Manuha Temple, Bagan

Manuha Temple, Bagan (25 November, 2003)


Manuha Temple is a small ancient temple in Myinkaba village, on the right side of the road going south from the walled city of Bagan. It was built by King Manuha, the Mon king of Thaton who was taken prisoner along with the entire Mon royal family and 30,000 Mon inhabitants, when King Anawrahta defeated him in 1057. According to King Manuha's inscription, Manuha Temple was built in 1067 AD, about a decade after he arrived in Bagan.

By all accounts, historical and legendary, King Manuha was not imprisoned in Bagan, but allowed some degree of liberty. He got to keep his own palace with retainers to wait on him, although he has lost his freedom and was barred from returning to Thaton.

In Bagan, King Manuha saw that King Anawrahta, the queen, noblemen, princes and princesses were all building pagodas large and small. King Manuha also wanted to build a temple of his own, as an act to improve his karma for future incarnations, and also to avoid being made temple slave. But he had no ready cash. So he had to sell off some of his jewels, which he did, to a merchant of Myinkaba village, and with the proceeds he built Manuha temple.

Manuha Temple consists of a a series of reduplicated squares with the lower storey larger than the upper. Within, and facing the four cardinal directions, are three seated Buddha images and one reclining image. The largest seated Buddha image is 46 feet high. His right hand is touching the earth. Two smaller Buddha images, each 33 feet high, flank this large image on each side. There is barely room for devotees to sit down to pray, as the large image and the two smaller ones fill up nearly all the space in the cramped interior. In an adjourning chamber is a 90-ft reclining Buddha image. Its head is pointing to the north symbolising the dying Buddha about to enter Parinibbana, the Demise. The reclining Buddha is also cramped into the enclosed place, making photography a challenge. It is said that King Manuha purposely put the images in such a cramped position to symbolize his distress of being under detention in Bagan.

Visitors used to be able to climb a tiny, winding stairway built into one of the side walls and view through an open at the head of the huge seated Buddha.

Seated Buddha in Manuha Temple (25 November, 2003)


Another seated Buddha in Manuha Temple (25 November, 2003)


Money tossed into bowl by devotees at Manuha Temple (25 November, 2003)

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