Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pwe
festival
pyatthat
Southeast Asian-style multi-tiered roof
pyigyimun
royal barge
pyissaya
stupa terraces
Ramayana
famous Hindu epic describing the life of Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu
samadhi mudra
see
dhyani
mudra
Sangha
the worldwide community of Buddhist monks
saopha
a “sky lord” - the hereditary rulers of the Shan peoples
sariputra
one of Buddha's disciples
sayadaw
abbot
shikhara
Indian-style temple tower
shinbyu
ceremony marking induction of young boys into the Sangha
shwe
golden
SLORC
State Law and Order Restoration Council
SPDC
State Peace and Development Council
stupa
Buddhist monument found in most Burmese temples
sutra
Buddhist (or Hindu) religious text
taik
library
Tatmadaw
the Burmese Armed Forces, comprising army, navy, air force and police
taung
mountain
taw/daw
suffix (as in, for instance, Naypyitaw), signifying somewhere sacred or royal
tazaung
pavilion-style shrine
Temptation of Mara
popular subject of Buddhist art, showing hordes of monsters unleashed by the demon Mara
attempting to distract Buddha at the moment of his enlightenment
thabeik
alms bowl
thanaka
general-purpose Burmese powder/paste used as all-in-one make-up, sunscreen and insect repellent
thein
ordination hall
Theravada
the older of the two main schools of Buddhism and the dominant form of the religion in Myanmar
Thingyan
water festival celebrating the Buddhist New Year
Tripitaka
the main collection of Buddhist scriptures
trishaw
cycle rickshaw (although sometimes used to describe motorized vehicles as well)
U
“Mr” or “uncle”
USDP
Union Solidarity and Development Party
varada mudra
see
dana
mudra
viss
Burmese unit of weight (equivalent to 1.6kg)
Vitarka mudra
“Gesture of Explanation” - one of the traditional Buddhist mudras
weizza (weikza)
Burmese Buddhist cult dedicated to magical practices and beliefs
yadaya
quasi-magical rituals prescribed by astrologers to ward off misfortune
