Hall of Singu's Bell

The bell, pictured to the left, was offered by Singu, fourth king of the Konbaung Dynasty. In the Pali language it bears the name Mahaghanta or Maha Ghanda, "Great Bell." It weighs 25 tons and is 2.1 meters high (roughly 7 feet), 2 meters wide at the mouth, and about .35 meters (one foot) in thickness. The inscription on the bell acknowledges Singu's donation and notes that for this act of merit he aspired in future incarnations to be king over men and gods and to receive the prediction of Meteyya, the Buddha-to-come, that he too would be a Buddha. Above the inscription are magic squares to ward off evil. The bell was taken by the British during the first Anglo-Myanmar War in April 1825, but the British dropped it into the river as it was being loaded on the ship. Later the people of Yangon located the bell, securing the bell to a brig with cables at low tide. They then let the incoming tide float the bell free. Clever--how did those Brits manage to keep ahold of their empire? The hall itself is equally spectacular, featuring screen carvings depicting the life of Buddha, and royal paintings chronicling the design, execution, installation and recovery of the bell.