Abstract

• Nanphaya was built in late eleventh century or early twelveth century CE and traditionally known as the palace-temple. It is a one story building facing east and one of the five sandstone buildings in Bagan. The outer part of the temple is made up of sandstones and backed up by bricks. The four square pillars, also made up of sandstones, support the upper structure and sikhara. The four central pillars is the innovative idea of Bagan’s architects and they are the only example so far found in Bagan. Most temples in Bagan are made up of the central core and the passage way. The upper structure of the temple, sikhara, is a bit different from the early sikhara of the Bagan temples. The sikhara is composed of five rows of five panels and set with full blown lotus: the main attribute of Brahma. The outer walls of the temple are completely made of sandstones and decorated with dado of hamsa bird, the vehicle of Brahma and there are total of 102 heufamsa birds. The eleven perforated sandstone windows are beautifully made and they are also decorated with the full-blown lotus. The eight seated Brahmas, holding the full-blown louts-the main attribute of the Brahma, are beautifully made of sandstones with lotus scrolls on the inner surface of the four pillars. The central place of the temple, among the four square columns, is the heart of the temple and there would be the important image of the temple, that might be the standing statue of Brahma.