THE LAWKA CHANTHA ABHAYA LABHA MUNI BUDDHA IMAGE
 | The pleasant and beautiful Sakyin (marble) Hill lies in Sakyin village in Madaya Township about 21 miles to the north of Mandalay. Most of the marble rocks obtained from this Hill were used for carving Buddha images and thus the region is to be known as Religious Land. In 1998 the immense and significant white marble rock measuring 37 feet and 7 inches long, 24 feet wide and over 11 feet thick was found by stone sculptor U Taw Taw and he dug the marble out the whole year in 1999 in order to know its full size and dimensions. U Taw Taw and family reported to the Head of State that the immense marble rock which is flawless and of high quality, emerging unprecedentedly and significantly was deserving to donate to the government by curving it into a Buddha Image. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under the guidance of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe, arrangements were made to convey the marble Image to Yangon for public obeisance. The government assigned the task to the Minister for Rail Transportation and the Minister for Transport for conveying the marble image to Yangon and to the Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council and Commander of Central Command for providing close supervision. Eminent Artist U Thaung Han and Eminent Sculptor U Aung Thwin painted and carved respective replicas. U Taw Taw started carving the rough image out of the marble and finished 60 per cent. After that arrangements were made for conveyance of the Buddha Image onto the Sacred Mindhamma Hillock, Insein Township, Yangon Division after seeking instructions of Venerable Mahatheras. Arrangements were also made to convey the marble image along the Ayeyawady River when the water level reached its highest. Programmes for conveying of the Buddha Image from the foot of the Sakyin Hill to Yangon was started on 10 July 2000. The barge left Madaya Sakyin jetty on 24-7-2000 and it stopped at the following 12 towns along the river for public obeisance. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In conveying the marble image along the Ayeyawady river Pyigyi Tagun control vessel was the leading boat of the flotilla and Hsinhaing (1) (2) and Hisnpyaung (1) (2) followed it by pulling the Thonlutaukpa Yadana Shwephaungdaw (barge) on which Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labhamuni Image was conveyed and Thalawady administrative vessel followed last. Devotees thronged on the left and right banks of the river all along the way and made generous cash donations. The golden barge carrying the image was moored at the Gyogon jetty on 5 August 2000, and the ceremony for welcoming and conveying the image was grandly held. The image was conveyed on a specially-made decorated Mingala-wagon from the jetty to the foot of Mindhamma Hillock on 9 August and it arrived there successfully on 10 August, then the image was conveyed from the foot of the hill to the top and was placed successfully on the Yandana Throne on 28 August. Later, works were also carried out to place the image on the throne properly. Foundation laying ceremony for construction of Gandha-kuti Kyaungdaw where the Buddha Image will be kept was held on 7-9-2000. For emergence of the Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image in splendour and magnificence for public obeisance, other works such as construction of Gandhakuti Kyaungdaw and greening and all-round construction of Min-dhamma Hillock about 27 acres wide in area, have been carried out with the suggestions of the Ovadacariya Sayadaws. The formation of the Nayaka Committee, the Construction Committee and various work committees was also carried out successfully in accord with the instructions of Ovadacariya Sayadaws. The Ministry of Religious Affairs is taking part in all-round efforts such as conveying the marble Buddha Image from the foot of the Sakyin Hill to Sakyin jetty, conveying it along the river route, hence to the Mindhamma Hillock, and on the Yadana Throne and all-round construction and development of the Mindhamma Hillock. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|