Maha Myat Muni Buddha

The Buddha statue in the Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay is of great importance to local Buddhists and a major pilgrimage site. According to legend, the statue was cast from Guatama Buddha himself during his visit to Arakan in 554 BC. After looking at the image, the Buddha was reportedly pleased and breathed on it "imbuing the image with his spiritual essence and consecrating it". The statue is apparently one of five likenesses of the Buddha made during his lifetime. [NOTE: Gold leaf is applied regulary to the statue by male devotees (women are prohibited from entering this part of the pagoda) and the whole lower part of the statue is completely bulbous and unrecognizeable].