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Ananda Temple
Said to represent the endless wisdom of the Buddha, the Ananda temple was most likely build in 1091 by King Kyanzittha. Albeit the main tower was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1975 its appearance is essentially the same as when it was build.
The large central square rises up to 53 meters (175ft) topped by the central tower. It houses four large standing gilded Buddha images said to be the historical Buddha, Gotama and the three preceding him. One each is in the north (Kakusandha), east (Konagamana), south (Kassapa) and west (Gotama) niches. The north and south images are believed to be originals and in the teaching gesture (dharmacakra) with their hand raised together at their chest, while east and west are later replacements believed to be from the 18th century. The eastern ones lowered outstreched hands depict the gesture to grant boons (varada mudra) while the western one raised right hand depicts the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra). It is however well possible that all four are later replacements as Bagan era images were usually all seated, made of brick and covered with stucco.
Glazed tiles adorn the entire western basement of the temple, depicting the army of Mara, the demon-king. All demons move in the same direction, towards the north entrance. On the east face deities of the Pali Buddhist universe are depicted and morror like from left and right towards the east entrance. On the roof terraces the tiles depict scenes from the jakata, the mythic stories of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. The first 537 stories are depicted in one tile each and named in Pali. The ten last and most sacred stories are depicted in another 389 tiles.
The entrance halls each contain 16 images in niches illustrating the main events in Buddhas life. In the northern entrance hall there are some recently discovered mural paintings which had been whitewashed in the 18th or 19th century. The western entrance hall contains a round stone slab with a footprint of the Buddha. At the left side just after the entrance to the outer corridor near to the footprint a series of eighty painted stone sculptures tell the story of Buddhas life. The series starts at the bottom and goes clock wise around the entire temple, then moves to the upper series of carvings on the second tour around the temple. Massive teak doors from the 18th century separate the entrance halls from the inner corridor and the niches with the four standing Buddha images.
During the month of January every year a festival is held at the Ananda temple, it's culmination being on the full moon day of January. Numerous vendors are selling their goods and local food stalls are set up as the pilgrims visit the Ananda for their Buddhist rituals during this festival.
The brick monastery next to the north entrance of Ananda temple was added in the 18th century, being build from 1779-1786 and using a total of 450'00 bricks according to inscriptions. Its frescoes differ from earlier ones in style but are among the finest surviving paintings and feature jakatas on the walls as well as ceiling ornaments.
© by Markus Braun, 2006
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