Dignified religious ceremonies enriched by the esteemed presence of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Daw Kyu Kyu Hla at Maravijaya Buddha Park

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla attend­ed the ceremonies to consecrate the Maravijaya Buddha image, hoist golden umbrellas atop small pagodas on stone plaque chambers and share merits gained at the designated venues in the precinct of Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

A total of 855 members of the Sangha were ushered into four pavilions on the platform of the Image. A total of 12 members of the Sangha led by Pali Sayadaw were ushered to Mucalinda Lake and Sasana Beikman to conse­crate the Buddha image, five other monks to Maravijaya Mon­astery, and nine other monks to Therasana venue.

On the occasion, six mem­bers of the Sangha from Cam­bodia, 11 from Thailand, 10 from Nepal, 11 from Viet Nam, 10 from Bangladesh, six from Laos, 11 from Sri Lanka and five from In­dia consecrated the Maravijaya Buddha Image. Likewise, mem­bers of the Sangha consecrated the image. State Ovadacariya 16^th Shwegyin Sangharaja Chan­cellor of Sitagu International Buddhist Academies Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Joti­ka Dr Bhaddanta Nyanissara recited the victorious consecra­tion verse, and the Buddha im­age was illuminated. Three ven­erable Sayadaws, the leading donor and well-wishers hoisted tiers of the golden umbrella, the bejewelled pennant-shaped vane and the bejewelled dia­mond orb atop the pagoda, four encircled pagodas and small pagodas on the stone plaque chambers respectively.

In his supplication, the Senior General said that the heaviest marble rocks for the image were conveyed along the longest waterway and the longest land road from Sagyin Hill to Ayeyawady River, then to Sameikkhon Port and then to Nay Pyi Taw passing through a new canal and new road start­ing from 3 July 2020. Seeking advice from members of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, it was considered to facilitate the park with the pagoda, monastery, lake, ordi­nation hall, public rest houses and bridges. Tri Pitaka trea­tises were carved on the stone plaques in Pali and Romanized languages and kept in the park, and the Buddha image was enti­tled Maravijaya Buddha Image.

Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the Bud­dha image were conveyed on the throne from 26 to 31 Janu­ary 2023. Religious objects and jewellery items were enshrined into the central parts of the throne on 27 January and 10 February this year. Under the leadership of rector Sayadaws from International Theravada Buddhist Missionary Univer­sity, State Pariyatti Sasana Universities in Yangon and Mandalay and Sitagu Interna­tional Buddhist Academy, Tri Pitaka treatises were carved on 1,440 stone plaques in Pali and Romanized languages. Such treatises will be printed for religious centres across the world.

Moreover, Agga Dhipa­ti Sasana Beikman called Withongama ordination hall, water fountain square, six Sud­dhamma public rest houses, archive museum, image board of trustees office, Maha Bodhi banyan tree, a replica bridge of Mingala Bridge from Mandalay and various religious edifices were built at Maravijaya Bud­dha Park.

The Senior General and wife donated a nine-inch Mara­vijaya Buddha image, religious building and alms to SSMNC Secretary Presiding Patron of Thanlyin Minkyaung Pahtama­pyan Buddhist Learning Cen­tre in Thanlyin of Yangon Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivam­sa Sayadaw.

The SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister and wife offered alms to Sitagu Sayadaw whereas disciples donated offerings to members of the Sangha.

The Senior General and wife together with the con­gregation listened to the Sam­modaniya Ovadakatha deliv­ered by Sitagu Sayadaw, and SSMNC Vice-Chairman Presid­ing Patron of Kyaukme Thiho Pariyatti Buddhist Learning Centre Agga Maha Pandita Dr Bhaddanta Candana Sara deliv­ered a sermon and the congre­gation shared merits gained.

The Senior General and his wife offered day meals to 900 members of local and foreign Sangha at Bawzanathala Hall and hosted a lunch for the con­gregation. At night, fireworks were launched at the Maravi­jaya Buddha Image and reli­gious buildings were illuminat­ed. — MNA/TTA