The auspicious ceremonies to consecrate the Maravijaya Buddha Image, successfully erected in the precinct of the Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, hoist golden umbrellas atop small pagodas on stone plaque chambers and share the merits was held in three parts at the designated venues in the park on the morning of 1 August, and it was attended by the leading donor Chairman of State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla.
The ceremony was graced by 900 Buddhist monks from Myanmar and abroad led by Secretary of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (SSMNC) Patron of Minkyaung Pathamapyan Buddhist Learning Centre in Thanlyin, Yangon Region, State Ovadacariya Sayadaw Chancellor of Sitagu International Buddhist Academies Vice-Chairman of Shwekyin Nikaya Sitagu Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Nyanissara, and Patron of Mingala Zeyon Monastery, Pali University, Pyinmana, who are Maravijaya Buddha Image Construction Ovadacariya Sayadaws, and 20 nuns. The Senior General and wife and family were accompanied by SAC Vice- Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife, SAC Secretary and wife, Joint-Secretary and wife, SAC members and wives, union level officials, union ministers and wives, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chair, Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, Nay Pyi Taw Command Commander, local and foreign donors, friends of Dhamma, religious associations, honoured guests and officials.
First, the leading SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla paid homage to Maravijaya Buddha Image and offered meal in the Emerald Bowl, Shwekya Robes, fruits, flowers, water and lights.
At the consecration of the Image and pouring of holy water, devotees ushered 855 monks to the four Sangha pavilions on the platform, 12 monks led by the Pali Sayadaw to Mucalinda and Sasana Beikman to consecrate the Image, five resident monks of Maravijaya Monastery to the monastery and nine Mahathe monks to the Therasana, and offered flowers, banners and kokkar sticks to them.
Then, six members of the Sangha from Cambodia, 11 from Thailand, 10 from Nepal, 11 from Viet Nam, 10 from Bangladesh, six from Laos, 11 from Sri Lanka and five from India consecrated the Maravijaya Buddha Image.
Continuously, Sitagu Sayadaw recited the gatha marking the success of the consecration ceremony. The first part of the ceremony came to an end by offering multi-colour lights to the Image.
At the ceremony to hoist golden umbrellas atop small pagodas on stone plaque chambers that is the second part of the ceremony, after three Sayadaws, the leading donor and disciples have taken positions on the scaffolding atop the pagoda, well-wishers took positions on the scaffolding of four encircled pagodas and 720 small pagodas on the stone plaque chambers.
According to the agenda, the leading donor fixed tiers of the golden umbrella, the pennant-shaped vane and the Yadana diamond orb atop the pagoda.
Likewise, the disciples and well-wishers also hoisted umbrellas atop four encircled pagodas and small pagodas on the stone plaque chambers and sprinkled the Paritta water and clean water on the umbrella.
In the third session of the ceremony, the exercising donation, Sabbath and meditation took place in Aggadipati Sasana Beikman. The congregation listened to the Paritta Sutta recited by members of the Sangha.
Afterward, the leading donor SAC Chairman Prime Minister supplicated the matters related to the building of the Maravijaya Buddha Image as follows:
- Building the Buddha image set four aims and is to ensure peace and stability of the people and to shape the prosperous country for the people in unison with safe and sound under the Metta of the Lord Buddha.
- As the Buddhism emphasizes peace and Metta, one more aim was set to be a peaceful and stable world based on the Buddhism.
- With regard to building the Buddha Image, the Senior General recounted 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 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;
- The progress records of fountain square and stone plaque chambers, and portrayal of the Image construction project after its completion; and
- Wished the Maravijaya Buddha Image existing as long as the world exists, and all the citizens enjoy perpetual peace of mind and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar safe, developed, peaceful and prosperous.
Then, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife donated a nine-inch Maravijaya Buddha image, religious building and alms to the Thanlyin Minkyaung Sayadaw, and offered alms to the members of the Sangha.
Afterwards, the SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister and wife donated offerings to the Sitagu Sayadaw and the attendees alms to the members of the Sangha.
Next, the Senior General presented gifts of honour to the architecture engineers through an official.
Then, the Senior General and wife marked the successful completion of the ceremony with a religious performance.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and wife and the guests offered day meals to 900 members of local and foreign Sangha at Bawzanathala Hall and hosted a lunch for the congregation.
At night, fireworks were launched at the Maravijaya Buddha Image and religious edifices in the Park were seen lit with colourful lights.
Source: MWD (2.8.2023)
- The auspicious ceremonies were held to consecrate the Maravijaya Buddha Image, hoist golden umbrellas atop small pagodas on stone plaque chambers and share the merits at the designated venues in the park.
- 70 foreign monks consecrated the Maravijaya Buddha Image.
- Building the Buddha image set four aims and is to ensure peace and stability of the people and to shape the prosperous country for the people in unison with safe and sound under the Metta of the Lord Buddha.
- The SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife and the guests offered day meals to 900 members of local and foreign Sangha at Bawzanathala Hall and hosted a lunch for the congregation.