Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-04
PAG0DA
Most Sacred Shrine in the
Buddhist World.
A GATHERING SHAFT
PLACED ON HIGH TERRACE AT
RANGooN.
Neighboring shrines, Temples and
Rest House-A Great Bell
With History.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

brated end sacred shrine in the entire Bud
dhist world. which is visited by thousands
of pilgrims from every country where that
faith prevails, is the Shwe-Dagon Pagoda at
Eangoon. 1t stands upon an eminence about
two miles from the city. The terrace. 1855
feet above the surrounding country is 800
feet long by $50 feet wide. From it rises
splendid column $40 feet high. circular in
form, with circumference of 1856 feet at
the bottom. The summit is tipped by mag
nificent iron spire. or umbrella, as 1t is
called, constructed of series of gradually
diminishing rings the top is approached,
ard eliminating in 'Sein-Bu or crown
OF gems, which was presented by Mindon
Min, -he late king of Burma, at a cost Of
$.ao, GG3. The column Ii, a solid structure Of
brick, stone and cement. and its peculiar
Irregular form is not seen outside of Burma.
There pagodas in Siam. the Malay
peninsula, China and Japan, but they differ
from those in Burma both in shape and Or
namentaton.
The Shwe-Dagon is mighty glitter1ng,
golden Shaft dominating the landscape from
every side, and being gilded from base to
summit is more conspicuous than any other
architectural design of the same size could
be- The innumerabe hoops with which it is
bound are hung with little bells of gold,
silver, copper; bronze and composition and
each Of them represents an offering made
ny SOIlc ueNOlSS. InEy UiUkle SWeeCly as
they are disturbed by the breeze and make
most fascinating music.
A Remarkable Shot.
Upon the side of the shaft toward the
city. about one-third of It's height from the
ground, hangs the skin of a tiger, and the
priests tell you a marvellous story that is
confirmed by ample authority. Several
years ago the animal which wore it came
out of the jungle and climbed UP the gilded
surface of the padOga to that height, where
it stood helpless and bewildered, unable to
go higher or to retrace its steps 1t seems
almost incredible, for the surface OF the
pagoda is slippery with gold leaf and al
most perpendicular, but nevertheless the
story must be believed. The priests, pill
grims and peddlers around the different
temples became frantic with excitement,
and somebody with a cool head notified the
guard at a neighboring barracks. When
the officer of the day was informed he took
his rifle and hurried to the pagoda. followed
by corporal and a squad of armed men.
Only shot was fired. The captain was
an accomplished marksman. He raised his
rifle. took careful aim. there was sharp
report and the lifeless carcass Of the beast
came tumbling down the side of the pa
CODA, to the amazement of the worshipers.
who to this moment declare that a miracle
was performed. The animal was skinned
and the pelt was hung at the exact spot
where its owner was standing when the
death shot was fired.
Crowded With Shrines.
The terrace upon which the pagoda stands
is crowded with shrines, temples and rest
houses erected by kings and rich men OF the
Buddhist faith. They are too numerous to
mention" but represent an enormous ex-
penditure of money, and contain some OF
the most beautiful decorations and ex-
Quisite carving you can imagine Eaen
temple and shrine contains a figure or
Gaudama, the sitting Buddha. in the usual
posture with his legs crossed and MS hands
folded, or with his right arm extended.
That is supposed to be the attitude OF eau
DANA when he sat under the 30 tree at
Gaya India. and preached to his disciples.
The images have no beauty or artistic
merit Most of them are made of wood.
glded. and some or marble ana others
stone There are several hundred all to-
gether.
Each image is decorated by offerings OF
flowers rice. paper flags, fruit. candles,
perfumery incense and other simple gifts
expressing whatever emotions stirred the
hearts of the persons who offered them,
and their faith is sublime. They come from
every part of the Buddhist world. men,
women children. with eager, earnest faces,
and most Of them clad In brilliant cos
tunes of silk. gorgeous turbans and all the
ornaments they own. Others wear white
linen jackets. silk skirts and shawis. The
Xhans. Karens Siamese and Chinese APP
pear in their peculiar costumes, and every
one wears his best. No pilgrim approaches
this sacred place without great preparation,
and do not know where else one can ana
SO great an opportunity to see the different
types of the eastern races But they are
not all attractive or happy. Among them
are pilgrims with hideous diseases; iepers,
paralytics, crpples. consumptives, the lame
and the halt and the blind. some OF them
feeling their way and creeping over the
slippery payements others being led or car
ried by kind and generous friends. Each
bears some gift. some pious offering. no
matter how simple, to place upon an altar
or to lay at the feet of one of the idols
that mean SO much to them.
Approach to the Terrace.
The terrace is approached through long
passage and up many flights Of steps On
each side are booths at which offerings of
every description are sold. candles, incense.
food, toys knicknacks and every cOnceiy-
able article The dealers must do good
business. or their shops would not be so
numerous and the stocks upon their shelves
would not be SO large. At forty or fifty
stalls toys and dolls can be purchased, and
curiously enough they are favorite offerings
to the gods. You see them lying around
the feet of the Buddhas in almost every
temple. There are several book stores at
which Buddhist literature can be purchased
in twenty different languages and dialects.
But the largest number Of stalls are de-
voted to sweetmeats and flowers, for no
pilgrim is too poor to purchase marigold
or some other pretty blossom to lay at
Buddha's feet.
The PROFESSIONS are continuous during the
twenty-four hours. for, like the Hlndus, the
Burmese know no difference between night
and day, and the scene after sunset is even
more novel and weird than In the daytime.
The gilded temples. the gorgeous decora-
lions, the crowds of worshipers in their
brilliant costumes are more picturesque in
the heavy shadows, the fare of torch and
the Pickering candle light. Most of the pill
grims are gay, laughing and joyous; others
are sad and wretched. Their distress and
anxiety are pictured upon their counte-
nances. There is no reverence. no solern-
nifty. The people are as noisy and as
bustling as they could be in a market
place, and they approach the shrine they
seek they beat the gongs and bells that
hang in front of other images with man
ner that seems more like mischief than de-
votion. Hundreds OF gongs and bells OF all
sizes are hanging wherever there is place
to suspend them. Beside each are padded
hammers ordinary wooden sticks which
the worshipers use to strike them. The
air is clamorous with sound
A Bell With q History.
Under a gayiy decorated wooden shed
hangs the third largest bell In the world.
49, f.<IS