GOOD MORNING MANDALAY On the “Road to Mandalay” I began with early morning pilgrimage to Mahamuni temple where the Great Buddha image, from Arakan, is sanctified. According to the myths, when the Lord Buddha visited to Dhanyawadi in 554 BC, King Sanda Thuriya requested to mold this image. After casting, the Lord breathed upon it, and the image seems alive with exact likeness of the Mahamuni. Originally a bronze alloy image but now it became a huge solid gold mass bulked with the daily offerings of thin gold foils by innumerable devotees. I reached there at early 4:00 AM when the glorified face washing ritual commences every morning. This extravagant ritual performed for over an hour by a most revered monk dressed in monastic attire, assisted by some pagoda trustees dressed in white and wearing formal headdress. With the sounds of drums striking, the venerated monk entered into the altar and executed the formal face washing with a succession of fresh towels, teeth brushing with a large brush, offered by devotees. Then sandalwood paste is applied to the image and it is again cleaned with towels and finally sprinkled with scented water. Finally the dedicated breakfast was offered to the Great Image. When the ceremony concluded, used towels were returned to the devotees who will keep them with adulation.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 01:36:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015