Lawka Man Aung Pagoda
Lawka Man Aung Pagoda is known to be one of the
five most revered "Man" paya of Mrauk U. This Pagoda
is known to be one of the five most revered pagodas
in Mrauk U. The five revered "Man" payas of Mrauk U
are Lawka Man Aung, Zeenat Man Aung, Sakkya Man Aung,
Mingalar Man Aung and Yadanar Man Aung. In Myanmar
known as "Man Ngar Par".
The architecture of this pagoda is in the form of
four steps. The base step is a square shape with
four statues at each corner. From the second to the
topmost step, there are small pagodas at each
corner. Inside the pagoda, there is a 12 feet high
Buddha image made of stone.
In A.D 1676, King Oakka Balar became a monk in
this pagoda's compound and at such a time, was also
called Lawkamu Pagoda. This pagoda was also built by Candathudhammaraza
(1652-1674 A.D) in 1658 A.D. It stands on a flat
ground. The shrine was constructed with stone
blocks, well hewn and cemented. It is square at the
base, each side measuring 74 feet; the first four
tiers are also square; in the center of each side of
the tiers stands a porch containing an image of the
Buddha. The sides of the porch are made of stone
slabs; the architectural design is similar to that
of the Laungbanpyauk Pagoda. There are traces of
ornamental designs on the face of the porches. A
guinea pig guards each corner of the lowest tier.
On each corner of the first four tiers stands a
small circular pagoda, solid and without niches.
From the garbha upward the central spire is
circular; the apex is crowned with an iron hti
(umbrella) once gilded and still in good order. The
east facade of the pagoda has a portal 20' high,
protruding 2' from the main wall, a vaulted passage
4' 8" wide, 16' high, and 29' long leads to a
chamber in the center of the pagoda. It contains a
stone image of the Buddha 12 feet high, sitting
cross-legged on a stone alter. The ceiling is a
hemispherical dome and the apex is 16 feet above
ground.
The pagoda has a wall measuring 300 feet around
the base and 100 feet high.The old roads to Vesali
and Mahamuni begin here. These roads are still known
as the gold road and the silver road. |
