Alodawpyi Phaya (အလိုတော်ပြည့်ဘုရား)

Burmese. ‘Fulfilling of Wishes Pagoda’ or ‘Full Will of God’. Name of a Buddhist temple in Bagan (fig.), built in 1194 AD, in a style between that of Bagan's early and intermediate periods. Its builder is unknown. It shows elements that can be traced back to the Pyu culture and has a pyramidal stupa, including a circular ornament with horizontal radiating beams (fig.) that resembles and is named after the flower of the Star Flower Tree (fig.), placed on top of the superstructure, a style that preceded the arrival of the sikhara (fig.) from North India, yet reminiscent of the 931 AD Nathlaung Kyaung (fig.), a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu which originated more than two centuries earlier. This structure with a simple layout has its entrance in the East. The sanctuary is square with windows on the North and South, while the passage between the hall and the sanctuary is very flat, like most earlier monuments made during the reign of King Kyansittha (fig.). The inner walls are decorated with murals showing the Buddha with a dhammachakka mudra and flanked by a disciple on either side. See also MAP. 回