Nathlaungkyaung (1600/ 908)(နတ်လှောင်ကျောင်း)

Nathlaung Kyaung Temple (1,600/ 908)(နတ်လှောင်ကျောင်း)

The only example of a Hindu Vaishnavite temple at Bagan, the Nathlaungkyaung was probably built to accommodate the sacred needs of Indians who came to Bagan.

The name of the temple, Nathlaung kyaung, meaning “Temple Where the Spirits Are Confined”, is curious. It is taken by some to mean that the nats or spirits inimical to Buddhism were confined here.

An inscription found at Myinkaba, south of the temple, records in Tamil that a native of Malaimandalam built a porch and a doorway for the temple in the 13^th century. The temple, however, is much damaged now, and what remains is the main hall and the superstructure, the porch and the outer portion having been lost. In what is now the outer wall originally the inner wall of the outer corridor are niches for holding images of the ten avatars of Vishnu.

Inside, a central pillar supports the superstructure. On each side of the pillar are alcoves, adorned with pilasters, to hold images of Vishnu. The image in the main alcove is missing, but the portions which remain give a suggestion of the original. It portrayed Vishnu lying on the cosmic serpent Sesha with the trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, seated on lotus flowers sprouting from the navel of the reclining Vishnu. Now, only Siva on the right, the lotus throne and halo of Brahma on the left, and the twisted tails of Sesha remain.

Nat-hlaung-kyaung (Google Map)

Reference Books:

Glimpse of Glorious Bagan, Universities Historical Research Centre, Yangon, Myanmar, The University Press, 1996

Pictorial Guide to Pagan, Ministry of Culture, Yangon, Myanmar, The Printing and Publish Corporation, Reprint 1975

The Pagodas and Monuments of Bagan, Vol. 1, Translated by Dr Khin Maung Nyunt, Ministry of Information, Yangon, Myanmar, Graphic Training Centre (G.T.C), 1995

The Pagodas and Monuments of Bagan , Vol. 2, English Text by Dr Khin Maung Nyunt, Ministry of Information, Yangon, Myanmar, Graphic Training Centre (G.T.C), 1998

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