Buddhist Temples

There are over 300 shrines on the platform.

It gets a bit crowded somehow since the top of Singuttara Hill has limited space. It is a great honor if someone can build one structure on the platform but there is no much space left currently (2015) are about 350 of various sizes. 


Now what is the difference between a pagoda and a temple? There are many, the primary is the first is a closed structure and into the second you can walk in just as in a a church or mosque.

Buddhist Temples in Bagan >

Small Pagoda at the Shwedagon Platform >

Why to build a pagoda? 

Or maybe a temple or shrine? > It always is to gain merit, if they have some money to spare they create one. At least there is something after they left which still remains and in the next live they will be born in a better position but nobody knows if you can enjoy again Burmese days.

Also around are guardian spirits and fantastic chinthes.

The Chinthe is a leogryph mostly placed at the entrances >

Also days of the week representing animals. It is a strange conglomeration of mythical creatures of the eastern folklore, which is deeply rooted in the religious imagination of the locals.

Naturally Buddha images are the main subject of the sculptor and painter, with even little details, the pose and hand gestures, a deep sense meaning was highlighted. The specifics in the artistic language of medieval art are still understood to the general public.

The canons of the visual depiction are enshrined.

in the sacred scriptures, especially in the Tripitaka >. They determined the symbolic tradition-bound composition structure of art as we still see it in the shrines; the idea is to illustrate the religion.

The buildings are full with sculptures and other donations, made of various materials such as wood, stone , bronze , brick and stucco - and are shown in miniature figures made of glass, crystal, ivory, semi-precious stones, silver and gold. 

Also gigantic wooden statues, carved from the mighty strains of teak trunks. Others are cast in bronze or built of brick and stucco. Some newly built are made from reinforced concrete as the material. If you are interested in gemstones > which is a main export item of Myanmar visit the Bogyoke Market >, there is an overwhelming supply.

The iconography of statues still remain unchanged within a certain frame; changes are only in small details with some variations over time. This is especially with regard to the treatment of individual artistic details and proportions, without breaking the frame of the predetermined by the holy canon.

Some other sacred monuments in the country.

The Ananda Temple in Bagan >

Another gigantic temple for the faithful Buddhist is rising above other sacred buildings is a gigantic temple structure, the Thatbyinnyu which is a Buddhist monument with a magnificence appearance. 

The name indicates the omniscience of the Buddha. This huge structure was built under King Alaungsithu (1113-1163) it shares the fate of many other sacred monuments, an interesting idea but never finished, usually because the run out of funds.

From outside it looks quite ok, but inside it appears half done, it’s not as bad as the Mingun Pagoda in Sagaing > but for visitors to Bagan it’ no big deal since tourist usually look at the monuments from outside anyway. It is a double-storied temples, this proportion is rare in the old city where the normality is one level only.

The plan of the Thatbyinnyu is similar to other square structures which came later such as the Sulamani and the Gawdawpalin. Over time the builder always where experimenting with different architectural ideas although this is a rather conservative style.

Want to experience all this Buddhist style temples, pagodas and shrines in a the best visual appearance? Climb up the Shwesandaw Pagoda in the early evening, sit down and wait for the sunset, that's the "real thing".

This stupa was build under King Anawrahta after his conquest of Thaton in 1057. It is an impressive 5 terrace circular stupa was once also was known as a Ganesh shrine after the elephant-headed Hindu god whose statues once stood at the corners of the five terraces. Today they are gone probably looted like so many art work and temples in Cambodia > too. You better come early since there are dozens of other sightseers who want to see the same.
  

The other structures are pagodas or stupas.

What is the main difference? A pagoda > is a solid and closed structure and the other is a open building where people can walk in. One of the most venerated of the first type is the Shwezigon Pagoda in Bagan, a truly impressive monument.

Shwezigon Pagoda > 

The Shitte-thaung Temple in Mrauk U >