Ananda Pahto

Built: 1091 [Early Period]
Ruler: King Kyanzittha
Architectural Features:
The Ananda Pahto (pahto means temple or shrine) consists of four corridors on each level with 4 large vestibules at the four cardinal points, representing the four Buddhas of the present world age: Gotama (west), Kakusanda (north), Konagamana (east), and Kassapa (south). The Buddhas facing north and south are originals, while the Buddha images in the east and west are later, and follow the Mandalay style.  The temple features five diminishing terraces with 389 terra-cotta tiles recounting the last ten jataka, or tales of the life of the Buddha. The upper terraces were used as places of learning and meditation. The Amanda Pahto with its perfectly proportioned construction marks a transition between the early and middle periods of Bagan architecture.
Historical Information:
Eight monks came to visit Kyanzittha, begging for alms. They had once lived in the Nandamula caves in the Himalayas. Intrigued by their stories, Kyanzittha bade the monks return to tell him more stories each day of the rainy season. During one such session, the monks conjured up a vision of a temple in the Himalayas and made it appear to the king. Entranced by its beauty, Kyanzittha ordered the construction of this temple, commissioning a Brahman architect to create the temple. Once construction was completed, the architect was put to death so that the temple could never be replicated.

Photo Gallery:

This shot displays the terraced levels of the Ananda Pahto, as well as the elaborate masonry employed in its construction. This photo was taken from the large interior courtyard in the Ananda Pahto. The upper levels were used as libraries and places of meditation
 
 
 
 
 
   

This is the east facing Buddha, which is done in the later Konbaung, or Mandalay style. Perhaps visible is a small round ball in the Buddha's right hand which resembles an herbal pill and may represent the Buddha offering Buddhism as a cure for suffering. The outstretched hands form a mudra unknown to traditional Buddhism.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The south facing Buddha is one of the two original Buddha icons, as the east and west facing images were destroyed by fire. Like the other three, this image is constructed of teak. The position of the Buddha's hands (or mudra) are in the clasped position, signifying the Buddha's first sermon. This image is an earlier, original Buddha, created in the distinctive Bagan style of the early period.
 
 
 
 
 
 

The first level of the Ananda Pahto consists of an entryway that leads directly to one of the four images. A square corridor is formed from the hallways that intersect the shrine areas and that extend to the edge of the temple. The entryway leading to the shrine is intersected near the shrine with the inner corridor, forming a perfect cross. The photo to the left shows the huge teak doors which seal the shrine and inner corridor from the entryway. The people in the photo gives one some sense of the size of these doors.