Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
Mother Spirit of Popa Nat Shrine
NAT SHRINE
Before climbing Popa Taung Kalat, drop by the tiger-guarded shrine in the village at the
foot of the mountain (just across from the steps guarded by elephant statues - there are
loads of critters around here). Inside you'll find a display extending left and right from an
inner hallway door of mannequin-like figures representing some of the 37 official
nat,
plus some Hindu deities and a few necromancers (the figures with goatees at the right
end of the shrine).
In the shrine there are also other
nat
not counted among the official '37', including
three principal figures: the
Flower-Eating Ogress
(aka Mae Wunna, or 'Queen Mother
of Popa') and her two sons (to her left and right)
Min Gyi
and
Min Lay
.
A few other interesting
nat
here caught our attention. The plump Pyu goddess
Shin
Nemi
(Little Lady) is a guardian for children, and gets toy offerings during school exam
time. She's the cute little thing clutching a green umbrella and a stuffed animal, midway
down on the left of the shrine.
There have been a few Kyawswas in Myanmar spirit history, but the most popular is
the Popa-born
Lord Kyawswa
(aka Drunk Nat), who spent his few years cockfighting
and drinking. He boasts: 'If you don't like me, avoid me. I admit I'm a drunkard'. He's
the guardian of gamblers and drunks and sits on a horse decked in rum and whiskey
bottles, to the right. Be sure to pay your respects if you've been partying your way
through Southeast Asia up until this point.
Locals pray to
Shwe Na Be
(Lady with Golden Sides) when a snake comes into their
house. She's the woman holding a
naga
(serpent) near the corner to the left.
Popa Taung Kalat Temple
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
From the
nat
shrine start up the steps under a covered walkway and past the usual rows
of trinket and souvenir shops and shrines to a revered local medicine man, Pomin
Gawng. At a steady pace it shouldn't take you more than 20 minutes to reach the summit
of this impressive rocky crag crowned with a picturesque complex of monasteries, stupas
and shrines. Along the way, you'll pass platoons of cheeky monkeys and a small army of
locals selling drinks and endeavouring (not always successfully) to keep the steps clean
of monkey poo in return for a possible tip. Families with children should take care to
keep a distance from the macaques as they have large canine teeth and occasionally pilfer
snacks or shiny trinkets from visitors.
