Shwedagon Pagoda

Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
Shwedagon Pagoda is the most famous pagoda in Myanmar, and is known all over the world. It is one of the symbols of Myanmar and is the pagoda for people born in the year of the Horse.
Burmese people believe that Shwedagon Pagoda was built during the time of the Buddha, around 2,500 years ago.
According to legend, two merchant brothers, Tapussa and Bhallika, visited the Buddha during his lifetime and received eight strands of his hair. When the two brothers returned to Myanmar, they kept the hair relics in a golden casket along with other relics in the Singutara hill. The story goes that when the ruler of the city, King Okkalapa, opened the casket, a miracle occurred. Light shone throughout the land, including heaven and hell. People's souls were released. Blind people saw again. Deaf people began to hear. Mute people began to speak clearly. Because of these miraculous events, the ruler decided to build this pagoda.

Around the pagoda, there are Buddha images for each day of birth. Each day has a statue as a symbol, but don't worry if you can't read it because the name of the day is written in both Burmese and English as follows:
- Sunday (Tanin Ka Nu Ene) - Symbol is a Garuda statue
- Monday (Tanin La Ne) - Symbol is a tiger statue
- Tuesday (Eng Ka Ne) - Symbol is a lion statue
- Wednesday afternoon (Budahu) - Symbol is a tusked elephant statue
- Wednesday night (Rahu Ne) - Symbol is a tusked elephant statue
- Thursday (Chatab De Ne) - Symbol is a large short-tailed mouse statue (similar to On)
- Friday (Tao Ja Ne) - Symbol is a long-tailed mouse statue
- Saturday (Sane Ne) - Symbol is a Naga statue

Once you know who needs to go to which statue, it's time to pour water. First, pay respect to the Buddha. You can bring fragrant flowers such as the Maha Hong flower to worship the Buddha. Pray first, then scoop water to pour on the marble Buddha statue and the deities standing behind the marble Buddha. Then pour water on the animal of the day of birth. By pouring water in an amount equal to our age +1, it is considered a talisman to enhance good fortune.

#WinterTravel #ShwedagonPagoda #Myanmar #BurmeseBuddhistRelicsOfYearOfBirth

Post by นักรบตะวันออก | Dec 25, 2023