A reclining buddha, a frequent theme in Buddhist art, signifies the Buddha's parinirvana -- his death and entry into nirvana.
The reclining buddha of Monywa is hollow, and people can walk inside its 300-foot length and view 9,000 small images of the Buddha and his disciples.
The Monywa Buddha's status as the largest reclining buddha may soon end. Currently a stone reclining buddha is being carved in east China’s Jiangxi Province. This new buddha in China will be 1,365 feet (416 meters) long.