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It is on the right just outside Nyaung-U on the road to Kyaukpadaung. It was built by a monk named Sapada, a native of Pathein, in 12th Century under King Narapati Sithhu. It has a square based and a bell shape on that, with a square reliquary above.
Monk Sapada was a native of Pathein. When he was still a novice, monks who went on prilgrimage took him to Sri Lanka and had him ordained there. On return after studying the scriptures, he built the zedi on the model of Htupayama of Sri Lanka in the compound of the monastery donated to them by the king not far from other major monasteries.
Plaster decoration: Bagan
The Venerable Sapada, a native of Sapada village near Pathein, lends his name to this pagoda. The chronicles record that Sapada, as a young novice, accompanied Uttarajiva, teacher of the King, on a pilgrimage to Sri Lanka in 1181. While Uttarajiva, soon returned to Bagan, Sapada was ordained a monk in Sri Lanks and stayed ten years there, studying the Pitaka and the commentaries. Finally, Sapada returned with four Sinhalese monks in 1191 and established a Sinhalese Order of monks at Bagan.
The Sapada is evidently modeled on a contemporary Sinhalese dagaba or pagoda, a distinctive feature being the box-like relic chamber and circular stem which are interposed between the bell-like dome and the conical finial above.
Reference
1. Ancient Pagodas in Myanmar Vol I , Jan 2003, by Myat Min Hlaing 2. Glimpses of Glorious Bagan, Jan 1996, by The Universities Historical Research Centre
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