Tagundaing

Base of the tagundaing at the Ye Le Pagoda in Kyauktan.

Tagundaing (Burmese: တံခွန်တိုင်) refers to an ornamented monumental column or flagstaff, typically 60 to 80 feet (18 to 24 m), found within the grounds of Burmese Buddhist pagodas and monasteries.[1][2] These ornamented columns were raised within religious compounds to celebrate the submission of local animistic nats (spirits) to the Dhamma, the Buddhist doctrine and inspired by the Pillars of Ashoka.[1]

A mythical hintha bird (or more rarely a kinnara), is generally found perching atop the column, while the base of the column may be decorated with Thagyamin.[1][2] Vasudhara, the earth goddess, may also be found at the base.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Tagundaing". Burma Collections. Center for Burma Studies, Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ferrars, Max; Bertha Ferrars (1900). Burma. S. Low, Marston & Company. p. 37.

See also