I admit knowing very little of Buddhism and while strolling around Burma and its many temples and pagodas, I started feeling curious to understand more about the symbology behind the different representations.
Buddha’s different appearances and the underlying meanings vary depending from the countries and the way Buddhism evolved over the centuries, and from what I understood, the reclining Buddha - like this fine fresco at Sulamani Temple in Bagan – might be a symbol for death and the eventual reaching of Nirvana.
In Bagan, the interior of Sulamani Temple – probably my favorite – is decorated with awesome paintings representing various religious scenes including at each side of the temple a reclining Buddha, whose beauty stroke me. Dating back to the end of the 12th Century, Sulamani Temple showcases an exquisite façade decorated with fine carvings and its interior display some of the best preserved paintings I saw in Burma.
More about Burma and Southeast Asia: Wandering through Southeast Asia and wondering ‘what am I doing here?’
Simon is the publisher and editor of WIld About Travel, where she writes about her travel experiences and shares her photography. A travel addict and social media enthusiast, she is wild about nature and wilderness, as well as art, culture and good food.
