Aung Taw Mu Main Camp

On a spot somewhere in the west Wah-dan precinct of Hman-nan quarter of Amarapura  on the Sagaing- Mandalay  high way, there exists a site that is very unusual but little known to outsiders . The site is that of a Sasana  Pyu (Sasana propagation) camp known as the Aung-Taw-Mu  Nine Pagodas camp.

This camp has existed for a long time, but few people apart from the members of the Sasana Pyu group knew about it. If we are to trace the history of this site, one will find that it had its beginnings in the time of the original Ava period when King Mingaung built   side-by side the three stupas known as the Lawka Aung Chantha Pagoda, the Lawka Man Aung Chantha pagoda and the Lawka Aung Myay   Pagoda.

At the time these pagodas were built King Mingaung had envisioned bringing peace and well-being to the whole planet through the building of the Lawka Aungchantha , conquering all dangers and foes through the building of the Lawka Manaung Chanthaya and fulfilling all aspirations through the building of the Lawka Aung Myay pagodas. However, with the passage of time, the three pagodas and their precinct slowly became overrun with vegetation and their former glory faded into obscurity.

 Then in 1988,  Saya Thein , leader of the “Metta    Shin Sasana Pyu Ahhpwe”, at the bidding of Aba Aung Min Gaung, arrived on the scene and began the mission of building up the sasana in that area. On his arrival he was confronted with  heavily overgrown bush and bramble at the site of the pagodas. They had to use banana tree trunks to roll over the undergrowth and slowly clear a way for them to set foot on the ground. It was said that they encountered many obstacles to their work of building the sasana.

                        On this sacred ground Saya Thein first restored the three pagodas built by King Mingaung, and started a sasana camp with the construction of  the Eight Planet Pagoda. After that, they built the Yan Aung Mingalar Aye Beikhman monastery. In that monastery is a Mon Buddha statue that displays an unusual mudra. Beneath the altar room of the monastery is an underground cave where is housed  an unusually fine rendering and life-like  statue of the Maheindra Bo Bo Gyi. It is said that the Mon Buddha statue and that of the Maheindra BoBo Gyi   are capable of granting the wishes of their supplicants. However, entry to the underground cave is restricted to males who have permission to enter. It is considered to be a very good location for the serious practice of thamahta (concentration meditation).

                        If we continue on the tour of this sacred precinct we next come to the Aung Chanmye, Aung Chnatha, Aung Tagundaing, and the Aung Cedi. The distinguishing mark of the Aung Cedi is that the tagundaing (a tagundaing is a pillar signifying victory) for it uses the upwardly climbing  Naga rather than the downward moving one common in other tagundaings. At the top of the tagundaing are four owls supporting a pyittaing htaung ( a pyittaing htaung is a Burmese toy with a boyish face without hands and feet and shaped like an egg. No matter how you throw it always stands erect.). On top of all that is the Aung Cedi. It was said that at the time of laying the foundation for the tagundaing, men born on specific days of the week were assigned each to their corner of the planetary sign and prayed on their beads. They   vowed not to interrupt their prayers for any reason and so had carried on their assigned task to completion even when flood waters had risen to their waist.

 Fr                    From   the Aung  Cedi we continue on to the Nagayon pagoda, the Pyidaw Aye Cedi and the Aung Theikdi-shin Beikhman. Inside the Beikhman, on the left are pictures of the Htwet Ya-pauk Sayardaws, and above them on the wall is a depiction of Prince Zenekka being saved from drowning in the ocean by the Goddess Manimaykhala. On the right are statues of the Htwet Ya-pauk dignitaries. On this right wall is another painting, that of the scene from the Jatakas in which Prince Thuwanna, bringing home to his parents a pot of gold, his sight newly restored. In front of the Beikhman is a huge Nyaung tree, under which stands a statue of the mighty Yokekazoe (tree spirit). Continuing from there, we come to the Shwe Pyidaw Win victory site. This is the holy victory site where people wishing to take vows of uninterrupted praying on beads can do so for success in their endeavors. Among the many religious edifices on this site, the sasana cave built on a tripod is one of the marvels of this place. This is also one place where women are denied entrance. Inside this cave is a completely gilded statue of Aba Bo Min Gaung, and on either wall are rare photographic records of him at various places and in various poses.   This unusual and rich collection of Bo Min Gaung is truly interesting and one worth seeing.

