Sandalwood Monastery Pagoda

Sandalwood Monastery Pagoda lies in Pwintbyu Township, Minbu District, Magway Division. It was said Buddha and five hundred Arahantas in Sasana Sakarit 124 (610 BC) came to Sandalwood Monastery there to preach Dhamma to the disciples. On the seventh day Buddha and Arahantas left the place, leaving only Arahanta Maha Punna. Maha Punna built a Thawmaya Pagoda at the site of Buddha's throne and put four posts to mark the site of the monastery. In Sakarit 485 (Sasana Sakarit 1640) King Alaung Sithu came upon the place while on tour of the nation. He built the sandalwood pagoda at the sandalwood monastery site. He also built a pagoda at Rahu corner, one at Sunday corner, one at Tuesday corner, one at Saturday corner and 108 satellite pagodas. The pagoda has three umbrellas and it was purportedly for Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. The 108 satellite pagodas meant that the monastery had as many chambers. The pagoda has 13 phaungyits to signify the date of Buddha's parinibbana that was Maha Sakarit 148 (adding to get 13). Big fishes came to the pagoda on Full Moon days of Waso, the second in a leap year.