1859.] History of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon. 473 



On the History of the Shioe Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon. — By Lieut.- 

 Col. A. P. Phayre, Commissioner of Regit, and Agent to the 

 Governor- General of India. 



The great Pagoda at Rangoon, known as the Shwe Dagon or 

 Golden Dagon is the most celebrated object of worship in all the 

 Indo-Chinese countries. Like most Boodhist pagodas in Burmah it 

 is simply a solid mass of masonry. But this building derives its 

 peculiar sanctity, from having enclosed in its interior shrine, below 

 the surface of the ground on which it stands, relics of the last 

 Boodha Gautama, and personal implements or garments used by 

 the three preceding Boodhas. 



The legend of the first huilding of the Shwe Dagon pagoda dates 

 from a very early period in the history of the Mon or Talaing race. 

 Before the birth of Gautama, a King reigned over the Talaings in 

 the Delta of the Irrawaddy at a city called Okkalaba.* The site of 

 the city so named was originally at a spot now known as Twantay, 

 situated about sixteen miles West from Eaugoon. Near that city 

 lived a pious merchant named Tha-ka-lai aud his wife Tha-ta-bhan. 

 On account of his worthiness, and by virtue of his former works of 

 merit, he received a title and high distinction from the King of the 

 country. He had two sons named Pa-oo and Tapau. The first sig- 

 nifies in the Mon language dove, the second 'plenty ; both names 

 being derived from gifts and alms offered and bestowed by their 

 parents at the birth of these children. The two young men having 

 heard that a famine existed in the Western countries, determined 



* It is curious to observe how remote and obscure traditions linger among 

 semi-civilized races and influence tbeir present actions. In the autumn of 185S 

 a poor fisherman near Twantay, having dragged up in his net from a stream a 

 small image of Boodha, believed this to be an omen of his high destiny. In 

 accordance with Boodhist principles he believed he would rise in the scale of 

 being, restore the Talaing kingdom, and revive religion. 



A few desperate characters, willing to profit by his fanaticism, gathered round 

 him. They took possession of the town, issued pioclamatiana, and wore pro- 

 ceeding to the temple to inaugurate the fisherman in his new calling, when they 

 were stopped in their career, and all arrested. The fisherman escaped for the 

 time, but was given up by the villagers the same night. 