                         In front of this cave are the Pyilone-Kutkyaw Cedi,  Kaba Yan Nyein Aye Cedi and the shrines for the Thike Nan shins. Continuing on we come to the three pagodas of the Ava King Mingaung and we then arrive back by the side of the Mingalar Aye Beikhman.  There we can pay homage to the Ko-taung Pyi shwe cedi. A  ditty runs thus:

                                                A small pagoda, only nine feet high

                                                Although small, it is a saviour,

                                                In the thirty Dat kawli, there shall be many paying homage.

                        The main objective of the Nine Aung Taw Mu pagodas main camp is to propogate the sasana so that the inhabitants of this planet and of this country will have peace and prosperity through proper endeavors. Worshippers at this pagoda meditate and pray on their beads, more for the welfare of the masses than for their own, following instructions from the Sayar. It is said that anyone coming to this place to pray and worship, but not following instructions are liable to face many hardships and destruction. If however, they follow the instructions, the Sayar makes sure there will be no obstacles in their endeavors. So explains U Nandamalar of the Yan Aung Mingalar Aye Beikhman. The instructions given by the Sayar to all those who come to meditate are as follows:

1)     To use the Nawin prayer method for telling the beads, twice daily, once in the morning and once in the night

2)     To recite “Namaw Buddha ya, thaw bagawa eitipi.” at the beginning of each of the nine Gonedaws, beginning with arahan and ending with bagawa for nine beads, followed by  reciting “Namaw buddhaya , thaw bagawa eitipi” at the beginning of the nine gonedaws beginning with arahan and ending with bagawa for nine beads.

3)     By systematically praying on the beads , morning and night according to the nawin days , one may achieve one’s wishes completely.

4)     To observe Thura mayraya ( to abstain from intoxicants) and Kamaythu-meisasara ( to abstain from sexual misconduct), and to avoid the consumption of beef, and pork.

5)     One can attain  happiness and well-being in one’s life.

6)     People tend to think that they can attain their wishes by praying for them. They cannot attain their wishes just by praying for them. They are exhorted to carry out adeikhtan vows and to pray on their beads.

7)     By carrying out the vows of prayer on the beads as instructed by Abba, people can be eternally fulfilled.

May the eternal metta of Aba Aung Min Gaung reside in each of you.

By courtesy of the Mettashin sasana pyu association.

The system of praying on the beads are shown as follows:

                        Guide to Nawin Prayer beads of  Weizza Gainggyok Bodaw Aung Min Gaung 

Sr.             Birthday          Nawin system  No of rounds             Adeikhtan             offerings             Comment

1           Sunday              4      5       9                  9             9 days              9 candles

                                                                                                                                    9 incense sticks

                        2             Monday          5      6      11             11             11                     11 candles

                                                                                                                                    11 incense sticks

                        3             Tuesday          6      7      13              13             13                     13 candles

                                                                                                                                     13 incense sticks

                        4             Wednesday     7       1         8                       8              8                       8 candles

                                                                                                                                       8 incense sticks   inc. Yahu

                        5             Thursday         1      2         3                3              3                       3 candles

                                                                                                                                       3 incense sticks

                        6          Friday               2      3         5                5               5                      5 candles

                                                                                                                                       5 incense sticks

                        7             Saturday          3       4        7                7               7                      7 candles

                                                                                                                                       7 incense stick

                        Translated by Wei Theingi

                        Netkhatta  Yaungkyi Magazine