A wide variety of mythical creatures are found in Burmese mythology. Many Burmese creatures are part human or creatures capable of assuming human form. Most mythical creatures are endowed with humanistic mentalities, ability to converse with humans and also supernatural powers.[1] During the 20th century, the role and diversity of Burmese mythical creatures were diversified by Shwe Thway comics which depicted the life of the Buddha, the Jataka tales and Burmese history.[citation needed]
Male and female forms of the Belu, depicted in a 19th-century watercolour
The most common mythological being is the Belu, an ogre. The popularity of the Belu is due to the Yama Zatdaw, the Burmese version of the Ramayana, a very popular play in Myanmar, and also their roles in the Jatakas.
A Thaman Chah or were-tiger, from a 19th-century Burmese watercolour
The following is a list of beings and creatures in Burmese mythology:
Creatures mentioned in stories, plays and Burmese literature
Deities, Demons & Spirits
Athurakal - the lowest form of deities which have pleasure half the day and suffer the other half. Sworn enemies of the Devas(gods). (Athurakal is an alternative synonym for Asura)
Belu - usually man-eating demons capable of shapeshifting.
Pan-kike Belu - (lit flower biters) Belu with straight fangs which eat humans. Generally malevolent.
Panswé Belu - (lit flower danglers) Belu with curved or hooked fangs which eat flowers and fruits. Generally benevolent. An example would be Popa Medaw.
Nat sein - ghods, a kind of spirits of deceased humans (especially those who died violent deaths). They grant supernatural powers to those who devote but are imperceptible in the mortal world.
Ottsa-saunk or Ottsar-saunk - beings cursed to roam the earth due to their strong attachment to objects or places.
Thaik nan shin - is synonymous with Otta-saunk, glossed by Spiro as “quasi-nat,” or “the spirits who, because of their greed for treasure when they were human, have been assigned to guard the treasures of the Buddha".
Peik-ta - ghouls, beings punished with perpetual hunger or thirst.(derived from Sanskrit word Preta)
Karaweik - from the Pali "karavika", a bird with a melodious cry.
Reptiles
Magan - Makara ,crocodile-like sea monster with prehensile snout.
Nāga - dragon-like serpents with great powers, enemies of the Garudas, and inhabit in the sea. They are described as being able to swim through the earth as if it was water, and fly in the sky. According to the Bhuridatta Jataka the 6th of the 10 last lives of the Buddha, the Buddha was a Nāga prince.[2]
Ngamoeyeik - a super giant crocodile and character of Min Nandar and Shin Hmwe Loon the Burmese equivalent of Romeo and Juliet.
Mammals
Kyut - malevolent pangolin or armadillo like creatures which can assume human form and trick humans in the barren forests.
Sarmaree - vain long-haired yak
which values its hair.
Thaman Kyah - the weretiger, a somewhat equivalent of werewolf in European cultures.
Spiders
Giant Spider of Pindaya - a giant spider which held 7 princesses captive in Pindaya region.
Hybrids
Byala - Rakhine version of the Nawa Rupa. A creature with nine hybrid features.
Kinnara, male and Kinnari, female - a hybrid of human and bird, often painted as humans with wings in clothing and headdresses; associated with the Shan and Kayah States.
Manotethiha (Manussiha in Pali) - Sphinx-like Half-human, half-lion creatures. Their appearances are somehow similar with sphinx. What differ them from sphinx is that they have two lion bodies connected to a single human head.
Nawarupa - (lit nine features); a creature made from the amalgamation of parts of nine different animals.
Nāya/ Toe-nāya/ Toe-nāga - quite similar to chimera; hybrids of seven animals including Nāga. No appearance of these creatures is found in mythology. They are artistic designs of a nāga developed by early Myanmar sculptor.
^Mythical Creatures in Burmese Folklore, Jataka tales, History of Burma, Yama Zatdaw, Ramayana, Asura (Buddhism), Rakshasa, Garuda. (2011), 108 pag. ISBN978-613-6-67801-6
^"The Bhuridatta Jataka - Bhuridatta, the Naga Prince".
Htin Aung, MaungFolk Elements in Burmese Buddhism. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 1962.
