At 380 feet (116 meters), the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha is the third tallest statue in the world. Beneath the magnificent monument is a platform towering 79 feet (23 meters) in height. The Laykyun Sekkya is located in Myanmar in a village called Khatakan Taung near the town of Monywa. The statue is also known as Monywa Buddha. The building process started in 1996 and ended 12 years later on February 21, 2008, with a completion ceremony. Myanmar’s Chief Abbot Ven carried out the construction process. During its initial construction, it was the tallest statue in the world. Today, it is widely regarded as one of Myanmar’s top tourism destinations.
The Design of the Monument
The base has two levels. The lower, hexagonal one is shaped like a step pyramid with rounded edges and a flat top, and the upper, circular one is where the Buddha statue is placed.
The statue and its base are both primarily golden. Inside the statue’s many levels is an exhibit dedicated to Buddhist artistic expression. However, the main statue is mostly hollow.
This towering Buddha is clad in gold. The many squares on the statue are actually the windows on each floor. An elevator can be found inside the monument for ease of movement.
It took so long to construct the monument because it was funded completely by donations from local residents which also shows how devout the people of Myanmar are.
Laykyun Sekkya’s Height
The Laykyun Sekkya statue is located in the Buddhist religious complex called Maha Bodhi Tahtaung which was founded in 1960. The height of the statue is 381 feet (116 m), the height of the throne is 75 feet (23 m) and the height of all stairs is 109 feet (33 m).
This brings the total height of the Laykyun Sekkya monument to 612 feet (185 m).
Laykyun Sekkya is around 33 floors high, and it is located 7.50 miles (12.07 km) from Monywa town. Monywa is centrally located in the Chindwin Valley, 85 miles (136 km) northwest of Mandalay city.
When it was completed in 2008, it was the second-tallest statue and monument of Buddha, only to be surpassed by Spring Temple Buddha a few months later.
Today, the Laykyun Sekkya is the third tallest statue in the world after the Spring Temple Buddha (420 ft; 128 meters) in China and the Statue of Unity (597 ft; 182 m) in India. It is also the second tallest Buddha statue. Among other tallest statues, the Laykyun Sekkya is a relatively lesser-known one.
The Meaning of the Laykyun Sekkya Statue
The Laykyun Sekkya monument portrays the setting of Mahaparinirvana (attainment of the state of eternal bliss) with an upright Gautama Buddha positioned next to a reclining Gautama Buddha. The word “Gotama,” from which “Gautama” is derived, means “one who has the most light.”
Unlike most Buddhas, Laykyun Sekkya does not express a hand gesture that usually conveys a meaning.
The Monuments Around the Laykyun Sekkya
In the front of the statue stands the giant Reclining Buddha Statue with a length of 333 ft (101 m). Next to the two statues is a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda. It is called Aung Sekkya Pagoda and has a height of 226 ft (69 m).
Below Laykyun Sekkya Buddha, you’ll also find thousands of normal-sized Buddha sculptures.
Laykyun Sekkya Statue at a Glance
Where is the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha located?
The Laykyun Sekkya Buddha is located in Myanmar, in a village called Khatakan Taung near the town of Monywa. It is part of the Buddhist religious complex called Maha Bodhi Tahtaung.
What is the height of the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha statue?
The Laykyun Sekkya statue is 381 feet (116 m) tall, with a total height of 612 feet (185 m) when including the throne and stairs. It is the third tallest statue in the world, after the Spring Temple Buddha (420 ft; 128 meters) in China and the Statue of Unity (597 ft; 182 m) in India. Among other tallest statues, the Laykyun Sekkya is a relatively lesser-known one.
What is the meaning behind the Laykyun Sekkya statue and what other monuments are located around it?
The Laykyun Sekkya monument portrays the setting of Mahaparinirvana with an upright Gautama Buddha positioned next to a reclining Gautama Buddha. The statue is also known as Monywa Buddha. In front of the statue stands the giant Reclining Buddha Statue, with a length of 333 ft (101 m). Next to the two statues is a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda called Aung Sekkya Pagoda, which has a height of 226 ft (69 m). Below the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha, there are also thousands of normal-sized Buddha sculptures.
References
- Featured Image: McKay Savage
