Rocky door at cave of Alaungdaw Kathapa Recling Arahat Image opened in amazement on full moon day of Tabodwe Pilgrims got extraordinary chances to worship holy image
Much to the surprise, the natural rocky door at the cave of Alaungdaw Kathapa Reclining Arahat Image strangely opened on the full moon day Tabodwe (9th February 2009). And the pilgrims acquired extraordinary and rare chances to pay homage to the scared image.
The ceremony of lighting donation is usually held at the pagoda of Alaungdaw Kathapa Reclining Arahat Image on every full moon day of Tabodwe. About 200 devotees were there on that occasion. At 1 pm of that day, the natural rocky door at the cave of Alaungdaw Kathapa Reclining Arahat Image opened for 15 minutes and closed back.
“The door of the cave of the reclining statue unexpectedly opened at 1 pm on the full moon day Tabodwe for 15 minutes. The pilgrims there got rare chance to pay worship and hurled the gold ornaments and cash as donation into the cave. A lot of gold, silver and jewelries were seen inside the cave. It was a startling scene” said a pilgrim who witnessed the wonderful event.
According to the historical legend in the context of religion, the remains of Alaungdaw Kathapa is still reclining in the position of unalloyed gold statue without burning itself and it will combust into oblivion only when the future Ari Metteya Buddha set fire to this reclining image.
The Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park can be visited in two ways: the first route is Monywa-Yinmabin-Gangaw-Hakha, and the second one is 17 miles of tarred road via Nyaung Pin Gyi village after passing through the bridge across the Chindwin River. Both of these roads are accessible in open season. The pagoda of Alaungdaw Kathapa Reclining Arahat Image is situated at 45 miles far from Nyaung Pin Gyi village on the western part of Monywa Township. The visitors can ride motor cars up to log house camp of National Park in December, January, February, March and April, and then proceed to the cave of Alaungdaw Kathapa by elephants or by foot.
http://www.baganland.net/2009/02/rocky-door-at-cave-of-alaungdaw-kathapa.html
