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The Mahamuni Pagoda or Mahamuni Buddha temple is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Burma.
The temple houses the Mahamuni Buddha image, the most highly revered Buddha image in the country. The pagoda was built in 1785 by King Bodawpaya of the Konbaung dynasty after the Mahamuni image was captured during the invasion of the Arakan Kingdom.
Several shops around the temple sell offerings for the Mahamuni Buddha image such as incense sticks, candles and flowers.
The Mahamuni museum on the temple grounds tells about the history of Buddhism. The museum displays information about the various places in the life of the Buddha, from His birth place in Nepal, the site where He reached enlightenment and the site of His passing into final Nirvana. There are also maps that explain about the spread of Buddhism across Asia during the last 25 centuries.
The origins of the Mahamuni Buddha image lie in the Rakhine state of Western Burma. According to legend, the Buddha once visited the town of Dhanyawadi, at the time the capital of the Arakan Kingdom.
The King of Arakan who was very impressed by the teachings of the Buddha requested an image of the Buddha to be made. After the King and the wealthy people of Arakan donated gold and other valuables, a lifelike image of the Buddha was cast. According to legend the Buddha consecrated and enlivened the image, after which people called it the Mahamuni Living Image.
In 1784 Arakan was invaded by Prince Thado Minsaw of the Konbaung dynasty. When Arakan was defeated, the Prince brought the Mahamuni image back to Amarapura, which was the capital at the time. Later the image was moved to its current location in Mandalay.
Map : https://goo.gl/maps/DuxmLfPm7M6ZjJzo6