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Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung (lit. 'a thousand great Bo trees') is a famous Buddhist region and monastery located in Monywa Township, Myanmar (Burma). It is famous for the Giant Standing Buddha statue, the second largest in the world, and for the Gratitude's of U Narãda, who built the monastery.

Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung was founded by Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Sayadaw Ven Nãrada on the 5th May, 1960. He planted thousands of Bo trees throughout his life. He started to plant them on a 15 acres (6.1 ha) plot, with Nan Oo Sayadaw, the grandson of King Mindon.

Before he reached this

monastery, the monastery is just

one for Khatakkan villagers.

Now, the 15 acres (0.061

km2) Bodhi Ta Htaung (One Thousand Bo

Trees) Auspicious Ground has been

extended to a 250 acres (1.0 km2), it is lush and green with

more than 9,000 Bo trees. The monastery is

famous in both Myanmar and the world since it has

got many thousands of Bodhi trees

The large grounds at the foot of the hill is dotted with thousands of Bodhi trees. The Bodhi tree is highly revered, because it is the tree under which the Buddha meditated and reached enlightenment. Under every tree is an image of the Buddha seated under a pedestal.

Bo trees hold religious significance for Buddhists since it is the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

Ficus religiosa, the Bodhi - or Bo-tree ('tree of wisdom'), under which Gautama Buddha gained enlightenment in Buddha-Gaya (modern Bihar, India), has become a sacred tree to Buddhists.

The Full moon Day of Kason

(according to the Myanmar

Calendar early May) is a day of

three - fold significance: the Day the Buddha

was born, the day He attained

Enlightenment and the Day of His Demise.

All over the Myanmar, men and

women of all ages go to pagodas in

procession to pour water at

the root of sacred 'Bo-

Tree' or 'Bodhi' tree under which the Buddha

attained Enlightenment

.

Carrying water pots on their

heads, the lines of people make

up a picturesque parade indeed,

as they are usually

accompanied by a music troupe whose flutes,

cymbals, drums and bamboo

clappers add a note of gaiety to

the festival.

They always walk in the clockwise

direction. The worshippers

chant verses in praise of Buddha.

The site contains thousands of

Buddha images and Bo trees, the Giant Reclining Buddha Image, Aung Sakkyã

Pagoda, and other large Buddha Images in the

Sãsanǎ region. Many Buddhist

monks can study the Buddhist

Pariyatti literature at the monastery.

Moreover, meditation centres

or Vipassãnã centres are

opened at the monastic region both for monks

and laypersons.

At the foot of the hill is the Aung Sakkya

Pagoda, completed in 1979. The 70 meter

high pagoda consists of a white base and a golden stupa topped

with a hti, an ornamental top

element found on most Burmese

pagoda’s

The Aung Sakkya Pagoda is surrounded by over a thousand small pagoda’s enshrining images of the Buddha. Next to the Aung Sakkya pagoda is an ornate pavilion with a multi tiered Pyatthat roof.

Spread out across the grounds are several more Buddha images and chedi’s.

Buddhists in Myanmar believe that more Buddha images are better. Hundreds of thousands are not uncommon.

Burmese art has been influenced primarily by Theravada Buddhism and the culture of the Mon people, with additional influences from India, Thailand, and China. Themes are commonly drawn from Buddhist and Hindu cosmology and myths. Burma is particularly renowned for its richness of Buddhist architecture, and is justifiably called "The Land of Pagodas." Buddhist monasteries and gilded pagodas dot the landscape.

Inside the Pagoda

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet & Sanda Foişoreanu

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

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