NAY PYI TAW June 15
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by officials, inspected progress in building Maravijaya Buddha Image, which will become the world’s tallest stone Buddha statue in seated position, at Maravijaya Buddha Park, Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Union Territory this evening.
At the briefing hall, Lt-Gen Kan Myint Than from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) reported on progress in implementing the guidance given by the Senior General during his inspection of the project on 13 June, curving of smaller images, progress of the Maravijaya Buddha Image project, application of the colour of monk’s robe on the relevant parts of the Image, making of finished stone sculptures, decorating of the Throne with floral decorations, curved with mobile CNC, and progress of weekly functions, and Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Kyaw Swa Lin on progress in erecting religious buildings in the park, fountain square, sacred platform, chamber, Mucalinda Lake and Statue of Buddha in meditation under a huge serpent, Sasana Beikman, and pagodas holding stone tablets.
The Senior General and party inspected progress in curving the Maravijaya Buddha Image and erecting the decorated flagpole, gandhakuti chambers, flourishing of Maha Bodhi tree, progress in building Sasana Beikman, Sudhamma rest houses, fountain square, pagodas holding stone tablets, Mucalinda Lake and Statue of Buddha in meditation under a huge serpent, thriving of knee trees, and looked into the requirements presented by officials.
The erection of Maravijaya Buddha Image has four objectives –to show the world that Theravada Buddhism is flourishing well in Myanmar, for the country, Myanmar, to become the center of Theravada Buddhism, for national peace and prosperity, and for global peace and tranquility. A large marble boulder was carried along the river from Sakyin Hill in Madaya Township, where it was found, to Hsimigon port, and from there it was carried by modular trailers on Mandalay-Yangon Expressway through a lot of hardships. Expert sculptors cured the marble stone into the Buddha Image stage by stage with the application of CNC machines day and night.
The task of putting the large section of the Image which is a combination of parts 1/2/3 put onto the Yadana Throne began at the auspicious time on 26 January. It was successfully put on the throne 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 center 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 ceremony to put the 4th part on the throne was held on 11 February. Ninety-seven percent of the image curving work has been completed to this date.
The project also covers the work of building of a number of religious buildings including the Sasana Beikman with the capacity to accommodate 900 monks and 1,200 laypersons to hold large-scale religious ceremonies.
In accord with the ovate of the Sayadaws, Pitaka scriptures of the Sixth Synod are being recorded on stone tablets both in Pale and Romanized versions in order to internationalize them. The completed stone tablets are placed in front of the Image, so that pilgrims will also be able to study the religious treatises. Moreover, the publication of Pitaka treatises in Pail and Romanized versions is underway for global distribution. At present, the work of constructing religious buildings and Buddha Park is completed about 86 percent.
