Maung Tha (Archaeology)
MYANMAR has been preserving many historic bells similar to the royal bells of kings in Konbaung era. The bell which returned from England hung on the platform of Shwehsandaw Pagoda in Pyay is one of the historic ones. The bell is significant because it reached Britain from Shwehsandaw Pagoda of Pyay and returned to home.
Two-tier umbrella on Shwehsandaw Pagoda The pagodas under the titles of Shwehsandaw are located in some townships in Myanmar. These pagodas named Shwehsandaw means enshrining the pagodas with sacred hair relics of the Lord Buddha. Among them, Shwehsandaw Pagoda in Pyay was built on Sudassana Hillock in the north of Hsinsu Ward in Pyay.
Some believed construction of the pagoda finished on fullmoon day of Tabaung, 103 Maha Era, Tuesday, when the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Poet Pyay Nawade composed a Ratu poem dedicating to the Lord Buddha, saying that “Sri Kestra, meant crowded residence of the king, at the corner of the royal palace, at the edge of hill, the greatest Wiseman, called Mya Thitin, spread and disperse the whole universe as well as the whole ground, it is the noblest land of sacred hair relics.”
The original Shwehsandaw Pagoda called Mya Thitin as well as Mya Theetin is in the shape of paddy with seven elbows in height. In 101 Maha Era when the Lord Buddha had entered the Parinivanna, two Arhats Ashin Candasiri and Ashin Candagariz, two princes of King Duttabaung, urged their father king to build over the Shwehsandaw Pagoda again.
Hence, King Duttabaung built 62 elbows high Shwehsandaw Pagoda on Sudassana Hillock on fullmoon day of Tabaung, 126 Sasana Era. (Sasana Era was counted from BC 544 when the Lord Buddha entered Parinivanna.) If it is in comparison with a concept that ancient Pyu city state Sri Kestra in Hmawza of Pyay Township was established in 101 Sasana Era (BC 443), Shwehsandaw Pagoda in Pyay was built before Sri Kestra city state.
Myat Hna Shay, Myat Hna Pu and Shwehsandaw According to Saya U Hsan Htun (Mann Tekkatho), the town Pyay was established by Thiha Thu, son of King Narathihapatae of Bagan era in 604 Myanmar era. After King Thiha Thu, Kya Swa and Saw Yan Naung became kings respectively, and King Myat Hna Shay also became king in Pyay in 739 Myanmar era. Pyay King Myat Hna Shay enveloped the pagoda to become an 18 elbows and two mikes high hoisted with a nine tiers of umbrella.
The whole hill was filled with stone and bricks, in addition to building a stairway. In his reign, King Myat Hna Pu expanded the platform of the pagoda into the ravine in northwest corner. He built over the original pagoda as 58 elbows high pagoda encircled with three small pagodas. The main pagoda was hoisted with a nine tiers of umbrella and emerald orb.
Hence, the pagoda was titled Mya Thee Tin. Shwehsandaw Pagoda built by King Duttabaung was 62 elbows (93 feet) high and new Shwehsandaw Pagoda enveloped by King Myat Hna Pu, 58 elbows (91.8 feet) high. Currently, Pyay Shwehsandaw Pagoda is 126.55 feet high from the base circumference, the base circumference, 294 feet in diameter and girth of the pagoda, 88 feet and eight inches. Bagan’s King Kyansittha renovated the pagoda in 1083 AD and erected a stone post with inscriptions in Mon language.
The stone inscription on the post can be seen in the stone plaque chamber on the lower terrace, east of Shwehsandaw Pagoda. Inwa’s King Narapati built stairways Useful Information and prayer halls at the pagoda in 1468 AD and King Bayintnaung in 1551 AD. King Alaungphaya gilt the structure of the pagoda from the base circumference to Chayathee in 1756 AD and hoisted a Myanmar umbrella inside the Mon umbrella. That is why the pagoda is significant as a double umbrella pagoda.
