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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1906.
In the festival of this Nat the medium wears a skirt, fringed with a border of foreign manufacture, a long court-dress, a white shawl, and a scarf embroidered with gold on the head. Holding a rosary she chaunts an ode. Then holding a fan in the right hand, she walks to and fro.
30.
Bayinma Shinmingaung Nat.
He was known as King Kyizó, son of King Kyaungbyû. While chasing a deer in the Nyuttaa woods of Chindwin, he was accidentally shot with an arrow by a hunter. He died and became a Nat.
In holding a vessel in his honour, the medium is armed with a bow and arrows, with which he takes aim in all directions. He is dressed in the same way as the medium of the Taung-ngû Mingaung Nat. Aiming with his bow in all directions, he chaunts an ode and dances. In the ode he says that he was killed with an arrow shot from his own bow, which broke. He exhorts other hunters to examine their bows before using them, lest they should meet with a similar fate.
31. Min Sitha Nat.
He was King Alaungsithù, the builder of the Shwêgügyi Pagoda in Pagân. He is also said to have been Sithû, Prince of Kûkhàn, and elder brother of King Kyawzwa.
In the festival to this Nat the medium is dressed in the same way as in that of the Taung-ngû Mingaung Nat. Holding up both his hands as if in the act of worshipping, he holds a fan and a sword at the inner bend of the elbow. Then bowing three times be dances and chaunts an ode, in which he calls himself Alaungsitbû and speaks of his voyage in search of Mount Meru. He adds that there were great portents at his birth, which foretold the greatness of his power.
32. Min Kyawzwa Nat.
King Thênzi of Pagán had three sons: Sithû and Kyawzwâ by the Northern Queen, and Shwêlaung by the Southern Queen. In preference to the first two sons, he desired the succession to devolve on the third, and bauished the elder princes to Taungnyô Lèma. As their strength and valour became more and more bruited abroad, he ordered them to change their residence. They went to Taung-ngû [Tonghoo], whence they returned after fighting the Karens. On reaching Kûkhan, which they founded, they constructed a canal. As a proof of their work, there are two villages which bear the names of Myaungdûbauk and Myaungdû-ywâ. Suspecting his brother's loyalty Sitha put Kyawzwâ to death on the pretext of having failed to conduct the flow of water in the canal. Kyawzwa then became a Nat, and, in revenge, possessed and killed his brother Sithû, who also became a Nat.
It is also said that Minyè Kyawzwa, the son of King Mingaung of Ava, and governor of Pakhân, also became a Nat in Pakhân, when he was killed at Dalla. In support of this belief in Pakhân, there are still shown a monastery founded by him, and a temple dedicated to him.
Besides, in the month of Nayôn (June) every year, in honour of the Nat lamps are lighted and cock-fighting is held in the public streets.
Another legend says that Kyawzwa was the youngest brother of the four ministers of King Alaungsithû, who gave him in marriage to one Bômè, a girl of Pôpâ, the daughter of a toddydrawer. While living with Bômè at Pôpâ, he died of excessive drinking. He then became a Nat. He himself was a native of Kuni village, east of Pakhân.
In the festival to this Nat the medium is dressed in a scarlet paso, with one end round the neck, and a scarlet turban. He then mimics a cock-fight, amuses himself with fireworks, and slaps his arms as Burmese boxers do. He chaunts an ode, in which he confirms the last legend about himself.
