The Legend: Two Burmese merchant brothers met the Buddha. The Buddha gave them eight of his hairs to be enshrined in Burma. With the help of several nats (Spirits) and the King, the brothers discovered the hill where the relics of previous Buddhas had been enshrined. A chamber to the keep the relics was built on this sacred spot. When the hairs were taken from their golden casket amazing things happened:
'rays emitted by the Hairs penetrated up to the heavens above and down to hell... the blind beheld
objects.. the deaf heard sounds.. the earth quaked...gems rained down until they were knee deep..
all trees of the Himalaya, though not in season, bore blossoms and fruit.'
Once the relics were enshrined, a golden slab was laid on the chamber and a golden stupa built over it. The stupa fell into ruin until the Indian emperor Asoka, a Buddhist convert, came to Myanmar looking for it. He found it after a long search and had it repaired.
Archeologists believe it was built during the Bagan Period (between the 6th and 10th centuries). The date 1485 is written near the top of the eastern stairway and tells the story of the Schwedagon in 3 languages Pali, Mon and Burmese. It was around this time that the tradition of gilding the stupa in gold leaf began.
The main stupa is the center of attention for most pilgrims. The stupa is completely solid, every inch covered in gold and the upper parts are studded with 1100 diamonds that total 278 carats, plus 1383 other precious stones. At the very top of the spire is the Diamond Orb, a hollow gold sphere studded with 4351 diamonds totaling 1800 carats. On the tip of this orb is a single 76 carat diamond. You can see pictures of all these gems at a little photo gallery on the grounds.
One must always walk around stupas Clockwise, so visitors take a left from whichever entrance to the platform they have chosen. The large platform that supports the main stupa contains manty other stupas, prayer halls, sculptures and shrines.
These are associated with 'Eight Days'. Each day has an associated planet, direction and animal sign. You use the da you were born. It is believed that Buddha was born on a Wednesday.
Eight-Day Symbolism at Schwedagon
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