Category: Religion and Beliefs

A pagoda. in Southeast Asia. is cone-shaped monumental structure built in memory of Buddha. But in the Far East. a pagoda is a tower like. multistoried structure of stone. brick. or wood. usually associated with a Buddhist temple complex. The pagoda derives from the stupa of ancient India. which was a dome-shaped commemorative monument. usually […]

Taung Byone festival. it is usually held during the month of August.The Nats are believed to be super natural powerful beings. stated between the gods and the spiritual beings. There are 37 Nats (spirits) in Myanmar cultural belief. They are 1. Thagya (Indra or Sakra) 2. MahaGiri (Lord of the great mountain) 3. Hnamadawgyi (Great […]

The man-lion mythical creature best known in Myanmar is the manussiha. its name is a blend of two Pali words. the first manussa. meaning a human being. and the second siha. a lion. It can be found at each of the four corners of some stupas. a human head and torso on top of the […]

You are welcome to Mandalay to enjoy many architectural marvels and artistic wonders of which the largest stone Buddha Image is the one that deserves special mention. Officially named “Mahasakyamarajina” (The Great Conqueror of Mara and who was of Sakya race) but commonly called “Kyauk Taw Gyi” (The Great Stone Royal) the largest stone Buddha […]

Of the Buddha images and statues found in Myanmar. the sitting. standing and reclining styles are the three major iconographic postures. In the sitting posture we find two variations – sitting crosslegged on the lotus blosom motif. and sitting on a chair-like throne with the legs straight down. The standing postures are of two types. […]

One of the musts in your itinerary in Mandalay. the last Capital of old Myanmar should be Maha Muni. the largest gold Buddha Image housed in a gilt brick temple of late 19th century architectural design. situated in the south-west township. The two Pali words Maha Muni meaning “the Great Exalted Saint “. is one […]

Just like Roman Catholic and Protestants. there are 2 major churches in Buddhism: Teravada and Mahayana. Teravada Buddhism is the orthodox church. and it dominates in Myanmar. Thailand. and Southeast Asia. Buddhist meditation. the practice of mental concentration leading ultimately through a succession of stages to the final goal of spiritual freedom. nirvana. Meditation occupies […]

Pre-novitiation instructions The monastery was surrounded by shady trees and its spacious grounds were well kept; the building were old and solid yet unpretentious. It was eight in the morning and we saw the monks coming back from their daily alms-round. Daw Daw told us that the monks staying there had to go on alms-receiving […]

Myanmar Religion Teravada Buddhism What is a Pagoda? Shinpyu Phongyi – Pyan (Cremation of a Monk) The Largest Gold Buddha Image The Largest Stone Buddha Image The Largest Reclining Buddha Image Meditation in Myanmar Myanmar Beliefs Peacemaker and Benevolent Prince: Lawkanat The Man-Lion : Manussiha The Worshiping of Nats Novitiation Ceremony Food Offering Ceremony

Then the incumbent of a Kyaung (monastery) dies the body is embalmed. so as to allow the devotion of several months to the preparations for the funeral. The corpse is swathed like a mummy and laid in a solid dug-out coffin of hard wood. (much less pomp is displayed at the funeral of a sojourner). […]