Posted on 08/14/2005 10:02:19 PM PDT by LwinAungSoe
A replica of Buddha's tooth - a holy relic of the Buddhist religion - has been stolen from a temple in a northern suburb of Yangon, an official said Sunday.
The glass casing at the Swedaw Myat - "Tooth Relic" - Pagoda in which the tooth replica had been enshrined was discovered broken early Sunday morning, and the tooth, along with several precious gems, found missing, said an official at the Religious Affairs Ministry.
The replica relic had been kept on a bejeweled pedestal with a jewel encrusted holder inside the glass case.
The theft has not been publicly announced, and the official was willing to give details only on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information.
Soldiers have sealed the pagoda premises and pilgrims have not been not allowed to visit while the theft is being investigated.
There are generally acknowledged to be only two genuine Buddha's teeth extant, one in China and the other in Sri Lanka. Buddhists believe the teeth, reportedly found after Buddha was cremated 2,400 years ago, bring peace and good fortune.
Beijing lent its genuine tooth to Myanmar for display for 45 days in April 1994 and again from December 1996 to March 1997.
The loan was seen as a shrewd foreign policy move because it boosted both the prestige of Myanmar's otherwise unpopular military government, and China, among the country's devout Buddhist population. China is the most important ally of the ruling junta, which is ostracized by Western nations for its poor human rights record and failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.
When China lent the real tooth, two ivory replicas were carved to be displayed with it, and after the real one was returned to China, one replica was kept at Swedaw Myat Pagoda and the other in Myanmar's second city of Mandalay.
http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/Perspective/persp1997/1-97/reli1-97.htm http://www.myanmaryellowpages.biz/tour_mdy.htm
How does a replica count as a holy relic?
Maybe now, Buddha won't eat so much.
imagine of they had the real tooth
.... you'd never hear the end of it
Has anyone checked with the tooth fairy?
Somehow I am of opinion that it was mostly about the gem-encrusted mounting. Imagine if it was the whole upper dentures!
I bet if they look around they'll find a quarter. :^)
So, LwinAungSoe, what's your measure on this situation?
Watch for it on EBAY!
You will understand if you have a primary level of knowledge about Buddhism.
See ya, and raise ya.....my holy turbin hat!
Ok, got that....raise ya my holy teeth!
Ok, "You fat belly infidel that must die", I got your 'holy teeth' right here.....I raise....72 virgins!
You lose....4 of a kind....Pigs feet!
Now what was that about the virgins...?
LVM
Isn't Buddism an atheist religion anyway?
Gee, the much beloved tooth replica...gone!!!
Well it was a way better thing to have on display than what they have to remember Rasputin by.
But you would think the real thing to get upset about is the missing jewels...
Not necessarily so. :-)
But, it might have helped had he read the article before posting the question.
I have a primary level of knowledge about Buddhism. I've had a handful of courses at Trinity University with emphasis upon Buddhism. I even have a Thai step-mom in-law who spends quite a bit of time (along with her congregation) at the local temple which is served by a group of Thai monks.
Except for knowing something about art, I didn't have a clue about these replicated relics.
Had to get an idea about them from Dalada Maligawa (Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha) and Buddha's Sacred Tooth Relic in Myanmar history
How does a replica count as a holy relic?
Pssst! Hey, Meester, you wanna buyah gen-YOU-ine imee-TAY-shoon piece ofah de True Cross?
Only feefty dollahs!
I read the article, AND both articles you linked, and I am no closer to understanding what makes the replica "sacred" in & of itself. The genuine relics, naturally. The 'old' replicas, because of their age...maybe. The new ones...say WHAT?
Wonderful piece of religious art..."sacred" in that sense...undoubtedly; but an object of worship/veneration? Maybe on the same level that some venerate a crucifix itself, rather than what it sybolizes?
Can you enlighten?
Isn't that the cult centered on discipline and self-control, symbolized by a big, fat, Bob's-Big-Boy kind of glutton guy?
I suppose it's a plus that they generally don't seek to abduct and behead infidels.
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