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Built by King Anawrahta (1044-1077), the Shwesandaw, meaning “Golden Holy Hair Relic”, takes its name from the holy hair relic enshrined with it.
Tradition has it that the holy hair relic was presented to Anawrahta by the King of Bago in gratitude for his help in repelling an invasion of the Gyuns (Khmers). Originally, the holy hair relic was one of those brought back to Myanmar by the merchant brothers Tapussa and Bhallika and enshrined at Thayekhittaya. On the fall of Thayekhittaya, the King of Bago obtained the four holy hair relics, and, enshrining three in pagodas, he kept the fourth in a jeweled casket to be worshipped by the kings of Bago. It was this last holy hair relic which Anawrahta received. The Shwesandaw provides and early example of the pagoda type which was to reach its culmination in the Shwezigon. There are five receding square terraces which can be ascended by medial stairways. The terraces are steep, and the height of the whole exalts, and at the same time dwarfs, the superstructure above. A bell-shaped dome on an octagonal base rises above the terraces, and merges into a conical finial which is crowned with a hti (umbrella). The terraces were once adorned with unglazed terracotta plaques depicting scenes from the Jatakas. However, little remain of these plaques which are among the oldest to be found in Bagan. There are no stupas at the corners of the terraces. Instead, there wer once images of Mahapeinne-that is, of Mahavinayaka or Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu God of Wisdom-fragments of which were found at the base of the pagoda. Reference 1. Glimpses of Glorious Bagan, Jan 1996, by The Universities Historical Research Centre |
