Pindaya, the cave of the Buddhas • Myanmar (EN)

Pindaya

The Pindaya region in central Myanmar has many limestone caves. The city owes its name to a Burmese legend which says that a giant spider lived in these caves.

One day, seven princesses were bathing in a lake were captured by the giant spider and brought into the cave. So the valiant Prince Kummabhaya decided to rescue the unfortunate princesses, and with his bow attacked and killed the spider. The story does not say which of the 7 princesses he married and had many children ...

But she explains why a statue of the spider put to play by the prince adorns the entrance to the cave.

Shwe U Min cave and pagoda

On a ridge there are three caves. Only one of them is accessible and has been explored, the one that is furthest south. The cave is about 120 mothers in length and the wear and tear of the trails inside gives an idea of ​​how many people have passed through it.

The cave contains more than 8000 statues and statuettes of Buddha. The oldest bear inscriptions dating from the end of the 18th century, and the oldest listed bears the date 1773. All are undated, but their style suggests that none of them were placed there before 1750. .

Most of these Buddhas were placed there between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th. But donors continue to donate Buddha statues, so the cave continues to fill up.

Access to the cave was built in 1925 ... Unfortunately, few precautions were taken to enlarge the entrance, since this work involved the blasting of the entrance to the cave, destroying many and precious images and inscriptions.

A pagoda, Shwe U Min was built at the entrance to the cave, and its appearance does not make you think of an ancient pagoda. This addition is recent.

about the place, Pindaya:

Pindaya: The place is famous above all for its limestone caves where thousands of Buddha statues have been piled up over the centuries.

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