SUMMARY | PHOTO GALLERY | NEXT | PREVIOUS | | LEXICON

RELIGION & MYTHOLOGY

 

 

 

  Mwegyi Hnakaung

 

Myanmar

Mwegyi Hnakaung, i.e. ‘Two Large Snakes’, is the name of two large cobras, that are believed to have frequented Mandalay Hill (fig.) in their life, purportedly in order to pay their respect to the Buddha.

 

After their deaths those snakes became spirits, which in Burmese are referred to as nats. The images of the two snakes are today found in a hall on the northern slope of Mandalay Hill, while seated above them are the images of the two nats that they became when they died.

 

  Mwegyi Hnakaung

 

  Mwegyi Hnakaung

 

Pilgrims visiting this shrine on Mandalay Hill pray to these nats, offer gado bwe (fig.), and put banknotes in the mouths of the cobras.

MAP LOCATION DIRECTIONS