2. Myanmar (Burma)

Bagan, Myanmar

Ancient temples, ancient stupas, ancient pagodas, buddhas, frescos, street food, local people, sunrise, sunset, oxen, Bos indicus, horse drawn carts, moon rise, lacquer ware production
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Temple wall paintings, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> These are multiple images of the Buddha deep inside the temple, and are several hundred years old. They were photographed with flash in almost complete dark.
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Temple wall paintings, Bagan, Myanmar

These are multiple images of the Buddha deep inside the temple, and are several hundred years old. They were photographed with flash in almost complete dark.

  • Temple-1, Bagan, Myanmar
  • Temples with the Irrawaddy River in the background, Bagan, Myanmar
  • Ruined gate and stupas, seen from the doorway of a temple, Bagan, Myanmar
  • Buddha image in temple-2 alcove, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The hand positions of all Buddhas have symbolic meaning. The hand positions here is the Bhumisparshra Mudra. This hand position of 'touching the earth' or 'calling the earth to witness' commemorates Siddhartha Gautama Buddha's victory over temptation by the demon Mara (equivalent to Satan).
  • Temple 2, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The Buddha image that is barely visible through the doorway (especially at the larger sizes) can be seen here <a href="http://goo.gl/q9anG">http://goo.gl/q9anG</a>.<br /> <br /> The fantastic temple complex of Bagan rivals Angor Wat for its number of temples, but is not as well known since Myanmar was closed to tourism for so long. Bagan is on the plains of the Irrawaddy River west of Mandalay. Between the 11th and 13th century over 10,000 temples and stupas were built there, of which around 2000 remain. Roughly speaking, a stupa is a solid structure that can't be entered and a temple has an interior that contains images, usually statues of Buddhas.
  • View through temple door towards distant temples, Bagan, Myanmar (best seen at larger sizes)
  • Buddha image in temple-2 alcove, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The hand positions of all Buddhas have symbolic meaning. The hand positions here is the Bhumisparshra Mudra. This hand position of 'touching the earth' or 'calling the earth to witness' commemorates Siddhartha Gautama Buddha's victory over temptation by the demon Mara (equivalent to Satan).
  • Buddha image in temple alcove-2, Bagan, Myanmar. <br /> <br /> This temple was a 'four face' temple (i.e., contained 4 doors leading to 4 alcoves with a Buddha in each). The hand positions of the Buddha images (called Mudras) have symbolic meaning. This hand position is called the Vitarka mudra and is the gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teaching. Another (seated) Buddha from the temple that contained this standing Buddha can be seen here <a href="http://goo.gl/IAhqR">http://goo.gl/IAhqR</a>.
  • Htilominlo Temple (1218 AD), Bagan, Myanmar
  • One of the four buddhas, Htilominlo Temple, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The hand position is Bhumisparsha Mudra (earth touching), which calls upon the earth to witness Buddha's enlightenment. Mudras are a non-verbal mode of communication and self-expression, consisting of hand gestures and finger-postures. they constitute a highly stylized form of body or hand language (also used in Indian Classical dance). Each of the fingers, starting with the thumb, is identified with one of the five elements, namely the sky, wind, fire, water, and the earth.
  • Buddha and wall paintings, Htilominlo Temple (1218 AD), Bagan, Myanmar
  • Remains of old plaster carvings, Htilominlo Temple, Bagan, Myanmar
  • Temple detail, Htilominlo Temple, Bagan, Myanmar
  • Temple detail with pigeon, Htilominlo Temple, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> Best seen at larger sizes.
  • Small buddhe statue in a niche with frescos, inside a Bagan temple, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The photos inside the temples in this, and posts to come, were taken in almost total darkness using flash. Looks better at larger sizes.
  • Fine example of fresco fragment in a Bagan temple, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The frescos are deep inside the temple in the almost complete dark. This likely helps to preserve them, but makes them hard to photograph.
  • Temple wall paintings, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> These are multiple images of the Buddha deep inside the temple, and are several hundred years old. They were photographed with flash in almost complete dark.
  • 'Charging' paper mache rhino at street festival, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The 'rhino' is casting a long shadow that adds interest to this otherwise empty corner of the photo.
  • Street festival with paper mache figures, Bagan, Myanmar
  • Girls 'tailgatng' on the speaker truck at street festival, Bagan, Myanmar<br /> <br /> The music was so loud at the festival that it was literally painful! I don't know how the participants could stand it. Even though there was lots to photograph, I had to leave before I went deaf.
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