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Manuha Temple is a Buddhist temple built in Myinkaba (Bagan), by captive MonKing Manuha in 1067,according to King Manuha's inscriptions.

Manuha Temple is a rectangular building of two storeys. The building contains three images of seated Buddhas and an image of Buddha entering Nirvana.Manuha Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bagan.

Traditionally Manuha was considered one of the earliest temples at Bagan. The name of the temple was given after the name of the captive King Manuha.

King Manuha's inscription says that it was built in AD 1067 about a decade after the Mon king was brought to Bagan.

Pretty temple bell outside

The beautiful bird duck Hintha remains a beloved symbol of the Mon people.

The Burmese mythological bird duck Hintha also known as Hamsa originated from where the Bago river once flowed strongly into the Yangon River and from there out to sea. At one time a huge area was mostly under water with only the tip of a hill rising out of the fast flowing river. The myth describes how a couple of Hintha birds or waterfowl with golden neck feathers, were seen resting on the tip of the hill by two Princes who later founded the kingdom.

The dry space on top of the hill was so small that the female bird had to perch on the back of her gallant mate. This gave rise to the unfounded rumour that Bago ladies would get the upper hand in marriage; maybe it would be more correct to say that Bago men make good husbands. In Myanmar the mythological duck Hintha is the symbol of Bago and a symbol of the Mon people, it is depicted on the flag of Bago and Mon State.

Hintha also referred to as Hamsa or Brahmani duck is an inhabitant of the forest with normal anatomy and symbolizes marital fidelity, this species has a single mate for life, Hamsas are often seen holding a branch of foliage in their beak as a symbol of prosperity and fertility.

Thanaka

Small shrines depicting the days of the week; each day has a different animal with a nat or some such spirit riding on its back

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Afternoon

Friday

Previously, the huge alms bowl in front of the main shrine of Manuha Temple once a year was filled with cooked rice for the pagoda festival. Now if you want to contribute, simply throw money in

The devotees offer rice at the temple. A small amount is cooked and offered to the shrine and the rest of the rice kept aside to be donated to monasteries

King Manuha and his wife. Queen Ningala Devi to Nagayone

King Manuha and his wife. Queen Ningala Devi to Nagayone (recent statues)King Manuha's inscription says that it was built in AD 1067 about a decade after the Mon king was brought to Bagan. Legend says that it was built by a Mon king named Manuha who had been defeated and brought to Bagan as a captive by Anawrahta. In Bagan the kings and queens the princes and princesses all built pagodas large and small.Manuha the Mon king detained in Bagan also wanted to build a temple of his own. He did not have ready money in cash so he sold his priceless Manaw Maya jewel to a rich merchant of Myinkaba and obtained six cartloads of pure silver. He used this to build the impressive Manuha Temple. It is still a place of worship for the Buddhists.

Manuha Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bagan. The building contains three images of seated Buddhas and an image of Buddha entering Nirvana. The largest seated Buddha image is 46 feet high (14 meters), with the right hand touching the earth. Two smaller Buddha images, each one is 33 feet high (10 meters), flank this large image on each side.

During the earthquake of 1975 the central roof collapsed badly damaging the largest seated Buddha which has since been repaired.

The story behind this temple and how the huge Buddha image is built inside such a small tight temple makes this place an interesting site to visit. Once you see the tight wrapped Buddha image, you can easily feel the frustration that the captive the kind Manuha felt.

Also, there is a reclining Buddha in the back side of the temple that is also interesting that he's smiling when sleep

The incumbent Buddha image of 90 feet long (27.4 meters)inside the image house

The three Buddha images are uncomfortably large for their enclosure, thus illustrating the mental stress and lack of comfort of the captive King Manuha. The facial expressions of the seated images are grim. That of the one reclining Buddha, on the other hand, is smiling and serene. He faces north and is therefore on the verge of Nirvana and release from the transitory world.

The Buddha statue is smiling representing the fact that only death was a relief for the Kings sufferings.

The Nanpaya Temple ("palace temple") located in Myinkaba is adjacent to the Manuha Temple and was built by captive Mon King Manuha

The Nanpaya has perforated stone windows that allow the sunlight into the building. Have a look at the fine carvings on the arch pediments over the windows and on the frieze

The Nanpaya Temple was built using mud mortar, stone, and brick, and was used as the residence of Manuha. The temple contains intricate carvings of Brahma, and also contains depictions of other Hindu gods. Also, because Manuha was a Mon, there are many figures and symbols of the Mon within the temple, including hinthas.

The four stone pillars flanking each side of the sanctuary in the main building are decorated with fine carvings of flowers and the figures of Brahma holding lotus flowers in each hand

Carving of three-headed Brahma decorate the interior of the Nanpaya Temple

Text: Internet

Pictures: Sanda Foişoreanu & Internet

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Karl Jenkins - Kayama