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Magway Myathalun Pagoda is on a square brick structure in which enshrined the gold couch presented to Kassapa Buddha and the emerald couch presented to the Gautama Buddha by the King of Celestial Beings. In the year Maha Sakarit 150, Thubawga the philanthropist built the Myathalun Pagoda, 52½ feet high, on the reliquary building that housed the two presents of the King of the Celestial Beings.
In the year 412, King Sawlu, in keeping with the advice of Buddhist missionary Shin Arahan, renovated the pagoda. He raised its height to 82½ feet, enshrining 120 relics, seven gold Buddha statues and gems. As land belonging to the pagoda, he demarcated the area covering Gweichaung to the south, Uttharaw Banyan Tree to the north, Bawlatha field to the east and the middle of the Ayeyarwaddy River to the west. In the year 1209 Kawza Sakarit, the pagoda was damaged by an earthquake. Magway Town Headman Minhtin Minhla Kyaw Khaung, using the fund of gold and silver given to him by the King, rebuilt the pagoda to a height of over 99 feet. On it, he hoisted an umbrella five cubits in diameter and 34 feet high. In the year 1214, King Mindon gilded the pagoda, which till today stands as a golden spire a mile to the north of Magway town centre. Reference 1. Ancient Pagodas in Myanmar Vol I , Jan 2003, by Myat Min Hlaing |
