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Po Win Taung is a Buddhist cave complex, located on the western bank of the Chindwin River, approximately 25 kilometers west of Monywa. The name of the complex means Mountain of Isolated Solitary Meditation. The complex contains 947 small and large richly decorated caves. It is carved into a sandstone outcrop and contains numerous carved Buddha statues and mural paintings of geometric patterns and Jataka stories. The statues and paintings have been dated to between the 14th and 18th centuries

Po Win Daung is a sprawling place, and the trails lead you to the numerous sandstone caves where the images inside were carved out from the living rock and the walls and ceilings were covered with bright mural paintings of geometrical patterns in 3D as well as those of ancient Buddhist stories (Jatakas).

The Chindwin Valley region has magic to

offer: the beautiful,

placid river, Monywa on the eastern bank and on the other side

of the Chindwin River, the

ancient cave temples of the Po Win Taung and Shwe Ba

Taung

As with many ancient and remote sites, wondrous legends surround the origins of the complex, tales of magical creatures, celestials, kings and queens

The name ‘Po Win’ is believed to have been evolved from a term meaning ‘the powerful state of an ascetic’s mind’, and that once those seeking supernatural powers had meditated there. ‘Taung’ means hill. The Po Win Hills are not too high and are black with age.

Buddhist prayer beads are a traditional tool used to count the number of times a mantra is recited whilst meditating. They are similar to other forms of prayer beads used in various world religions; thus some call this tool the Buddhist rosary. A Japa mala (or mala) is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists.

Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This practice is known in Sanskrit as japa. Malas are typically made with 16, 27, 54 or 108 beads.

In 7th century Srikhetera (or 11th century) Bagan temples are called ‘gu’ pagodas, or ‘caves.’ Here, the caves are true caves set on the side of hills; many are natural but probably enlarged and the entrances cut or nealtened, so one could not really say they were wholly man-made.

Feeding the monkeys at Poe Win Hill Caves. Visitors wanting to feed them can buy food from the “peanut girls”

The earliest inscription as found by a scholar was dated 1549, seen on the earlobe of a reclining image. However, many of the images have been painted over so the inscription is now lost; the fervour of devotion of the disciple means that it is unacceptable to have a place of worship or an icon of Buddhism to be left in a decayed state.

Many of the openings to the caves are ‘guarded’ by figures of celestials or noble animals such as the Chinthé, the stylised lion standing on each side, carved fully or almost in the round.

The caves often have shelves or benches cut from the living rock, on which to enshrine Buddha images. Some images were also cut from the living rock. Many of the spaces in front of the shrines are narrow, to facilitate one person to meditate in privacy.

The interior walls of the Po Win Taung caves are thickly covered with wall paintings from the 17th century. The artwork is similar to those found elsewhere of the same period, showing Shan influences

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- Serene deep wilderness