External links
Folk-Elements in Burmese Buddhism
January 06, 2023
mythical, creatures, burmese, folklore, wide, variety, mythical, creatures, found, burmese, mythology, many, burmese, creatures, part, human, creatures, capable, assuming, human, form, most, mythical, creatures, endowed, with, humanistic, mentalities, ability,. A wide variety of mythical creatures are found in Burmese mythology Many Burmese creatures are part human or creatures capable of assuming human form Most mythical creatures are endowed with humanistic mentalities ability to converse with humans and also supernatural powers 1 During the 20th century the role and diversity of Burmese mythical creatures were diversified by Shwe Thway comics which depicted the life of the Buddha the Jataka tales and Burmese history citation needed Male and female forms of the Belu depicted in a 19th century watercolour The most common mythological being is the Belu an ogre The popularity of the Belu is due to the Yama Zatdaw the Burmese version of the Ramayana a very popular play in Myanmar and also their roles in the Jatakas A Thaman Chah or were tiger from a 19th century Burmese watercolour Contents 1 List of beings and creatures 1 1 Creatures mentioned in stories plays and Burmese literature 1 1 1 Deities Demons amp Spirits 1 1 2 Beasts 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksList of beings and creatures EditThe following is a list of beings and creatures in Burmese mythology Creatures mentioned in stories plays and Burmese literature Edit Deities Demons amp Spirits Edit Athurakal the lowest form of deities which have pleasure half the day and suffer the other half Sworn enemies of the Devas gods Athurakal is an alternative synonym for Asura Belu usually man eating demons capable of shapeshifting Pan kike Belu lit flower biters Belu with straight fangs which eat humans Generally malevolent Panswe Belu lit flower danglers Belu with curved or hooked fangs which eat flowers and fruits Generally benevolent An example would be Popa Medaw Nat sein ghods a kind of spirits of deceased humans especially those who died violent deaths They grant supernatural powers to those who devote but are imperceptible in the mortal world Ottsa saunk or Ottsar saunk beings cursed to roam the earth due to their strong attachment to objects or places Thaik nan shin is synonymous with Otta saunk glossed by Spiro as quasi nat or the spirits who because of their greed for treasure when they were human have been assigned to guard the treasures of the Buddha Peik ta ghouls beings punished with perpetual hunger or thirst derived from Sanskrit word Preta Sone hags or witches Thaye ghosts Yama Yazar A saint often claimed as death lord who rule the hell Derived from Yama raj Hindu god of death hell and afterlife judgement Yetkhat benevolent guardians of buried treasures and those hidden in tree roots derived from Raksha Hindu mythical demons Zawgyi alchemist a human alchemist with supernatural powers and often seen with a stick and a red hat Beasts Edit BirdsGalone garuda the archbird nemesis of the serpents Nagas Hintha Hamsa the Brahminy bird famed as the bird with most pleasant voice symbol of the Mon people Mon State and Bago Region Karaweik from the Pali karavika a bird with a melodious cry ReptilesMagan Makara crocodile like sea monster with prehensile snout Naga dragon like serpents with great powers enemies of the Garudas and inhabit in the sea They are described as being able to swim through the earth as if it was water and fly in the sky According to the Bhuridatta Jataka the 6th of the 10 last lives of the Buddha the Buddha was a Naga prince 2 Ngamoeyeik a super giant crocodile and character of Min Nandar and Shin Hmwe Loon the Burmese equivalent of Romeo and Juliet MammalsKyut malevolent pangolin or armadillo like creatures which can assume human form and trick humans in the barren forests Sarmaree vain long haired yakwhich values its hair Thaman Kyah the weretiger a somewhat equivalent of werewolf in European cultures SpidersGiant Spider of Pindaya a giant spider which held 7 princesses captive in Pindaya region HybridsByala Rakhine version of the Nawa Rupa A creature with nine hybrid features Kinnara male and Kinnari female a hybrid of human and bird often painted as humans with wings in clothing and headdresses associated with the Shan and Kayah States Manotethiha Manussiha in Pali Sphinx like Half human half lion creatures Their appearances are somehow similar with sphinx What differ them from sphinx is that they have two lion bodies connected to a single human head Nawarupa lit nine features a creature made from the amalgamation of parts of nine different animals Naya Toe naya Toe naga quite similar to chimera hybrids of seven animals including Naga No appearance of these creatures is found in mythology They are artistic designs of a naga developed by early Myanmar sculptor Pyinsarupa lit five features a creature made from the amalgamation of parts of five different animals mascot of Myanmar Airways International See also EditBuddhist mythology Buddhist cosmology Buddhism in Myanmar Culture of BurmaReferences Edit Mythical Creatures in Burmese Folklore Jataka tales History of Burma Yama Zatdaw Ramayana Asura Buddhism Rakshasa Garuda 2011 108 pag ISBN 978 613 6 67801 6 The Bhuridatta Jataka Bhuridatta the Naga Prince Htin Aung Maung Folk Elements in Burmese Buddhism London New York Oxford University Press 1962 External links EditFolk Elements in Burmese Buddhism Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mythical creatures in Burmese folklore amp oldid 1125925479, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
