NAY PYI TAW May 3
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the ceremonies to convey the Buddha Image to Mucalinda Nagayon Buddha Image chamber and grow a Maha Bawdi banyan tree in the precint of Maravijaya Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory this morning as part of doing meritorious deeds on Kason fullmoon day.
Also present at the ceremony were SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Union Ministers U Ko Ko and U Myo Thant, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Tin Oo Lwin, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, officials and religious assoications.
First, the ceremony of conveying the Buddha Image to the Mucalinda Nagayon Buddha Image chamber was opened with three time recitation of Namo Tassa.
The Senior General and congregation recited Yatanattaya Puja Gatha and Sabbasangaha verse three times in choral.
The master of ceremonies read the paper of auspiciousness.
At the auspicious time, the Senior General pressed the button to convey the Buddha image to the chamber.
The Senior General and party sprinkled scented Paritta water on the Mucalinda Buddha Image. They recited Jayanto Bodiyamule Gatha and the master of ceremonies read the paper of sharing merits gained.
The ceremony ended the three time recitation of Buddha Sasanam Ciram Thithatu. Afterwards, the Senior General and party fed fish in Mucalinda Lake.
When the Lord Buddha stayed at Mucalinda tree as His sixth seven-day position, a untimely territial rain hit there for seven days. But, Mucalinda dragon rounded its body to give a seat and shelter to the Lord Buddha against the rain. Mucalinda Nagayon Buddha Imagew in Maravijaya Buddha Park was built in accord with the Buddhism treatses and advice of venerable Buddhist monks.
Then, the ceremony to grow a Maha Bawdi banyan tree took place at Maravijaya Buddha Park in commemoration of the Kason fullmoon day of Buddha Day with three recitation of Namo Tassa.
The Senior General and wife and party recited Yadanattaya Puja and Sabbasangaha Gatha in choral.
The master of ceremonies read the Maha Bodirukkharopana Puja Gatha. The Senior General placed jewelleries in the place where a Maha Bawdi banyan tree will be planted.
The Senior General planted a Maha Bawdi banyan tree at the designated place and fed fertilizer to it. And then, the plant was sprinkled with scented water.
The Aungsu Mingala Metta dispersing paper was read, and they all shared merits gained and recited Buddha Sasanam Ciram Titthahu three times.
The Senior General and those attendees rounded the Maha Bawdi banyan tree clockwise and performed the rituals of golden and silver showers in commemoration of the successful completion of the ceremony.
The Maravijaya Buddha Image is being built with the aim of showing flourishing Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar to the world, to be a focal point of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar, to ensure the peace and prosperity of the nation and to be a peaceful and prosperous world. Carving of the Buddha image has completed by 95 percent and the Buddha park, 82.3 percent.
