Mandalay (Myanmar): Architecture has long been regarded as the first artistic expression of mankind and in a testimony to it, the Pariyatti Sasana University in Myanmar houses the biggest book of the world with its pages spread over an area of 44 acres.

The book has been inscribed on marble tablets in the campus of the university in the south of Mandalay Hills.

The inscriptions cover the core of Buddhist philosophy- Tripitakas- in Pali language and forms the part of Kutho-Daw Pagoda built up by the Mandalay King, Mindon in 1857.

The marble slabs are 729 in number and arranged in a systematic order around the Pagoda. Every slab is covered by a pagoda-like roof to protect it from the vagaries of nature.

Years of consultations went into creating this marvel and a committee of 200 Buddhist monks was constituted to execute it. After going into various aspects of linguistics and phonetics the committee gave approval for inscribing the Tripitakas on the marble slabs.

King Mindon gave express directions that the exercise should be flawless because it would leaf through ages.

PTI