Recently a monolithic marble of superlative size was discovered on the range of Sagyin Hills in Madaya Township, Mandalay Division,Upper Myanmar. It measures over 37 feet high, nearly 24 feet wide and 12 feet thick weighing 500 tons!-the largest stone of its kind in Myanmar history.Seven Sagyin hills form a range running north to south outcropping from the paddy fields. Because the range lies near Sagyin village, it acquired the name of the village and its marble is commonly called Sagyin stone.It is now being conveyed ceremonially by special rail from Sagyin Hills to the Thanlutaukpa Yadana Shwephaungdaw barge down the river to Yangon , making stops during its riverine journey to receive public homage and veneration.When it reaches Yangon in early August it will be sculpted into a sitting Buddha Image and enshrined under a grand temple the fifth colossal Sagyin Marble Buddha Image and surrounded by a line of 64 small pagodas with a larger pagodas at each of the fourcardinal points. Below this upper terrace is a series of umbrellas, symbolising royalty and, at each of the four corners, a manuthiha (sphinx) surrounded by chinthes (lions) who guard the Pagoda. Directly in front is a ring of plinth shrines interspersed with four devotional halls, marking the cardinal points, and eight planetary posts.A small offering wall,decorated with scenes from the ten prominent lives of the Gautam-a Buddha, encircles the Pagoda. The main walkway is surrounded by numerous pagodas, shrines and 72 Tazaungs (pavillions) which mainly date from the late 19th century. Around the outskirts of the 5.6 hectare (4 acre) platform is another walkway which has excellent views of Yangon.
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