Kyaik Khauk Pagoda

Mon State,Kyaik Khauk Pagoda perches on the hillock of Uttarangha of Hlaine-Poke to the South of Thanlyin. The Pagoda is cist-type stupa and resting on high octagonal terraces with projection at the corners then tapering to a top crowned by a 9-tier spire.

 

The Kyaik Khauk Pagoda was  built by the Mon King Cula Thirimasoka of Thaton in the Buddhist Era 241.  In the stone inscription of  Queen Shin Saw Pu, it was mentioned that kings of Thaton and Sre Kestra successively maintained Kyaik Khauk Pagoda. We may assume that during the unrecorded gap between the Buddhist Era 241 and 936, 18 kings who reigned must have successively repaired and renovated Kyaik Khauk Pagoda.

 

King Anawrahta of Bagan enlarged Kyaik Khauk Pagoda using laterite stone bricks. He also upgraded the four cause ways at four quarters of the Pagoda with laterite bricks. Both lower and upper platforms of the Pagoda were strengthened and extended with laterite brick. Other religious works of King Anawrahta at Kyaik Khauk Pagoda were 4 monasteries, 4 Simas [Ordination Halls] 8 rest houses and one pitakataik [library of religious scriptures] built on the lower platform. The Pagoda also was renovated and its height raised.

 

In the Myanmar Era 1292 an earthquake brought down Kyaik Khauk Pagoda. Among the sacred relics and votive objects discovered in the relic chamber inside the Pagoda were some terra cotta tablets with inscriptions in Nagri alphabets of Anawrahta’s time. His name “Anurudha Deva” appeared in the inscriptions. Anawrahta hoisted a new hti [decorative umbrella] on “Maung” Pagoda at Kha-bin village in Myanmar Era 424 and from there he came to Kyaik Khauk Pgoda where  he performed many religious works for seven days holding religious ceremonies before he returned to Bagan.

 

After Anawrahta, prominent Bagan kings who renovated Kyaik Khauk Pagoda were kings Kyanzittha, Alaungsithu, Narapatisithu, Kya Swa, Uzana and Narathihapate. In Myanmar Era 658 King Kyaw Swa, son of Narathihapate rebuilt Kyaik Khauk Pagoda which had fallen into ruin and put a new hti on it and gilt it. Besides, monasteries, simas and rest houses were built around the Pagoda.