Wizzar Sayadaw U. Pandita
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Inscription on the Man-Made Cave of Victory
The accomplishment of long life prolongation by undergoing transformation by fire
in the man-made Cave of Victory.
During the time of General Ne Win, the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, at midnight on Tuesday full moon day the second of December 1975 A.D. (15th warning day, the month of Tazaungmone, 1337 B.E.) there was a loud explosion and flames came from the Cave of Victory and the words "By the Blessing of Buddha, Victory, Victory" echoed in the vicinity. That was when the 719 years old Weizzar Sayadaw U. Pandita succeeded in the long life prolongation by fire process.
He was born on a Thursday and given the name Maung Myat San by U. Po Thu and Daw Ngew who lived in Shwe Kyaung Gone village (today Mebegon village) in the year 1257 A.D. (618 B.E.) during the reign of King Narathihapatay of Bagan. He became a monk with the title U. Pandita at Ratana Bummi Monastery. After his parents passed away, by the request of the Sayadaw to an official of King Narathihapatay named Athinkhara, his brother Po Shwe became accountant to Mayor U. Saw Aung.
One day when U. Pandita had no more money to continue with his alchemy, without knowing, Po Shwe stole some silver. By the Mayor's order Po Shwe was executed. Fearing for his own life, the 37 years old U. Pandita together with his nephew Tint Saung (today born and known as the Abbot of Auntawmu Monastery U Tillaw Keinda) went to hide in a deep forest of Swe Taw Kout trees. By day they hid in a cave and by night went out to look for fruit. The fumes from the earth in the cave caused the Sayadaw's eyesight to go bad. Only six years later did Athinkhara find out the truth about the stolen silver, and the Mayor was punished and he granted amnesty to the Sayadaw. So he and his nephew returned to Shwe Kyaung Gone village. When his eyesight got worse, he was treated by a Shan medical doctor, U. Lu Toke (today born as Botaw Bo Htun Aung) and his eyesight became completely clear again. U. Lu Toke who only wished "to be happy and have wishes fulfilled", then went away.
One day Tint Saung gave three viss of silver to the Sayadaw to use in his alchemy, saying that a man in white robes* donated it for Sayadaw to again practice his alchemy. He lied out of fear that the Sayadaw would beat him. The Sayadaw continued with his alchemy and in 1297 A.D (659 B.E.) at the age of 41, a monk for 21 years, he succeeded as a Mercury Weizzar in this very spot, Pauk Kyaung at Mebegon village.
He studied with the Head Master of Nagama Mountain Sayadaw U. Kowida and learned about medicine and diagram square match (Inn). He had not yet gained the full age of 1000 years, but was able to hold the long life prolongation by the fire process ceremony before fifty medal winning and chronicled students of U. Uttamakyaw, gathered there from all over the country.
The Kywe Ti Sayadaw U. Thiri Dhamma Zayar Biwuntha, U. Waziregga, U. Warathan Bawdi and others, all of whom are fifty chronicled members, shouted "U. Pandita has successfully completed the fire process," and threw yellow, red and white popcorn. Each one marked their sections with popcorn and at twenty minutes past midnight, Sanathar Sayadaw U. Tillaw Keinda threw the ignition bar through the 11 inch wide hole from the western side of the man-made Cave of Victory. There was a loud explosion and the iron and door frame were destroyed.
U. Thaung, U. Ba Shain, U. Tin Kyi and another were injured by the falling door and fierce flames. They were looked after by Dr. Sein Yi and Health Assistant U. Tun Aung. To everyone's amazement the Sayadaw was seen calmly sitting in the middle of the flames. At twenty-seven minutes past midnight, U. Sein Hlaing, U. Shwe Pyi and U. Kyaw Khaing threw the precious medicinal bar* with a time separation of two, three and five minutes and the ceremony transformation by fire process was successfully completed at fifty minutes past midnight. By 5 a.m. the entrance to the cave and the hole at the western side had been sealed off with concrete.
Five months later on the 26th of April 1976 A.D. (13th day waning moon turning to Tuesday, the month of Tagu 1338 B.E) at 1:45 a.m. the Sayadaw emerged from the cave and preached to over one thousand disciples from all over the nation, who had come to worship him. Thus the ceremony concluded and the Weizzars who came to welcome him returned to the Nagama Mountain.
The above chronicle is found at the southern side of the man-made cave of victory of the Weizzar Sayadaw U. Pandita, and was written by the authors U. Thein Oo, U. Than Tun Aung and Mayor Zaw Win. It was painted in Myanmar script by an artist by the solemn donors request of Dr. Sein Yi and Daw Tin Myint family on the 1st of January 2000.
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