Atumashi Monastery

Atumashi Monastery

King Mindon (1852-1872) founded a new capital on 16 June 1858. In founding the new capital, he established seven monuments simultaneously. They were the following:
1. The city
2. The moat
3. Mahalokamarajain pagoda
4. The ordination hall
5. The monastery
6. Pitaka taik or Royal library
7. Sudhamma Zayat or Rest-house

On 27 April 1859 king Mindon issued and order to build seven monuments simultaneously. On 15 May 1859, the pits were dug for the seven monuments to lay foundation simultaneously. On 23 May 1859, the foundation stones were laid at the seven monuments simultaneously.

Of seven monuments, one was the Mahaatulaweyan monastery. monastery. The name of monastic establishment was Mahaatulavijiyarama Taik. The Mahaatulaweyan means the incomparable monastery like Sakra's Abode (Wejayanta). The name Mahaatulavijiyarama means an incomparable monastic establishment where gained a great victory over enemies. King Mindon entrusted the Atumashi monastery and the monastic establishment to Pakhan Sayadaw U Nandasarasirisadhammadhaja Mahadammarajaguru to keep monastery under his custody on 26 April 1877. The king visited to monastery in state and dedicated it as Sanghika kyon: by making a libation on 30 May 1877. After the monastery had been adorned with carved figurines and floral designs, king Mindon visited to the monastery by waterway in state on 29 November 1877.

The king had left to the temporary abode at the top of the moat and had looked at the occasion before Pitaka texts were carried from Mahavisutarama to Atumashi monastery on 10 May 1878. The Pitaka texts were carried from Mahavisutarama Taik to Atumashi in May 1878. The Atumashi monastery was completed in 1878. It was found in a record that a Buddhist Synod was convened from 19 May 1878 to 6 June 1878 and from 7 June 1878 to 6 August 1878. A big diamond on the forehead of the Buddha Image was stolen on 29 November 1885. Atumashi monastery was burnt down in 1892. Atumashi monastery was used as a Christian Church in the early Colonial period.

The notification for preservation of the fourteen buildings was issued by the English Government according to the 904 Act No. 7, Article 3(1) on 12 December and ratified. The Atumashi monastery was included in them. The English Government preserved Atumashi on 10 August 1908.

In 1995, Atumashi monastery was reconstructed when it had burnt down after 103 years. Atumashi monastery was reconstructed at a cost of 1467.88 kyats lakhs. The ceremony for opening the Atumashi monastery was celebrated on 18 September 1996. The reconstruction of Atumashi monastery was conpleted on 30 November 1996. Atumashi monastery was transfferred to Archaeology Department on 9 January 1997.