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Vol. XXIII, No. 1
WA
the beauty of the Ānanda temple is enhanced by the numerous store sculptured reliefs and glazed terracotta-plaques that adorn its walls. The stone-reliefs. eighty in number and some of the plaques illustrate the principal episodes in the Buddha's life and 926 plaques depict the Jätaka stories.
The unique character of the plan of the temple has evoked much discussion about its origin But, there is no doubt of it derivation from Indian type. Every thing in this temple from Sikhara to basement, bears the indubitable stamp of Indian genius and craftsmanship. A modern European author writes : "Still in daily use as a house of Prayer the Anand, with its dazzling grab of white and its gilt spire glittering in the morning sun, is today one of the wonders of Pagau. Inside the temple, two life-size statues kneel at the feet of a gigantic Buddha, they have knelt there for more than eight centuries. One of these is the king and the other his teacher Arahan. The face of the king is not Burmese-his mother was an Indian lady."
The Ananda temple was really designed on Indian models. Temples of the same type existed in Bengal and most probably suggested the model of the Ananda temple. In this way we may take it, therefore that the Ananda, though built in Burmese capital, is an Indian temple, indeed.
-Dr. Parameshwar Solanki
Editor, Tulsi Prajna LADNUN-341306 (Raj.)
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