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It is situated in the south west of Manuha Phaya. It was said to be the place that housed captive King Manuha of Thaton. Inside there was a chamber like a king's throne room.
The main base structure was a square with the entrance facing the east. Inside there were four pillars supporting arches of corridors. On the pillars were trian-gular flowery art works and figures of three headed Brahmas holding lotus flowers. Still visible are stone sculptural works of flowery arts and figures of Hamsas. Some historians say it was built by King Manuha's grandson Naga Thaman. Some say Naga Thaman was his great-grandson There are two versions of the tradition concerning the Nanpaya, the “Palace Temple”. One has it that Manuha, the deposed king of Thaton, used it as his residence during his years of exile in Bagan. The other says that it was built on the site of Manuha’s residence by a descendant in the reign of Narapatisithu (1174-1211)
Stylistically, the Nanpaya belongs to the 11th century rather than to the 12th, being a fine representative of the “hollow square” type to temple in the Early Style. Square in plan, with the vestibule in the east, it is built of brick and surfaced with stone. The perforated windows have arch pediments which, together with the carvings of the frieze, provide examples of the stonework of the period. The interior is lighted by the perforated windows as well as by dormer windows above. In the centre is a small, square pedestal. Perhaps it once supported a standing image of the Buddha, or four images of the Buddha seated back to back, but nothing now remains. There are also four square stone pillars supporting the superstructure. Two sides of the pillars have pendant floral designs while the other two have a figure of Brahma seated on a lotus flower in the position of royal ease with the right knee slightly raised, the hands holding aloft lotus flowers. On the head is an elaborate head-dress. Three of the four faces are visible and the features are Mongoloid. Brahma and Indra (known as Thagya in Myanmar) are two Hindu deities who have become part of the Buddhist tradition and are mentioned in the Jatakas. In portrayals of Buddha’s Descent from Travatimsa, the celestial abode, the Buddha is often shown flanked by Thagya in a tall head-dress on his right, and by Brahma holding an umbrella on his left. The reliefs here may therefore be taken to represent Brahma attending upon the Buddha. 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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