Ceremony to enshrine upper reliquary, hoist golden umbrella and consecrate Sattasattaha Maha Bodhi Pagoda in the compound of Buddha Park in Kengtung, Shan State (East) held
NAY PYI TAW May 13
The enshrinement of upper reliquary, hoisting of golden umbrella and consecration of Sattasattaha Maha Bodhi Pagoda in the compound of Buddha Park in Kengtung, Shan State (East) were held this morning at a grand religious ceremony attended by members of Sangha led by State Ovadacariya Solasama Sangha Raja of Shwekyin Nikaya Chancellor of Sitagu International Buddhist Academies Abhidhija Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhija Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Dr Bhaddanata Nyanissara and Chief Patron of Thiladhammakontha Tawya Monastery Agga Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja Bhaddanta Kovida Wazipeik Sayadaw.
Present at the ceremony were Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and wife, SAC members of wives, union ministers, the Shan State chief minister and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, the Triangle Region Command commander, distinguished guests, officers, other ranks and families, religious associations and local national races.
The ceremony was opened by reciting namotassa three times. The Senior General and wife and attendees received the Nine Precepts from Sitagu Sayadaw. Devotees presented paritta flowers, water, thread and sand to Sayadaws who recited Parittas. Devotees then sprinkled paritta water, spread paritta sand and tied paritta thread in the pagoda compound.
First, the Senior General and wife presented diamond orb and relics to Sayadaws, and then the offertories. The congregation including the SAC joint secretary, SAC members, union ministers presented offertories to Sayadaws.
The Senior General conferred Agga Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja Title on Wazipeik Sayadaw. Sitagu Sayadaw delivered a sermon, and the merits gained were shared. The Senior General presented honorary cash award to engineers who built the pagoda.
The Senior General and wife and party conveyed the diamond orb, relics and different tiers of golden umbrella with a palanquin round the pagoda clockwise and placed the religious objects at a temporary shelter. Sayadaws arrived at the upper reliquary, and the Senior General enshrined the relics in the reliquary and sprinkled scented water on them.
The Senior General, wife and party conveyed the diamond orb, different tiers of golden umbrella on top of the pagoda by a carriage. The Senior General and party hoisted the diamond orb and the umbrella on top the pagoda and sprinkled scented water. The successful completion of the ceremony was marked with a religious performance. The Senior General offered robes, meal, fruits, flowers and water to the Maha Bodhi Buddha Image inside the pagoda cave.
Members of the Sangha consecrated the pagoda in accord with the religious tradition.
The congregation chanted Buddha sasanamciramtithatu three times to mark the conclusion of the ceremony. Sitagu Sayadaw signed the visitor’s book. The Senior General presented cash donations for the pagoda through an official.
Led by Sitagu Sayadaw, the congregation sprinkled scented water on the stone plaques of the pagoda and ring the bell nine times. The Senior General and wife and attendees offered day meal to the members of the Sangha. Lunch was also served for all guests.
The Senior General and party paid homage to the pagoda and signed the visitor’s book.
They then paid homage and offered flowers and water to Animisa Sattaha Animisa Pagoda and Abhayarajamuni Buddha Image in the park.
First Abhayarajamuni Buddha Image was erected in the park near Pankwe Village 15 miles southeast of Kengtung for peace and tranquility of Shan State (East), perpetuation of Theravada Buddhism, and regional development through internal and external pilgrimage programs. Wazipeik Sayadaw sponsored a plan to build a replica of Satta Sattaha Maha Bodhi Pagoda of Bode Gaya, India, for pilgrims including national races from far and near to visit it. The pagoda was built with the donations made by well-wishers led by the Senior General and local national races.
The ceremony to hoist diamond orb and consecrate the pagoda was successfully held today.