Shwegugyi Pagoda
Shwegugyi Pagoda was built by King Alaung Sithu
during A.D 1141. This pagoda is located near the
entrance of the Royal Palace therefore also known as
Nan Oo Paya in Myanmar. Shwegugyi Pagoda was built
on top of a 13 feet high platform giving it an
impression like a mushroom coming out of the ground.
It is facing towards the north of Bagan. It lies on
the north of Thabyinnyu Pagoda.
It is a cave Pagoda with a Sikhara on the top
facing north. The wall of the brick plinth was
adorned with glazed tiles of green color. There used
to be plaster moldings presenting Deva figures in
row. But now only three remain on the southern side.
At the north- west corner of the chamber there is a
stone stairway leading to the top. All along the
base of the pagoda and the terraces are found
decorative glazed tiles of green color, still in
good condition.
Inside the image house, four Buddha images of
brick and cement backing one another are seated
around the central pillar. There are two inscribed
stone slabs inlaid in the wall of the northern
entrance.
Inscription
The inscription is in Pali, one slab has 47 lines
and the other 45. They are Pali poem of 100 stanzas.
At the end of the poem are two lines of Sanskrit.
The inscription mentions the beginning and
completion dates of the construction of the Pagoda.
So we learn from it that it took 7 months and 7 days
to build the Pagoda.
T he last two lines in Sanskrit run as follows;
"The construction began on Sunday the 4th
waning moon of Kason month in the Sakarit year
503 and Shwegugyi Pagoda was completed
successfully on Monday the 11th waning moon of
Nataw month in the Sakarit year 503. "
The inscription also mentions the regional title
of King Alaung Sithu as
" Thihtibuvanaditya pavara dhammaraja".
The inscription says that the king built this
pagoda because he wished to attain Nirvana and that
the king sought after the noble virtues, that he
strove to become Buddha himself and that he took
refuge in three Gems (The Buddha, the Dhamma and the
Sangha). The inscription continues to mention the
king's wishes — he prayed that he would like to do
the welfare of himself and of others, he would like
to return the debt of gratitude whomsoever he owed
he would like to save the sentient beings from the
sufferings of the birth cycle (Samsara) and just
like Miteya the future Buddha the king would like to
become the one much worshipped and adored by humans
and divas. There are plaster works of floral
designs, intricate ornamental backdrops and other
stuccos adorning the central pillar. In each of the
devotional halls on the north, south, and west sides
are two statues of Duara-pala deva, one leg up and
the other leg down. At each of the four sides of the
main building are two windows to let in the breeze,
totally 6 windows in all. These are original
artworks.
 On the north-western corner of the pagoda is a
small stone staircases leading up to the other
levels. Shwegugyi pagoda was constructed between the
early and mid Bagan periods. The architectural
design of this monument is formed into a place of
good lighting and ventilation. There are statues of
nats around the platform of the pagoda. There is a
great masonry work inside, but decorated with glazed
greenish coloured plaques from the outside. There
are about 20 pagodas with Bagan style glazed plaques
and Shwegugyi represents one of those monuments. In
the main hall of the pagoda lies the two original
stone inscriptions of the Pagoda. There are also
poems and phrases on the walls of the pagoda.
 Wood carving
At the devotional halls on the east, west, and
south sides and the vaulted corridor joining the
main building are the big wooden door leaves
dedicated by King Bayint Naung (A.D. 1551—81) who
renovated Shwegugyi Pagoda, during his pilgrimage
there. On the door leaves are found beautiful
carvings of birds. On the east side only one door
leaf survives.
Mural painting
The original fresco on the walls of the main
building are visible but only faintly owing to lime
wash over .them. After chemical cleaning they will
appear in their original colors. The paintings above
the great Buddha Image in the northern image house
belong to the Kon Baung Period. There are 13 lines
of ink inscription of the same period found on the
wall left side of the .said image. Myanmar
chronicles say that King Alaung Sithu, being seized
by illness in his old age, was moved to this Pagoda
where he died. King Bayint Naung, the "founder of
the second Myanmar Empire renovated and embellished
Shwegugyi Pagoda in the Sakarit year 913 (A.D.
1551). He also set up a stone pillar at the
south-west corner of the devotional hall. It bears
eleven lines of inscription, dated Sakarit year 913.
The inscription says that; " When the king's elder
brother became king, he repaired and built
monasteries and monuments in his kingdom. He let the
tax collectors levy only normal rate. Should they
overtax, they are destroying Buddha Sasana, as well
as persecuting the public, the clergy and laymen."
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