Tagundaing () refers to an ornamented
victory column
A victory column, or monumental column or triumphal column, is a monument in the form of a column, erected in memory of a heroic commemoration, including victorious battle, war, or revolution. The column typically stands on a base and is crowned ...
or
flagstaff, typically , found within the grounds of
Burmese Buddhist pagoda
A pagoda is a tiered tower with multiple eaves common to Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist, but some ...
s and
kyaungs (monasteries).
These ornamented columns were raised within religious compounds to celebrate the submission of
nats (local animistic spirits) to the
Dhamma
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold'' or ''to support' ...
, the Buddhist doctrine and inspired by the
Pillars of Ashoka
The pillars of Ashoka are a series of Monolith, monolithic columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected—or at least inscribed with Edicts of Ashoka, edicts—by the 3rd Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great, who reigned from to ...
.
A mythical
hintha (or more rarely a
kinnara) is generally found perching atop the column, while the base of the column may be decorated with
Thagyamin
Thagyamin (, ; from Sanskrit , ) is the highest-ranking Nat (deity), nat (deity) in traditional Buddhism in Myanmar, Burmese Buddhist belief. Considered as the king of Heaven, he is the Burmese adaptation of the Hindu deities Indra.
Etymology ...
.
, the earth goddess, may also be found at the base.
Examples
File:Inle Lake - Phaung Daw U Paya, Myanmar (169496788).jpg, Tagundaing at the Hpaung Daw U Pagoda modeled after the Pillars of Ashoka
The pillars of Ashoka are a series of Monolith, monolithic columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected—or at least inscribed with Edicts of Ashoka, edicts—by the 3rd Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great, who reigned from to ...
File:Inle Lake (16158076445).jpg
File:Kyaik Pun Paya - Bago, Myanmar 20130219-13.jpg
File:Mahamyatmuni Paya, Hsipaw, Myanmar (169498071).jpg
File:Shwemawdaw Paya - Bago, Myanmar 20130219-20.jpg
File:Shwemawdaw Paya - Bago, Myanmar 20130219-21.jpg
See also
**
Ancient iron production
**
Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts
**
Dhar iron pillar
**
Hindu temple architecture
Hindu temple architecture as the main form of Hindu architecture has many different styles, though the basic nature of the Hindu temple remains the same, with the essential feature an inner sanctum, the ''Garbhagriha, garbha griha'' or womb-ch ...
**
History of metallurgy in South Asia
**
Iron pillar of Delhi
**
List of Edicts of Ashoka
**
Pillars of Ashoka
The pillars of Ashoka are a series of Monolith, monolithic columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected—or at least inscribed with Edicts of Ashoka, edicts—by the 3rd Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great, who reigned from to ...
**
Stambha
References
See also
{{commonscat, Tagundaing
*
Pillars of Ashoka
The pillars of Ashoka are a series of Monolith, monolithic columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected—or at least inscribed with Edicts of Ashoka, edicts—by the 3rd Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great, who reigned from to ...
*
Lak Mueang
Burmese Buddhist architecture
Monumental columns