Dhammayangyi Temple
Encyclopedia
Dhammayangyi Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Bagan
, Myanmar
. Largest of all the temples in Bagan, the Dhammayan as it is popularly known was built during the reign of King Narathu
(1167-1170). Narathu, who came to the throne by assassinating his father Alaungsithu
and his elder brother, presumably built this largest temple to atone for his sins.
The Dhammayangyi is the widest temple in Bagan, and is built in a plan similar to that of Ananda Temple
.. Burmese Chronicles state that while the construction of the temple was in the process, the king was assassinated by some Indians and thus the temple was not completed. Sinhalese sources however indicate that the king was killed by Sinhalese invaders.
The temple's interior is bricked up for unknown reasons, thus only the four porches and the outer corridors are accessible.
Bagan
Bagan , formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana and also known as Tambadipa or Tassadessa , it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. Largest of all the temples in Bagan, the Dhammayan as it is popularly known was built during the reign of King Narathu
Narathu
Narathu was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1167 to 1170. Narahthu ascended to the throne by murdering his father King Alaungsithu and his elder brother Min Shin Saw. In atonement for his many cruelties, Narathu built the largest of all the Pagan temples, the Dhammayangyi.Narathu's conduct...
(1167-1170). Narathu, who came to the throne by assassinating his father Alaungsithu
Alaungsithu
Alaungsithu or Sithu I was king of Pagan Dynasty of Burma from 1113 to 1167. Sithu's reign was a prosperous one in which Pagan was an integral part of in-land and maritime trading networks...
and his elder brother, presumably built this largest temple to atone for his sins.
The Dhammayangyi is the widest temple in Bagan, and is built in a plan similar to that of Ananda Temple
Ananda Temple
The Ananda Temple , located in Bagan, Myanmar is a Buddhist temple built in 1105 AD during the reign of King Kyanzittha of the Pagan Dynasty. It is one of four surviving temples in Bagan...
.. Burmese Chronicles state that while the construction of the temple was in the process, the king was assassinated by some Indians and thus the temple was not completed. Sinhalese sources however indicate that the king was killed by Sinhalese invaders.
The temple's interior is bricked up for unknown reasons, thus only the four porches and the outer corridors are accessible.