The Shwedagon Pagoda is a very ancient religious monument and there are diverse accounts
of its founding. Yet they share certain assertions in com- mon, which up to now have
remained undisputed. The most important is that there can be no doubt that the Shwedagon
was built to enshrine the sacred hair relics of the Lord Buddha during his lifetime over
2,500 years ago. All accounts also concede that the hair relics were given to two merchant
broth- ers, Tapussa and Balika of Pokkharavati Town in the land then known as Okkalapa. It
is a matter of established faith that the Pagoda also enshrines the staff, water dipper
and bathing robe of three preceding Buddhas together with the hair relics of the Lord
Gautama. Then there are the Mon and Myanmar inscriptions on the Shwedagon which have put
on record that the two merchant brothers, after reverently conveying the relics to
Okkalapa had sought and obtained the patronage of the king of Okkalapa to enshrine this
precious gift of the Buddha in a pagoda for all to worship. This has also gained unanimous
acceptance through the ages. The manner in which a site for the Pagoda was found and how
it was built and who the other patrons and donors were, of course, vary in many details.
But the Pagoda is there as unquestionable proof that our forefathers did build this most
sacred of all the Buddhist edifices in our land. The Shwedagon Pagoda as we now see it
today, was originally a much smaller, though no less sacred structure. But it has been
repaired, renovated, rebuilt, en- cased and heightened and gilded and embellished down the
centuries, not only by the monarchs, but by the people themselves. Just as the Pagoda grew
from strength to strength so did the people of the land till they finally emerged as one
nation, Myanmar. But the great Pagoda has also been through many trials and tribulations
it has been damaged by natural disasters, such as earthquakes and its sacred precincts
desecrated by the occupation of predatory foreign forces. Yet, the Shwedagon stands there
indomitable in all its splendour. And the Myanmar peoples ' drawing spiritual strength
from the Shwedagon have remained equally indomitable through adversity. Despite the
devastation wreaked by time, the elements and man, the Shwedagon has endured and retained
its aura of peace and serenity. In fact after each setback it has progressed to greater
glory. This feature is also reflected in the history and life of the Myanmar people. They
have survived many tragic events in the course of history, yet like their ideal of courage
and inspiration, the Great Shwedagon, shall go on to a greater future, both materially and
spiritually. So, come what may, as long as the Great Shwedagon stands, so will the nation
of Myanmar. The Shwedagon has always been for the people, a symbol of strength and
serenity.
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