Thatbyinnyu Temple
Thatbyinnyu Temple is among one of the four
significant monuments in Bagan. The temple is
towering above the other monuments of Bagan, the
magnificence in white which is the Thatbyinnyu takes
its name from the Omniscience of the Buddha.
Thatbyinnyutanyan in Myanmar language,
Sabbannutanana in Pali, omniscience is given further
explanation in contemporary inscriptions as "knowing
thoroughly and seeing widely."
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History
 Built by King Alaungsithu (1113-1163), the
Thatbyinnyu is a transitional temple, standing
between the Early Style of the Ananda, half a mile
to the northeast, and the Late Style of the
Gawdawpalin, half a mile to the northwest. It is one
of the earliest double-storeyed temples, but the
arrangement is different from that of later double-storeyed
temples, much as if it were still an experiment in
the new form.
The plan of the Thatbyinnyu is not unlike that of
the Ananda-square, with porticoes on all four
sides-but the eastern portico projects further than
the others, breaking the symmetry. This plan is
followed in such later temples as the Sulamani and
the Gawdawpalin.
Three receding terraces rise above each storey,
ornamented with crenellated parapets and corner
stupas. Above the terraces of the upper storey rises
a curvilinear spire, surmounted by a slim, tapering
stupa which takes the temple up to a height of 201
feet. The great height of the temple and the
vertical lines of the ornamental features-the plain
pilasters, the flame-like arch pediments, the corner
stupas-give a soaring effect to the Thatbyinnyu.
The eastern portico has a central stairway
guarded by two standing door-guardians. The stairway
leads to an intermediate storey where a corridor
runs around the central mass. Two tiers of windows
along the walls make the interior bright and airy,
but the walls are bare of painting except for some
traces in the western portico.
Two stairs built into the thickness of the walls
provide access to the terrace above the eastern
portico, from where an external flight of stairs
leads to the upper storey. Here, a huge image of the
Buddha is seated on a masonry throne. A further
flight of narrow stairs built into the thickness of
the walls leads to the terraces above the upper
storey.
The terraces of the Thatbyinnyu provide a good
panoramic view of Bagan- of the green and brown
landscape, the innumerable monuments, the broad
Ayeyarwaddy river, and the distant hills to the east
and west. To the southwest of the Thatbyinnyu, in a
monastery compound, are two tall stone pillars with
foliations in an inverted V pattern. They were the
supports for a huge bronze bell of which the
chronicles say:
"King Alaungsithu offered two great bells, one at
the Thatbyinnyu and one at the Shwegugyi. They were
cast of pure copper, 10,000 adula in weight, larger
by far and nobler than the five great bells offered
by his grandfather, King Kyansittha."
To the northeast of the Thatbyinnyu is the small
gayocho or "tally" temple. To keep count of the
bricks in the building of the Thatbyinnyu, one brick
was set aside for every 10,000 used, and this small
temple was built with the bricks thus set aside.
Nearby Attractions
Gadawtpalin Temple
Just to the west of the temple
and near the Ayeyarwaddy River lies the Gadawtpalin
Temple.
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