Khmer Bronze Statues in Mandalay show bygone victory of Myanmar

12/08/2024 12:09

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Thiri Khit Oo (NP News) - Aug 12

Six Khmer Bronze Statues in Myanmar are showcased in the courtyard of the Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay. The unique works of those Khmer Bronze Statues can attract tourists. Most tourists are interested in the history of those bronze statues when they tour the Mahamuni Buddha Temple since most pilgrims touch them and pray.

The sculptures of Khmer Bronzes are different such as human shape, elephant shape, and lion shape. The elephant has three heads namely Airavata and the human in the warrior statue name is Shiva - They were guardians of the Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia.

In history, those guardian bronze statues have memories. Myanmar King Ba­­y­i­n­naung Kyaw Htin Nawyahta brought thirty Khmer Bronze Statues as he ga­in­­­­ed victory in wars with Thailand and conquered Ayut­tha­ya in 1564 AD and placed them in Bago. In King Yazadarit's era, those bronzes were moved to Mrauk-U in the Bagan Empire after the invasion of Bago in 1599 AD. Years later, in 1785, King Thado Minsaw carried them to Amarapura in Mandalay by wa­t­erway through the Ayeyawady River. After buil­ding Maha Myat Muni Buddha Temple, the Kh­mer Bronze Stat­ues were placed as guardians in the courtyard of the temple. In King Thibaw’s era, some of those bronzes were melted for casting cannons in his palace fortifications and only six were left. But those bronzes were originally from Cambodia and were taken to Ayutthaya in 1431 by Siameses.

The Buddhists believe that the Khmer Guardian Bronze Statues have healing qualities. Therefore, devotees and pilgrims to Maha Myat Muni Buddha Temple pray for their health by rubbing and touching specific parts of the statues to cure various ailments and diseases. This is one of the major attractions for tourists. Most of the sculptures of the Khmer statues are religious, reflecting Buddhism.

References - Wikipedia
- Amazing Myanmar
- SEA Heritage & History
- Alamy