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The Botataung Pagoda (literally "1000 military officers") is a famous pagoda located in downtown Yangon, Myanmar, near the Yangon river. The pagoda was first built by the Mon around the same time as was Shwedagon Pagoda—according to local belief, over 2500 years ago, and was known as Kyaik-de-att in Mon language. The pagoda is hollow within, and houses what is believed to be a sacred hair of Gautama Buddha.

Long Planetary Post

Buddhist prayer beads are a traditional tool used to count the number of times a mantra is recited whilst meditating. They are similar to other forms of prayer beads used in various world religions; thus some call this tool the Buddhist rosary.A Japa mala or mala is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This practice is known in Sanskrit as japa. Malas are typically made with 16, 27, 54 or 108 beads

Buddha bronze Image of Knowledge and Awareness 2008

This Buddha Image was

donated by an actor.

Kyaw Hein (born 1947) is a

five-time Myanmar

Academy Award winning

Burmese film actor, film

director, and singer. Born Kyaw Htay, Kyaw Hein starred in

hundreds of films, and

directed several films, and was considered one

of the most important actors

in Burmese cinema.

 However, in 2008, on his 61st birthday, Kyaw Hein announced he would retire from the film industry to live as an Theravada Buddhist monk.

 “History tells us that Botahtaung is the first pagoda to house a sacred hair relic of the Buddha,” says U Aung Su from the pagoda’s board of trustees. “Its story is no less attractive than that of Shwedagon Pagoda … we are very proud that we have reconstructed and maintained the pagoda since the war because it is a landmark in the introduction of Buddhism to Myanmar.”

 The story of the founding of Botahtaung begins 2500 years ago when Yangon was known as Okkala. Two trader brothers, Tapussa and Bhalika, journeyed to India, carrying their goods on 500 bullock carts. There they encountered the recently enlightened Guattama Buddha and offered honey cakes and reverence.

 In return, the Buddha gave the brothers eight strands of his hair, which they carried back to the Yangon River and presented to King Okkalapa, who promptly built Botahtaung Pagoda and enshrined the hairs inside its relic chamber.

Scene of the life of lord Buddha and spinning pagoda model,Visitors play arcade game, Botataung Pagoda. Yangon, Myanmar

The nats are spirits who play a significant part in religion in Myanmar. There are 37 nats officially in the Buddhist pantheon, but many hundreds more, as local nature spirits, bringers of good and bad fortune, and spirits of people & places. The 37 official nats are often depicted in shrines around the outskirts of temples or paya. People may say prayers, make offerings, or make requests of a nat either personally, or through an intermediary.

Outside the Pagoda to the west, a small building houses a splendid specimen of a Mandalay-style Buddha image seated on a bejeweled throne.

Seated on a high pedestal in a very ornate pavilion is the Royal Palace Bronze Buddha image.

Nan-oo, as it is known here, was taken by the British in the 1885 and exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Only in 1951 was it returned to the people of Myanmar.

The image that was cast in 1859 by order of King Mindon was taken to Britain during the colonial years and returned to Burma a few years after gaining independence.

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu & InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound Saung Zaw Win Maung - The hair-knot follows the topknot