Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BUDDHA'S HAND SIGNS
At temples and shrines, look out for the following hand signs of buddha images,
each with a different meaning:
Abh
Abhaya Both hands have palms out, symbolising protection from fear.
BBhuumiispara The right hand touches the ground, symbolising when Buddha sat be-
neath a banyan tree until he gained enlightenment.
Dana One or both hands with palms up, symbolising the offering of dhamma
(Buddhist teachings) to the world.
DDhyana Both hands rest palm-up on the buddha's lap, signifying meditation.
Viitarrka o
akka Thumb and forefinger of one hand forms a circle with
other fingers (somewhat like an 'OK' gesture), symbolising the first public dis-
course on Buddhist doctrine.
a or Dh
r Dhammacchakk
Nat Worship
One of the most fascinating things about Myanmar is the ongoing worship of the
nat
(spirit being). Though some Buddhist leaders downgrade the
nat,
the
nat
are very much
alive in the lives of the people of Myanmar and you'll often finding them sharing space
with Buddha in their own
nat-sin
(spirit house) at temples.
History
Worship of
nats
predates Buddhism in Myanmar.
Nats
have long believed to hold domin-
ion over a place (natural or human-made), person or field of experience.
Separate, larger shrines were built for a higher class of
nat,
descended from actual his-
toric personages (including previous Thai and Bamar kings) who had died violent, unjust
deaths. These suprahuman
nat,
when correctly propitiated, could aid worshippers in ac-
complishing important tasks, vanquishing enemies and so on.
Early in the 11th century in Bagan, King Anawrahta stopped animal sacrifices (part of
nat
worship at Mt Popa) and destroyed
nat
temples. Realising he may lose the case for
making Theravada Buddhism the national faith, Anawrahta wisely conceded the
nat's
coexistence with Buddha.
There were 36 recognised
nat
at the time (in fact, there are many more). Anawrahta
sagely added a 37th, Thagyamin, a Hindu deity based on Indra, whom he crowned 'king
of the
nat'
. Since, in traditional Buddhist mythology, Indra paid homage to Buddha, this
