NAY PYI TAW February 11
Auspicious ceremony to put 4th part of Maravijaya Buddha Image on top of Yadana Throne held
A holy and auspicious ceremony to put the 4th part of Maravijaya Buddha Image on top of the Yadana Throne was held this morning at Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Union Territory, where the image is being placed.
Present at the ceremony were Sayadaws led by State Ovadacariya Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Acinna of Maha Thihanada Monastery in Tatkon, Sayadaw Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Pantita of Intha Ashay Monastery, Leway, Region Ovadacariya Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Ardiccavasa of Weigyi Pariyatti School, Pobbathiri Township, and Maravijaya Buddha Image Erection Ovadacariya Patron Sayadaw Agga Maha Pantita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Vimalabuddhi of Mingala Zeyon Monastery, Pali Tekkatho, Pyinmana, the main Donor Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, the SAC Secretary, the Joint Secretary and members, Union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, distinguished guests and members of religious associations.
The ceremony was opened by reciting namotassa three times. Then a song praising the virtues of Maravijaya Buddha Image was sung, conch shell was blown and gongs were beaten three times to mark the auspiciousness and success of the ceremony. After revering the parittas recited by Sayadaws, donors recited Ratanattya Puja and Sabbasingaha mantras in chorus.
Led by Sayadaws, the main donor Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and party took positions near the Yadana Throne. They then sprinkled scented water on the large steel case in which the 4th part of the Image was placed, and three areas of the gantry crane that would put the Image on the throne.
Master of ceremonies read out Mingala Akhadaw, and at the auspicious time, the Senior General pressed the button to put the 4th part of the Image on the throne with auspicious machines.
While the task of putting the 4th part of the Image on the throne was being carried out phase by phase, the congregation led by Sayadaws recited religious verses to mark the auspiciousness and success of the ceremony.
The Yadana Throne is 18 feet high, 72 feet long and 54 feet wide. The total weight of the 4th part of the Image is 500 tons. The 4th part of the Image was put onto the throne by using the gantry crane.
The congregation shared the merits gained by reading out Aungsu Mingala and recited Buddha sasanamciratithatu three times to mark the conclusion of the ceremony. Religious rites were performed to mark the success of the ceremony.
The erection of Maravijaya Buddha Image has four objectives --to show the world that Theravada Buddhism is flourishing in Myanmar, for national peace and prosperity, regional development through the visits of local and foreign pilgrims, and to support national development.
The large section of the Image which is a combination of parts 1/2/3 is 1,700 tons. The task of putting the large section on the throne began at the auspicious time on 26 January and completed on 31 January. Jewelry and precious items donated by the main donor Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and other donors and well-wishers in the entire country were successfully enshrined in the reliquaries at the centre point on the Yadana Throne at the ceremonies held on 27 January and 10 February. Donors and people of the entire Republic of Union of Myanmar rejoiced at the donations and said Sadhu.
The task of putting the 4th part of the Image on the throne is being carried out phase by phase. In the late evenings, lights were offered at stone tablet pagodas, fountain squares, pagoda platform, rest houses, and main entrance road for public reverence.
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