| Sule Pagoda | |
Sule Pagoda is centrally located in Yangon as a religious and historic site. |
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| Information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Rangoon, Myanmar |
| Status | Complete |
| Constructed | approx. 2500 years ago |
| Use | Centre of Yangon City and political and religious focal point |
The Sule Pagoda is a Burmese stupa located in the heart of downtown Yangon, occupying the centre of the city and an important space in contemporary Burmese politics, ideology and geography. According to legend, it was built before the Shwe Dagon pagoda during the time of the Buddha, making it more than 2,500 years old. Burmese legend states that the site for the Shwe Dagon pagoda was asked to be revealed from an old Nat who resided at the place where the Sule Pagoda now stands.
The Sule Pagoda has been the focal point of both Yangon and Burmese politics. It has served as a rallying point in both the 1988 uprisings and 2007 Saffron Revolution.
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Stupa
The Sule Pagoda incorporated the originally-Indian structure of the stupa, which initially was used to replicate the form and function of a relic mound. However, as Burmese culture became more independent of its South Indian influences, local architectural forms began to change the shape of the pagoda. It is believe to enshrine a hair of the Buddha that the Buddha himself is said to have given to the two Burmese merchant brothers, Tapissa and Balika. The dome structure, topped with a golden spire, extends into the skyline, marking the cityscape.
The pagoda is listed on the Yangon City Heritage List.
Legend surrounding the pagoda
According to Burmese folklore, the site where the Sule pagoda now stands was the home of an aged spiritual entity, a Nat. The king of the Nats, Sakra, wanted to build the shrine for the Buddha's strands of hair on the same site where the relics of the three Buddhas of this earth were also enshrined. However, as those events had taken place eons ago, most of the beings who knew of the location had passed on. It was said that the Sule Ogre was the only being left alive who witnessed the great event. However, the ogre had heard of the Dhamma of a past Buddha and had become a Nat. The other Nats and the humans gathered around the Sule Ogre and asked him of the location, which he eventually remembered. It is said that he was so old, his eye lids had to be propped up for him to stay awake. As the spirits and humans had converged at that point, the world 'Su-le', meaning "Gather around" was attached to the location. It was thus that when the pagoda was built to commemorate the site, it was given the name Sule.
The pagoda is said to have been built before the Shwe Dagon pagoda during the time of the Buddha, making it more than 2,500 years old. Burmese legend states that the site for the Shwe Dagon pagoda was asked to be revealed from an old Nat who resided at the place where the Sule Pagoda now stands.
Location
The Sule Pagoda is located in the center of downtown Rangoon and is part of the city’s economic and public life. During the 1988 and 2007 protests, the Sule Pagoda was a functional meeting point for anti-government and pro-democracy protesters.
Role in Burmese Politics
During the 8888 Uprising, the pagoda was an organizing point and destination selected on the basis of its location and symbolic meaning. In 2007, during the Saffron Revolution, the Sule Pagoda was again utilized as a rallying point for the pro-democracy demonstrations. Many thousands of monks gathered to pray around the pagoda. Sadly, in both 1988 and 2007, the Sule Pagoda became the first place to witness the brutal reaction by the Burmese government against the protesters.
Notes
References
- Alamgir, Jalal. “Against the Current: The Survival of Authoritarianism in Burma.” Pacific Affairs, Vol. 70, No. 3 (Autumn, 1997), pp. 333-350.
- Barnes, Gina L. “An Introduction to Buddhist Archaeology,” World Archaeology, Vol. 27, No. 2. (Oct., 1995), pp. 165-182.
- Queen, Christopher S. “Introduction: The Shapes and Sources of Engaged Buddhism,” in Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist Liberation Movements in Asia, edited by Christopher S. Queen and Sallie B. King, 295-320. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1996.
- Raga, Jose Fuste. Sule pagoda, in the centre of Yangon, Myan. Encyclopedia Britannica. 10 February 2009. [1]
- Said, Edward. Orientalism. New York: Vintage Books, 1979.
- Soni, Sujata. Evolution of Stupas in Burma. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd, 1991.
- Suu Kyi, Aung San. Freedom From Fear and Other Writings. New York: Viking, 1991.
- Suu Kyi, Aung San. The Voice of Hope: Conversations with Alan Clements. New York: Seven Stories Press, 1997.
See also
Coordinates: 16°46′27.92″N 96°9′31.52″E / 16.7744222°N 96.1587556°E
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