Shwe Gu Ni Phaya
Shwe Gu Ni Buddha Image lies in Kyaukka village
ten miles east of Monywa Township in Sagaing
Division. It was one of the 34,000 pagodas built by
King Thin Dharnma Thawka. At that time Kyaukka was
known as Kyaukthan and it was known as Myo-Oo
Athawka pagoda at the head of the city.
A new pagoda was built on top of it by the King
of Kyaukka under the reign of King Mingaung Gyi of
Innwa in 762, It was then known as Kyaukka Shwegu
Pagoda, In 1000 under King Thalun, the pagoda was
damaged and the original pagoda was retraced and
built anew by Ashin Nyana Myinzu, the Sayadaw of
Kyaukka.
It was then known as Kyaukka Shweguni. In 1189,
under King Bagyidaw Phannanshin, the Sayadaw of
Kyaukka rebuilt it to be 34 cubits at its base and
72 cubits in its height up to the diamond bud. In
the cave is a reclining pagoda four cubits high. It
has been so gilded by devotees that it is like a
gold piece almost devoid of human features.
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