Legend says that Shwedagon Pagoda is the oldest religious edifice in Myanmar because it is believed to enshrine sacred relics of the four Buddhas. But so many superstructures throughout its long history that it has become what is seen today have encased its original structure.

But the oldest pagoda which still retains its original size, shape and design is one of the three at Sre Kestra, an old Pyu City State (1st to 9th century A.D) near the modern town of Pyay about 180 miles to the north of Yangon. The three Pagodas are the Baw Baw Gyi, the Phayamar and the Phayagyi, all in cylindrical shape, simple, plain and entirely undecorated. The last named, Phayagyi is believed to be the oldest of the three. Oral history and old chronicles claim that they are the surviving ones of nine stupas which king Duttabaung the founder of Pyay dynasty built in his kingdom.

Here it is pertinent to explain the terms “pagoda” “Zedi or Ceti” and “Stupa” all of which refer generally to a Buddhist monument of a solid type. “Pagoda is a transportation of the original Pali word “dagaba” (dhatu-gabha) meaning a sacred mound containing the mortal remains of the Buddha or saints. It is a sacred structure to serve as a repository of some elements sacred to the Buddhists. “Zedi” or “Ceti” is a derivative from a Sanskrit word “Chaitya” (Cetiya in Pali) meaning a funeral pyre (of the Buddha or Saint). So Zedi or Ceti contains sacred relics. Stupa (Thupa) is a sanskrit word meaning a repository in the form of a mound or a heap of paddy grains. We learn from scriptural records that after the demise of Gotama Buddha the relics from his funeral pyre were taken away and were enshrined in eight states in India, and each shrine took the design of a mound to be termed “thupa” or “stupa”. Stupas being places of veneration and worship they are called “chaitya” or “zedi” or “Ceti”. The stupa of Sanchi which Emperor Asoka built set the original model for all Buddhist solid pagodas and it is beyond doubt that King Duttabaung took this original design when he built the nine pagodas in his kingdom.

Phayagyi is the common name. Its official title is Yadanathiri Maha Pagoda. It lies by the side of the Pyay - Mandalay highway which bisects its precinct. On one side of the highway is one part of its precinct of 120,000 square feet (300 feet by 400 feet in area) and the other part of its precinct on the other side of the highway, occupies an area of 54,000 square feet (180 feet by 300 feet) where pagoda festivals take place every year. Due to the sprawling modern town of Pyay, new buildings are cr0pping up in its vicinity.

The local legend tells an interesting background history of this Pagoda. In the Myanmar Era (M.E 101, equivelant to A.D-739) King Duttabaung built nine pagodas in which handfuls of the Buddha’s relics were enshrined. Phayagyi is one of the nine. It was called Ithinagra at that time. It was also referred to as Maha Zedi (the Great Pagoda) because at that time it was the largest in the region. The commoners gave their own name to it calling it the “Hsei Hsei Pagoda” (Slow, Slow Pagoda) because it was built slowly. The Chief Queen of Dultabaung Sandy Devi paid daily homage to it and took a good care of it. Her monk teacher Ashin Thawbita resided in a big monastery built near the Pagoda with a thousand monk pupils. They took the Pagoda in their custody. Myanmar kings of later histories periods kept it well maintained and renovated the Pagoda faithfully preserving its original cylindrical design. During the British colonial regime and the World War II years the Pagoda was taken care of by the devotees and well-wishers.

Venerated and worshipped as an outstanding landmark of Buddha Sasana in Sre Kestra, Buddhist clergy and laity of the country have preserved and renovated this religious edifice of antiquity. Placed under the daily management of the Board of Pagoda Trustees, guided by the township Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee and included in the list of protected ancient monuments by the Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Culture, Phayagyi Pagoda takes pride of place not only in Myanmar Buddhism but also in Myanmar history and culture. It is one of Myanmar’s tangible cultural objects, which comes under study and research by foreign and local scholars. Dr. Forchammer, Mr. Charles Duroiselle, G H Luce, U Mya, U Lu Pe Win, U Aung Thaw, Sujata Soni and company have written about ancient monuments of Myanmar including this Pagoda.

Credit is due to the Department of Archaeology, the Board of Pagoda Trustees and the Township Sangha Maha Nayuka Committee for the fact that Phayagyi Pagoda still retains its original size and design.

The following are the facts and figures of the Pagoda from a recent survey:

? Height of the Sacred Hti
? (The tiered finial of the Pagoda) ............... 28 ft 3 in
? Diameter of the rim of the Sacred hti .......... 6 ft 2 in
? Height of the Pagoda from the second
terrace to the top of the structure .......... 139 ft
? Circumference of the Second terrace ....... 512 ft 9 in
? Circumference of the base ..................... 307 ft 9 in
? The first terrace is under preliminary excavation. 

Tag: The Oldest Pagoda that Retains its Original Design