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Sulamani Temple is one of Bagan's premier temple attractions. The name itself means Crowning Jewel or Small Ruby. It was the first and most important temple of the late period (1170-1300) of Bagan. It was one of many temples and stupas built by Narapatisithu.

“In order that men might follow the Path and reach fruition in Nibbana, he built a great work of merit with two hollow storeys and called it Sulamani." Thus do the chronicles record this act of merit by King Narapatisithu (1174- 1211)..

A market at the entrance to Sulamani. Like other temples, merchants had stores right up to the main door.

Glazed terracotta plaques of different sizes and patterns decorate the terraces

The name chosen —Culamcini in Pali, meaning "Crowning Jewel"- was a particularly sacred one, being the name of the reliquary monument in the celestial abode of Tavatimsa in which was enshrined the holy hair of the Buddha when, as Prince Siddhattha, he cut it off to renounce the world and set out on a life of asceticism.

Guardian spirit is believed to be the protector of the Temple

The chronicles also record how Narapatisithu settled on a site for the temple. It is said that once, when Narapatisithu was returning from climbing Mount Tuywin, he chanced upon a ruby shining radiantly in a hollow.He exclaimed, "It is a sign for me to make a work of merit here!", and, making men fill up the hollow, he built the Sulamani there.

The Sulamani consists of two-story, each of which is square in plan, with porches on all four sides but with the eastern porch extending farther than the others. The upper storey is set back from the lower, but it is of the same height. Both story are surmounted by receding terraces, with crenellated parapets and small stupas at the corners.

A side view of the Buddha image with men applying gold leaf A Buddha image is the principle object of worship in the temple. To gain increased merit, Buddhists often apply squares of gold leaf to the statue. Popular places on the Buddha’s body are the forehead, his lap or his arms, clear for all to see.

In the ground storey, a vaulted corridor runs around the central pile of solid brickwork, each side of which has a seated image of the Buddha on a pedestal.

Two narrow flights of steps set into the thick walls lead to the terrace above the eastern porch. From there, two broad stairways lead to the upper storey. Here too a vaulted corridor runs around the central block, which has a recess on the eastern side to form an image chamber.

The inner walls of the temple were once decorated with paintings, but they are now obliterated or overlaid with more recent paintings of no great artistic merit.

Sulamani Temple, known as the Crowning Jewel, is one of the most attractive and the most-frequently visited temples in Bagan

Sulamani Temple is a prime example of later, more sophisticated temple styles, with better internal lighting, similar to the Thatbyinnyu Temple and Htilominlo Temple.

There is much to see in Sulamani Temple. Carved stucco on moldings, pediments and pilasters stands for some of Bagan’s finest ornamental work and is in fairly good condition. Buddha images face the four directions from ground floor. Glazed plaques around the base and terraces are also still visible with many different murals.

During the kingdom's height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2200 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day.

Bagan, located in an active

earthquake zone, had suffered from

many earthquakes over

the ages, with over 400 recorded

earthquakes between 1904

and 1975. Today, 2229 temples and

pagodas remain. Bagan today is a

main tourist destination in the country's nascent tourism industry, which has long

been the target of various boycott

campaigns.

Text: Internet

Pictures: Sanda Foişoreanu & Internet

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Hlaing Win Maung - Wheel od Dharma