Nay Pyi Taw March 19
A ceremony to hoist a Yadana diamond orb, a pennant-shaped vane and a golden umbrella atop Yahanta Tahtaung Shinpin Myatswa Hsutaungpyae Pagoda took place on Shwemoe Hill in Mongna Village of Waingmaw Township, Myitkyina District in Kachin State, this morning, attended by members of the Sangha led by Presiding Nayaka of Dhamma Rekkhita Wuntho Monastery in Myitkyina Secretary of Kachin State Sasana Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita Sasanadhaja Dhammacariya Bhaddanta Ketumala, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Chief Minister of Kachin State Dr Khet Aung, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) and their wives, Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Nyi Nyi Swe, ministers of Kachin State Cabinet, departmental personnel, invited guests and local ethnic people.
The Senior General and those present took the Nine Precepts from Presiding Nayaka of Dhamma Rekkhita Wuntho Monastery Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Ganthavacaka Pandita Sasanadhaja Dhammacariya Bhaddanta Ketumala. Commander Maj-Gen Nyi Nyi Swe supplicated on religious affairs. Then, members of the Sangha recited Metta Sutta.
Laymen scattered and kept Paritta flowers, water, thread and sand in the precinct of the pagoda. The Senior General and wife donated the Yadana diamond orb and offertories to the Abbot of Dhamma Rekkhita Wuntho Monastery Sayadaw. The Chief Minister of Kachin State offered the diamond orb shaped gems casket and alms, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and wife, the Yadana pennant-shaped vane and alms, the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and wife, a screw pine-shaped object and alms, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), those present and the command commander, the Banyan leaf, bell, tiers of golden umbrella and alms to members of the Sangha.
They all took a sermon delivered by the abbot of Dhamma Rekkhita Wuntho Monastery and shared merits gained. Then, the Senior General, wife and members conveyed the Yadana diamond orb, pennant-shaped vane and tiers of golden umbrella round the pagoda clockwise.
Afterwards, the Senior General and party conveyed the Yadana diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane atop the pagoda with the use of the Mingala decorated float and performed the rituals of golden and silver showers in commemoration of the successful completion of the ceremony. Then, members of the Sangha consecrated the pagoda.
The Senior General and wife sprinkled scented water on the stone inscription post of the pagoda and beat the bell under the name of peace, tranquility and development nine times. They paid homage to Buddha images and cordially greeted local ethnic pilgrims. After the ceremony, the Senior General, wife and those present offered meals to members of the Sangha.
The pagoda on Shwemoe Hill was built about one mile north of Bala Min Htin Bridge crossing Ayeyawady River linking Myitkyina and Mongna Village of Waingmaw Township in Kachin State. Construction of the pagoda was initiated by Presiding Nayaka of Dhamma Rekkhita Wuntho Monastery State Ovadacariya Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Silavamsa who had passed away. During the period of construction, the Sayadaw gave an advice to the Senior General to provide money and man power assistance for further construction tasks of the pagoda as a token of doing meritorious deeds because the Sayadaw’s health condition was worsening. So, the Senior General took responsibilities for further construction tasks with cash donations of families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and public donors. The 77 feet high pagoda was built with enshrinement of two Datpaungsu pagodas underground reliquary and 1,000 Arhat images in the lower reliquary. Moreover, the Buddha images made of granite stones produced from Shwemoe Hill are being kept at the pagoda.