In the reign of King Mindon, a powerful earthquake jolted Pyay on Tuesday, fullmoon day of Wagaung, 1220 Myanmar era (24 August 1858). In the incident, the upper structure of bell shape of the pagoda collapsed. Thus, merchant U Tha Ywe led the well-wishers and volunteers to repair the pagoda. On 9th waning of Kason, 1221 Myanmar era, a golden umbrella was hoisted atop the pagoda with the contribution of King Mindon. At that time, the pagoda was 76 elbows. Well-wishers from Pwesartan Ward and Ywabe Ward in Pyay led the task of hoisting the umbrella atop Shwehsandaw Pagoda in 1277 Myanmar Era.
In 2002, under the leadership of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Myanmar umbrella and Mon umbrella were renovated atop Pyay Shwehsandaw Pagoda and gilt them with 15 viss of gold. The bell which returned to home There are 64 bells hung at Shwehsandaw Pagoda in Pyay in successive eras, according to the survey of Saya U Naing Win from Department of Archaeology and National Museum.
Generally, Buddhists shared merits gained by beating bells after doing a meritorious deed. At least, they wish to beat the triangular brass gong. Hence, bells are donated to hang at pagodas and stupas. Records of well-wishers and inscriptions for praying for future life were described on the bells. However, anyone did not describe curses on the bells.
The earliest bell on the platform of Shwehsandaw Pagoda in Pyay was the bell in Nyaungyan era hung on 6th Waning of Kason, 992 Myanmar era (21 April, 1630). The latest bell was donated in 1937. Two bells in Nyaungyan era, three in Konbaung era and 25 in Yadanabon era have been hanging on the platform of Pyay Shwehsandaw Pagoda till today, most of which were donated by those from Pyay region.
Among them, the bell donated by Maung Aung Tu hung at the northwest corner of the platform was famous as the bell which returned from England. Secretary of Pyay Shwephonepwint Pitakat Chamber and Cultural Museum U Zin Thein himself measured the bell which returned from England. The inner part of the bell is 28 centimetres in diameter, eight centimetres in thickness, 113 centimetres in circumference, 93 centimetres in middle girth, and 43 centimetres in top girth. The mouth of the bell is 14 centimetres in diameter.
The bell crown is 15 centimetres. Among the bells on the platform of Pyay Shwehsandaw Pagoda, the bell which returned from England is in the best beautiful form, said Adviser to History Department of Pyay University Daw Kyin Htay.
The crown of the bell was installed with a dragon statue each. Top of the bell was shaped with double down lotus flowers. Six lines of inscriptions were expressed on the bell. The third line mentioned well-wisher Maung Aung Tu and wife Shin Min Yauk and family as “bell donor Maung Aung Tu with title of Yazakywahtin Mara, wife Shin Min Yauk, elder daughter Shin Bon and younger daughter Shin Ton family from Yadanapura Royal City”, without date of donation. The fifth line stated “the bell weighing 49 viss and 25 ticals of bronze was donated”.
In the Second Anglo-Myanmar War in the time of King Bagan (1846-1853 AD), a British artillery troop stationed on the platform of Shwehsandaw Pagoda. After the war, British troops took the bell of Maung Aung Tu to England to give it as gift to General Sir Thomas Godwin of British Army. Lt-Col Godwin Austin, grandson of Sir Thomas Godwin, sent a letter to the Bago District Commissioner on his wish to keep the bell on the platform of Pyay Shwehsandaw Pagoda from England to Myanmar with his cost.
The bell box arrived at the Deputy Commissioner office of Pyay in 1915. After carrying out conveyance in Pyay, the bell was conveyed to the platform of the pagoda on a grand scale.
Translated by Than Tun Aung Reference Bells and bell inscriptions on platform of Shwehsandaw Pagoda (Daw Kyin Htay) Bell inscriptions on Pyay Shwehsandaw Pagoda (Naing Win) King Myat Hna Shay (Hsan Htun-Mann Tekkatho) Myanmar Encyclopaedia (Volume XI)
