The Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda in Yangon is known for its enormous 65 meters long Reclining Buddha image. The highly revered image is housed in a large shed North of Kandawgyi Lake.
The original image was completed in 1907. When after many decades the Chauk Htat Gyi image was in a bad state of repair, a devout Buddhist decided to restore it.
During renovations in 1966 about 5 meters were added to the image. The renovation was paid for entirely with donations from Buddhists and foreign tourists. The names of the contributors are inscribed on the beams of the building.
The Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha image
The very impressive 65 meters long and 16 meters high Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha image is wearing a golden robe; the right arm of the Buddha is supporting the back of the head. The Reclining Buddha image is decorated with very expressive colors, white face, red lips, blue eye shadow, golden robe and red finger nails.
The soles of the feet contain 108 segments in red and gold colors that show images representing the 108 lakshanas or auspicious characteristics of the Buddha.
Buddhist people pay their respect to the Reclining Buddha burning incense sticks and offering flowers. Around the Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha image is a number of shrines, one for each of the eight days of the week in Asian astrology (Wednesday is split in two days). Local people pray to the shrine belonging to the day of their birth.
A few inscribed plaques in English and Burmese contain information about Buddhism and the teachings of the Buddha.
A similar very large Reclining Buddha, but in a slightly different pose is the Shwethalyaung Buddha in the town of Bago, North of Yangon.
Around the pagoda are several monasteries. In the Ashay Tawya monastery hundreds of monks study the teachings of the Buddha.
Just across the street from the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda is another temple, the Nga Htat Gyi Pagoda that contains another huge Buddha image, a seated one, wearing a golden robe.
This temple also contains a mural of a long line of followers of the Buddha, with the Buddha and the first few of his followers appearing to come out of the painting.
Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha image