Shwenandaw monastery
There lies the Maha Atula-Veyanbonsa in ruins in South-East quarter of Mandalay. Between the great walls of this famous monastery there lies in the eastern gate of Southern corner the historic "Shwe Kyaung Monastery". It can be seen the corner of 12th street and 62nd street in the North-West direction.
Originally it was one of the palaces of King Mindon and chief queen Sakya Devi that were built at North of the Royal Palace.
Then it was known as "the Quarter of the Golden Palace."
On October 1, 1878, the great king Mindon died at this palace and was succeeded by King Thibaw, the last king of the Konbaung Dynasty. He moved this golden palace to the present site in order to offer the monks as a monastery. This rebuilt building measured 115 feet by 69 feet.
People at that time called the monastery “Shwenandaw Kyaung" in memory of the original golden palace. In fact, it is a suitable name because it is still shining with the colour of gold. Today the common name is "Shwe Kyaung Gyi" the great golden monastery. In order to construct in a traditional style, king Thibaw, by donating one lakh and two thousand Kyats, caused it to have a pinnacle, spires, Vane, sikhara and other fine decorations. Around these, there are wood-carvings often great Jatakas made with great artistic detail.
It has 150 pillars in various rows. Thus there are 15 rows in the East-West direction while there are 10 rows in North-South direction. Since these great basic foundations are constructed for artistic and architectural purposes, each pillar has additional pros or supports the measurement being 1-7 inches by circumference and 6-1 1/2 inches by height. On these supports, wonderful dragon and mythical birds are carved with artistic skill. The total of naya carvings is 44. Each naya carvings is in the style where in the two fore-legs stand erect at the pillar and the two hind-legs are carved as props against the pillar. The beautiful quite naturally, recoils to the front. The head, being onward-looking is harmony with the crest in its' head. This is harmonious and artistic. At the great wooden foundation pillars, white brickwork in lotus style, oil can be poured at these foundations. Thus the monastery was built for posterity. To protect rain and heat, four quarters are covered with white rock roofs in each pillar-post:
There are five stairways, one in the East, two in the South and another two in the North respectively The ladder steps, totaling 15, in equal size of stone-slabs, can be seen. Under the two rails of the ladder stand emerging style of makara statues in stucco as balustrade, which show the high degree of masonry and sculptural.
One can see the row of designs on each rail of altogether 34 pillars exist in the compound of the environs, ten in North-South way, eight in the East and six in the West two entrance-gates exist the remaining walls and pillars are decorated with sein-taungs, the bas-reliefs of 2-6 by 1.6 inches with a thickness of 1.4 relief. The one hundred bas-reliefs, in white colour, attract the eye of an onlooker. They are both beautiful and appealing.
The Main-Hall, known as Zetawan or Marabin-Saung, contains an imposing throne at the centre. On each of the throne, in South and North directions, there three exits and entrances totaling six. They can reach the Western hall where some railings and gates remain even today. A thalun or Royal-Couch, used by king Thibaw when he took the Sabbath, can be found in this hall. East-of the central throne, one can see the small marble-supports of 18 in North and West, 16 in the East. On their environs statues of sculptors of men and animals together with scenes from Jataka-stories were carved. On the Southern side, one can see from West to East the successive scenes from the stories of Maha-Paduma-Jataka. Then Nemi-Jataka, the great renunciation Sandakumara-Jataka follows. On the Eastern side one can look at the following sculptured scenes from South to North: Vesantara-Jataka, Vidhura-Jataka, Surannasama, Utena, and scenes from the Buddha's life. On the Northern side, some scenes of Mahosada-Janaka and Vidhura-Jatakas attract the eye. The ship of Prince Janaka, interestingly enough, is modeled on a steamship of modern time.
Modern visitors marvel at the detailed. Intricate-sculptures and bas-reliefs, such as ten great Jatakas, branches of trees, lokanatha deva, two nats (celestial beings) in devotion. The descriptions of these deities and men are so beautiful that one cannot do justice to them in writing. One has to see them for good effects. The basic pillars contain paintings of deities in black colour.
Inside the Jatavanna-Hall deities, in two rows, are in the style of veneration to the omniscient Buddha. These sculptures exist near the upper wall of the hall. In Eastern Sanu-Hall, the room contains images of birds, wings of birds and flowers of great beautiful designs. The sculptural art reaches its' great height when one looks at the detailed carvings with artistic variety. The gutter is also painted with gold. It has lovely designs in various shapes and colour. If one describes them all, one can produce a book of art designs.
The doors, steps and gates are also in this grand style. The entrances have the measurement of 3, by 6 ½’ .Other doors measure 2' by 2-6 feet. There are six marabanga-doors inside while Northern side and the Southern side has 12 and 7 respectively, thus making 44 doors. The central room possesses wooden lock and key. No iron keys are used. Thus the wooden doors have wooden-locks of great size and design. Above these doors, one can find a row of wooden boards and planks of ten-inches width. The show sees traces of workmanship of the late eighteenth century style.
On the throne is placed an image of Dhakkhinasakha Buddha with its height at three feet and nine inches and this image was formerly placed and adorned by King Mindon at his hall, thus the donor was the king himself. King Mindon sent a mision to Buddha Gaya to repair the great Maha-Bodhi Temple and the Maha Bodhi Tree. On the return of the mission, a Southern "branch of the great sacred Tree was presented to him.