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Ananda Temple, Bagan

The Ananda Temple, located in Bagan, Myanmar is a Buddhist temple built in 1105 AD during the reign (1084–1113) of King Kyanzittha of the Pagan Dynasty.

The temple layout is in a cruciform with several terraces leading to a small pagoda at the top covered by an umbrella known as hti, which is the name of the umbrella or top ornament found in almost all pagodas in Myanmar. The Buddhist temple houses four standing Buddhas, each one facing the cardinal direction of East, North, West and South. The temple is said to be an architectural wonder in a fusion of Mon and adopted Indian style of architecture. The impressive temple has also been titled the "Westminster Abbey of Burma". The temple has close similarity to the Pathothamya temple of the 10th–11th century, and is also known as “veritable museum of stones”.

The temple was damaged in the earthquake of 1975. However, it has been fully restored and is well maintained by frequent painting and whitewashing of the walls. On the occasion of 900th anniversary of its construction celebrated in 1990 the temple spires were gilded. It is a highly revered temple of Bagan.

West gate of Ananda Temple.

West gate of Ananda Temple at night.

Exterior of Ananda Temple seen from the southwest.
The temple layout is cruciform with several terraces leading to a small pagoda at the top covered by an umbrella known as hti, which is the name of the umbrella or top ornament found in almost all pagodas in Myanmar.


Tree with the Burmese zodiac.

Saturday corner.
The Burmese zodiac employs eight signs in a seven-day week, with each sign representing its own day, cardinal direction, planet (celestial body) and animal; it is known as the "Mahabote zodiac".


Mythological lion (Chinthe).
Chinthe is the Burmese word for 'lion'.

  • The leograph of Chinthe is a highly stylized lion commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).
  • See more at Chinthe - Wikipedia.

Small temple south of Ananda Temple (Tha Gyna Pya Phaya).

Detail of the side beam of an exterior door.

West door of Ananda Temple.

Jataka tales.
Through the unique iconographic depictions (in stone images, the numbered jataka plaques and the standing Buddha images), presented in the symmetrically planned layout of the Ananda temple was built by the King Kyansittha to establish and convey his doctrine to his people in a vivid visual format.

  • The Jataka (meaning "Birth Story", "related to a birth") are a voluminous body of literature native to the Indian subcontinent which mainly concern the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form.
  • Jataka stories, were depicted on the railings and torans of the stupas.
  • See more at Jataka tales - Wikipedia.

Large golden statues of standing Buddha.
The Buddhist temple houses four standing Buddha statues, each one facing the cardinal direction of East, North, West and South.

  • The four standing Buddhas are adorned with gold leaf and each Buddha image faces a direction, from north to south, stated to represent attainment of a state of nirvana.
  • Each is given a specific name, Kassapa (in Pali, it is the name of a Buddha, the third of the five Buddhas’ of the present kalpa (the Bhaddakappa or 'Fortunate Aeon'), and the sixth of the six Buddhas prior to the historical Buddha) – south facing.
  • Kakusandha (in (Pali) is the name of the twenty-fifth Buddha, the first of the five Buddhas of the present kalpa, and the fourth of the seven ancient Buddhas) – north facing.
  • Konagamana (the name of the twenty-sixth Buddha, the second of the five Buddhas of the present era, and the fifth of the seven ancient Buddhas) – east facing.
  • And Gautama facing west.

See also

Source

Location

Location: မြင်းကပါ, Myanmar (Burma)