A ceremony to explain the progress in building the Maravijaya Buddha Image which would be the world’s tallest sitting marble Buddha image, located in Dekkhinathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, was held on 29 July.
Present were Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Nay Pyi Taw Command Commander and officials, donors and distinguished guests.
First, the leading donor the SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing explained the following points regarding the building of the Maravijaya Buddha Image and the Park:
- The systematic stage-by-stage excavation of huge boulders that would be carved into Maravijaya Buddha Image;
- The preparations to carve the Buddha image in Bhumi Phassa Mudra in Yadanabon era;
- The conveyance of the parts of the Image and the Throne in different phases by waterway and road amidst many difficulties, and the world’s heaviest conveyance in waterway and road transport records;
- The phase-by-phase implementation of Maravijaya Buddha Park project;
- The Ovada sought from State Sangha Maha Nayaka Sayadaws for the comprehensive inclusion of pagodas, temples, lake, ordination hall, rest houses, bridges and park in building the Image and the Park;
- The using of modern machines in inscribing the Sixth Buddhist Synod version of Pail and Romanized Pitaka treatises on stone tablets as a center for learning the treatises in accord with the counsel of Oavadacarira Sayadaws;
- The publishing of treatises in Pali and Romanized languages for distribution to monasteries of foreign countries and inserting them into the tablets;
- The construction of Vijayabhumi Nimmana Land of Victory in the facing direction of the Maravijaya Buddha Image;
- The systematic calculations for the durability of the Maravijaya Buddha Image;
- The carving of the parts of the Image with the use of CNC machine;
- The part-by-part connection of the parts of the Throne, and the construction of fountain square and circular fountains;
- The construction of Maravijaya Temple and Mucalinda Lake, and planting of kyee trees;
- The progress in the construction of stone plaque chamber accommodating marble stone slabs on which Pitaka treatises are inscribed in Pali and Romanized Languages with the use of modern machinery for pilgrims to study them;
- The success in connecting parts 1,2 and 3 of the Image and lifting up them by the concerted efforts of the Myanmar Engineering Council and the Military Engineers using advanced machinery;
- Gala ceremonies to enshrine sacred objects in the reliquaries on the bejewelled Throne;
- The construction of Sasana Beikman Agga Dipati Withongama ordination hall which is 296 feet long, 213 feet wide and 94 feet high to organize grand religious ceremonies;
- The coating of the Image and installation of Uññalun holy hair on the face of the Buddha image;
- The systematic calculation with the use of modern technologies in providing the Image with wind-resistance, earthquake-resistance, natural disaster-resistance for its durability;
- The construction of the pagoda platform and gandhakuti chambers;
- The planting of Maha Bodhi tree and sal tree, and establishment of a mini forest; and
- The preparations for organizing the gala consecration ceremony, and portrayal of the Image construction project after its completion.
Then, those present at the ceremony generously donated cash to the fund for building the Buddha Image and the park. Therefore, the leading donor the SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing accepted the cash donations. Then, the Senior General spoke words of thanks for collective contributions.
At the ceremony, 274 well-wishers at home and abroad donated K5.04 billion (over K5 billion), US$23,000, and 100,000 baht for the construction of the Buddha image and the Buddha park.
Later, the attendees paid homage to the Maravijaya Buddha Image and viewed round the Buddha Park. Moreover, the officials briefed those attendees on the building of Maravijaya Buddha Image, construction of religious edifices in the Park, and Mucalinda Nagayon Pagoda and stone plaque chambers.
Source: MWD (30-7-2023)
- The leading donor SAC Chairman Prime Minister gave explanations on the completion of Maravijaya Buddha Image to the generous donors and distinguished guests.
- At the ceremony, 274 well-wishers at home and abroad donated K5.04 billion (over K5 billion), US$23,000, and 100,000 baht for the construction of the Buddha image and the Buddha park.