My First Hero: Anawrahta

Dr Maung Maung Nyo


(A Gold Votary, Pagan)

Every one has a hero
It’s the norm for young and old
One may have more as one grows
I have more as I’m old.

(A Panorama of Pagan with Shwezigon Temple in Central

Background)

Anawarahta is the first among my heroes
He unified all the Burmese to have a go
He led them to victory after victory or so
He built the First United Burma for our soul.

(Old City Wall and Moat, Pagan)

We can see his footprints wherever we go
From Bhamo to Mergui in longitude
From east Salween to west Vesali in latitude
Pagodas, votices, inscriptions, forts bear his score.

(Tharapa Gate, still extant, Pagan)

He conquered more than Burma
He had been to Dali, Yunnan, China
Dali still has the marks of his adventure
West Gate, Er-hai Lake still stand to bear witness there.

(Dali, Yunnan showing Three Pagodas and Er-hai Lake )

He had exchanged envoys with Sri Lanka
There was regular flow of people and Sangha
He thwarted the westward expansion of Khmer
His fame and power spread far and wide in the area.

(West Gate of Dali, Yunnan, China)

He was the envy of later kings
They cited his forays and fighting
In conquering and counting the wins
Only the next two could emulate him
Bayinnaung and Alaungpaya Burmese kings,
Two of the next heroes in my listing.

(Shwezigon Pagoda, Nyaung-U)

Why was he great?
He established a Burmese State
By uniting all unruly races into shape
They obeyed him fast in fulfilling his fate;

(Pre-Anawrahta Pagan and Contemporary Empires)

For a new religion to make their lives great
Forgetting petty regionalisms that dominate ;
Later kings used his name in their title templates
Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahtar was one great
Mink Khaung Nawrahta was another general that made.

(Map of Modern Burma)

I just think simply
If not for him Burma would not be
It would have ceased existing
As it would be deprived of its identity;
I therefore thank him, admire him
I regard him as first in my listing
He was the first among equals
He’s my First Hero un-parallel, un-compared!

(Clay Votice of Anawrahta)

Dr Maung Maung Nyo
14.11.2008 (original)