the members of the religious order can practice vipassana at its meditation centres.

Apart from the thousands of seated Buddha images under Bo trees, the monastic ground also hosts two giant Buddha images and a pagoda.

In 1975, the Sayadaw added the Aung Sakkya Pagoda to the place. The architectural design of the 225-feet high stupa is much similar to that of the Great Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon. Circled by a thousand cetis accommodating images Buddha Images, the pagoda has the base white in color and a golden stupa topped with a sacred umbrella.

Lying on top of the dominant hill in the area is a 333-feet long Reclining Buddha Image which is said to be the largest of its kind in the world. Inside the huge image is a cave-like hollow structure where  some of the important events in the life of the Buddha are displayed. The Image with a width of 60 feet is built in 1991.

In 1995, the Sayadaw launched a project to build a huge standing Buddha image. When completed in 2008, the image became the second largest standing Buddha statue in the world at 424 feet (129 m) in height. The Image also includes thirty one floors (referring to the 31 planes of existence). A plan is under way to build a large Sitting Buddha Image on Bandawa hill in the monastic region.

The monastic region is just 45 minutes drive by tuk tuk from Monywa in the northwest of Yangon, is the largest commercial city of the region. Lying in the plans we called Anya, it is also an industrial city of Sagaing Region. The cost of chartering a tuk tuk to visit both the Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung holy ground and nearby Thanboddhay temple for half a day will cost around K 10,000.

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