U Shin Gyi statue at the Kyauktan Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda, seated next to a tiger.

U Shin Gyi (Burmese: ဦးရှင်ကြီး, IPA: [ú ʃɪ̀ɰ̃ dʑí] or ရေငံပိုင်ဦးရှင်းကြီး, IPA: [jèŋàɰ̃ pàiɰ̃ ú ʃɪ̀ɰ̃ dʑí]; also Lord of the Sea or Conqueror of the Salty Sea) is a Burmese nat commonly venerated in the Ayeyarwady Delta region, as he is widely believed to be a benevolent guardian spirit of waterways.[1] He is commonly depicted next to a tiger and crocodile, and is often holding a Burmese harp, as he was originally a harpist from Kasin village in Bago. According to one version of his story, while on an expedition to find food, U Shin Gyi and fellow lumberjacks landed on Meinmahla Island, and his harp-playing enticed two nat sisters, who did not allow the boat to depart the island until they were appeased. U Shin Gyi allowed himself to drown, pleasing the spirits, and in return he became a nat.[2][3] A nat festival is held in his honor every March.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Sadan, Mandy (2005). Skidmore, Monique (ed.). Burma at the turn of the twenty-first century. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaiʻi Press. pp. 90–111. ISBN 9780824828974.
  2. ↑ "Back ground (history of NAT spirit worship)". S.S.T (Myanmar) Co. Ltd. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009.
  3. ↑ "The Spirit Worship in Myanmar". ေ၀ယံဘုန္း. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/myanmartimes/no52/timeout_4-1.htm%5B%5D
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