Kawkathaung Cave

Kawkathaung Cave

The Kawkathaung Cave is near Kawkathaung village about seven miles away from Hpa-an. In the past, that village is covered with dense forest full of trees and bamboo and a mound. It is especially covered with ‘Kathaun (uoGefU )’ tree ( Kyo (MudKU) tree in Burmese) that this place was named as ‘Kokathaun (udkuoGefU )’ in Kayin. The word ‘Ko (udk)’ in Kayin refers to forest and ‘Kathaun’ means Kyo (MudKU) tree in Burmese. Thus, Kokathaun (udkuoGefU ) means the forest of means Kyo (MudKU) tree. Later ‘Kokathaun’ in Kayin has pronounced as ‘Kawkathaung’ in Burmese.

In the environ of Kawkathaung Cave, the entrance gate of cave, muzzle walls, wish fulfilling pagoda, a sanctuary lake, terrace of cave, dragon over shielded Buddha image, several Buddha images, flag mast, and tomb where the ash bone of Sayadawgyi was enshrined are seen. The 28 Buddha images, votive tablets, stone pillar in which dragon sculptures are wrapping, standing Buddha Images, crocodiles and tortoise statues, Ye Mingyi Buddha image, shrine of Sayadaw, relic chamber and small caves where old monks meditated are found inside the cave. This cave has no exit and the entrance of the cave is facing to the north. The entrance of this cave is 40 feet wide and 65 feet in length. The roof of this cave is 25 feet height in maximum and eight feet wide in minimum. The light from outside can be reached to 100 feet distance inside of the cave. Candle light or torch can be used to over 100 feet distance inside the cave.

On the wall to the left and right sides of cave have 56 seated Buddha images. A large Buddha image of nine taung height is placed inside the cave. Two seated Buddha images of five feet height are placed beside left and right sides of this central image. The inner side of this cave is 40 feet in wide and 50 feet in length. The roof is only eight feet height that light cannot be obtained sufficiently. A standing Buddha image of seven feet height and seated Buddha image of three feet height are available on the right wall of the cave. The inner part of this cave is narrower that it has only 15 feet wide and 20 feet in length. The roof is eight feet height in maximum and five feet in minimum. In this part, light is lighted because there is no sufficient natural light.

A relic chamber where relics were enshrined by old Sayadawgyi was found inside the cave. The floor of relic chamber is only six feet wide and four feet wide that only ten persons could sit and pay worship to the relic chamber. The entrance of relic chamber cave is fenced with iron rail but the relics can be visible through the rails. A lens is stood in front relic caskets. The relics are placed in gold and silver caskets. A pagoda of 1.9 feet was placed in the front, and a nine inches height pagoda was behind it and a gilded pagoda of 1.4 feet height is placed on a stone. In the environ of these pagodas, bronze Buddha images in standing, seated and reclining positions are available.

Apart from these Buddha images, contemporary and ancient votive tablets can be seen on the wall inside the cave. The pagoda festival of this cave is annually held in Tagu. The kawkathaung Cave is included as one of the historic caves in Kayin State. It is also regarded as sacred place in which many Buddhist art and architecture are available.