Diamond orb and vane hoisting and consecration ceremony of fully renovated historic Kyaik Pannaya Pagoda held
Nay Pyi Taw March 17
A ceremony to hoist the diamond orb and vane of the over 1000-year old fully renovated historic Kyaik Pannaya Pagoda near Bago University in Oktha new town, Bago Township, Bago Region, and to consecrate the pagoda built and revered by kings and holy men of the past successive periods was held today, the 8th waxing of Taboung 1385ME (2567RE), attended by Buddhist monks led by Chairman of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Sayadaw of Thanlyin Min Kyaung monastery Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Candimabhivamsa.
Also present were Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla and family, SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and wife, SAC members, General Mya Tun Oo and wife and Lt-Gen Nyo Saw and wife, union ministers and wives, the Yangon Region chief minister, the Bago Region chief minister, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, the commanders of Yangon and Bago commands, officials of Bago Region government, departmental personnel, guests, donors, religious associations and local people.
First, the Senior General and wife arrived at the pagoda, paid homage and offered meals in the emerald bowl and flowers, water and lights to Buddha Image at the southern corner.
At the ceremony to hoist the diamond orb and vane and consecrate the pagoda, the Senior General and wife and the congregation, received the Nine Precepts from the Patron Sayadaw of Kyatkhat Waing religious school. Devotees presented holy flowers, water, threads and sand to the monks, who recited parittas. Devotees performed religious rites with holy flowers, water, threads and sand in the pagoda compound.
The Senior General, wife and family offered the diamond orb, relics and donations to Thanlyin Min Kyaung Sayadaw and family members, vane and donations to Myoma Sayadaw of Bago.
The SAC Joint Secretary, SAC members, union ministers and attendees presented offertories to monks.
Merits gained were shared and Thanlyin Min Kyaung Sayadaw delivered a sermon.
The Senior General and wife and family members and party conveyed the orb and vane on the mingala palanquin clockwise the pagoda to the place in front of the Maha Mingala Pavilion where they would be temporarily kept. At the auspicious time, the Senior General’s wife and family and party and attendees including local national races hoisted diamond orb and vane on top the pagoda by a decorated carriage.
Next, the Senior General and party hoisted the diamond bud and the pennant-shaped vane atop the pagoda and sprinkled scented parittas water on them.
Meanwhile, the council joint secretary and members, union ministers, the Yangon Region chief minister, the Bago Region chief minister, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Yangon Command commander and officials from the Bago Region government hoisted diamond buds atop the satellite stupas and sprinkled scented water on them. The Senior General offered golden robes to the pagoda, and together with his wife, he performed gold and silver rituals to hail the success of the ceremony.
The members of the Sangha consecrated the pagoda, recited Buddha Sasanam Cirum Titatu three time and concluded the ceremony.
The Senior General and wife formally opened the stone plaque of the pagoda by sprinkling scented water on it and struck the bell nine times. The Senior General then signed the guests’ book. Then, he and his wife opened the flagstaff by sprinkling scented water on it.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and wife and those in attendance offered lunch to the Sayadaws and members of the Sangha. Lunch was also hosted to the guests.
Then, the Senior General and wife presented cash awards to the support groups and charity organizations for their contributions to the ceremony.
The ancient and historic Kyaik Pannaya Pagoda was built about 1000 years ago in the year 1476.
In 294 in Myanmar Era, the eighth Mon dynasty of the 17 Samala dynasties reigned on the throne during the reign of Bagu Hanthawady, Kyaik Pannaya is said to be the tallest pagoda of the three namely itself, Kyaik Ponnaya and Kyaik Malarya.
The Buddha's relics, which were worshiped by successive kings in the pagodas, gold, silver, gems and jewels, donated by the public were offered and the pagoda construction completed in 1480 or 298 ME. After that, the state government, the Tatmadaw, local people and generous donors renovated the pagoda in successive eras as it fell into ruin with a passage of time. Among the three pagodas, the construction of the Kyaik Pannaya Pagoda with 204 feet in height with its 43-foot-high umbrella with public donations started under the patronage of Bago Dhammalinkara Monastery Sayadaw Abhidaja Agga Maha Saddhama Jotika Agga Maha Saddhama Jotika Dhaja Bhaddanta Visokda on March 21, 2012. As the Sayadaw passed away in September 2012, the construction halted. Then, with the guidance of the SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the pagoda renovation and construction work was resumed on February 19, 2023, with public donations.
And today, the ceremony was successfully held on a grand scale attracting crowds of people.