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Sinmyarshin Temple

Sinmyarshin Temple is a two-storey building consisting of an entrance hall and the main hall on the lower level. The main hall has two Buddha images, each facing east and west. On the upper level are four sitting Buddha images facing North, East, South and West.

From left: Pa Tha Da Pagoda, Sinmyarshin Temple,. Yadana Man Aung pagoda

Yadana Man Aung pagoda, Sinmyarshin Temple, Pa Tha Da Pagoda,

Sinmyarshin Temple

There are beautiful stuccos carvings of lotus which can be rarely seen in the Bagan architectures. On the inner walls of the hall are mural paintings. But only 50% of the original paintings can be seen now.

Pa Tha Da Pagoda

Pa Tha Da Pagoda

A mudra in Buddhist iconography is a body posture or gesture with special meaning. The earth witness mudra is also called the Bhumi-sparsha ("gesture of touching the earth") mudra.

The "earth witness" Buddha is one of the most common iconic images of Buddhism. It depicts the Buddha sitting in meditation with his left hand, palm upright, in his lap, and his right hand touching the earth. This represents the moment of the Buddha's enlightenment.

Just before the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, realized enlightenment, it is said the demon Mara attacked him with armies of monsters to frighten Siddhartha from his seat under the bodhi tree. But the about-to-be Buddha did not move. Then Mara claimed the seat of enlightenment for himself, saying his spiritual accomplishments were greater than Siddhartha's. Mara's monstrous soldiers cried out together, "I am his witness!" Mara challenged Siddhartha--who will speak for you?

Then Siddhartha reached out his right hand to touch the earth, and the earth itself roared, "I bear you witness!" Mara disappeared. And as the morning star rose in the sky, Siddhartha Gautama realized enlightenment and became a Buddha.

Bougainvillea (bunga kertas)

Its botanical name was given by French botanist Phillibert Commerson, who is said to have observed and described the flower during the circumnavigation with voyager Louis Antoine Bougainville. Although some have said the flower was actually first spotted and recorded by Commerson’s girlfriend Jeanne Baret: Baret had disguised herself as a man to join in the expedition as Commerson’s botanist assistant, ship surgeon and became the first woman (though under disguise) known to circumnavigate the world. What an interesting story. Perhaps “jeanne baret” would have been a flower name with a more glamourous sheen

Bougainvillea (also known as Bugambilia (Mexico), Napoleón (Honduras), veranera, trinitaria, Santa Rita, papelillo) is a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Perú and south to southern Argentina (Chubut Province).

Different authors accept between four and 18 species in the genus. Bougainvilleas are popular ornamental plants in most areas with warm climates. Plants, like humans, have travelled far and wide, cross-bred and made a new home in a foreign land.

Aye, our guide

Shwe Sandaw Pagoda was built in A.D. 1057 by King Anawrahta. There are image houses at four sides. In them are hard stone images of Buddha in the posture of Jhana mudra (state of intense concentration of mind). They are stone of Anawrahta's time.

Such like Buddha images were made in the reign of Anawrahta. Hard stones were used and the images were usually massive. On the palms and soles of the images were incised night petal lotus flowers. Below these images are stone slabs with grooves to let water go out. It is therefore assumed that lustral water was poured on these images

Shwe-San-Daw Temple – is also known as the “sunset temple”, where foreign and local tourists gather here every evening to witness the wonderful Bagan sunset.

The Shinbinthalyaung temple is located on the west of the Shwesandaw pagoda. It houses an 18-metre-long reclining Buddha Image of the 11th century.

The Shinbinthalyaung temple

The Shinbinthalyaung temple

Text: Internet

Pictures: Sanda Foişoreanu & Internet

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Mar Mar Aye - Burma Traditional Music