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The only example of a Hindu Vaishnavite temple at Bagan, the Nathlaungkyaung was probably built to accommodate the sacred needs of Indians who came to Bagan.
An inscription found at Myinkaba, south of the temple, records in Tamil that a native of Malaimandalam built a porch and a doorway for the temple in the 13th century. The temple, however, is much damaged now, and what remains is the main hall and the superstructure, the porch and the outer portion having been lost. In what in now the outer wall originally the inner wall of the outer corridor are niches for holding images of the ten avatars of Vishnu.
Inside, a central pillar supports the superstructure. On each side of the pillar are alcoves, adorned with pilasters, to hold images of Vishnu. The image in the main alcove is missing, but the portions which remain give a suggestion of the original. It portrayed Vishnu lying on the cosmin serpent Sesha with the trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, seated on lotus followers sprouting from the navel of the reclining Vishnu. Now, only Siva on the right, the lotus throne and halo of Brahma on the left, and the twised tails of Sesha remain.
The name of the temple, Nathlaung kyaung, meaning “Temple Where the Spirits Are Confined”, is curious. It is taken by some to mean that the nats or spirits inimical to Buddhism were confined here.
Reference 1. Glimpses of Glorious Bagan, Jan 1996, by The Universities Historical Research Centre |
