Shwe Hpyin Naungdaw ( ; ), also called Shwe Hpyin Gyi ( ) or Min Gyi ( ), is one of the 37 nats in the official pantheon of Burmese nats. He is the elder brother of

Shwe Hpyin Nyidaw Shwe Hpyin Nyidaw (, ; ), also called Shwe Hpyin Nge (, ) or Min Lay (, ), is one of the 37 nats in the official pantheon of Burmese nats. He and his brother Shwe Hpyin Naungdaw are the subject of Myanmar's largest Nat festival- the six-day an ...

and the son of Popa Medaw, another ''nat''. He and his brother

are the subject of Myanmar's largest Nat festival- the six-day annual Taungbyone festival. Worshippers of this ''nat'' avoid consumption of

pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry, husbandry dating back to 8000–9000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooke ...

, as Shwe Hpyin Gyi's father, Byatta, is believed to have been an

Indian Muslim Islam is India's Religion in India, second-largest religion, with 14.2% of the country's population, or approximately 172.2 million people, identifying as adherents of Islam in a 2011 census. India also has the Islam by country, third-larg ...

Legend

The Shwe Hpyin Brothers served under King

Anawrahta Anawrahta Minsaw (, ; 11 May 1014 – 11 April 1077) was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that ...

as warriors and as agents infiltrating the enemy's inner circle. According to legend, they successfully infiltrated the Chinese King of Gandalaraj Utibua's bodyguards to draw three lines with white lime on the king's body and write the threatening message on the wall, scaring the Chinese into peace and to send a tooth relic of the Buddha to Bagan. They were killed for neglecting their duty to provide a brick each thus leaving gaps in Taungbyone Pagoda, which was built by King Anawrahta. After death, the brothers became spirits and manifested themselves in front of King Anawrahta, requesting ''apaing-za'' (possession) of territory. Responding to their plea, King Anawrahta granted them possession of

Taungbyon Taungbyon is a village in Madaya Township of Mandalay Region, Myanmar. It is known as the site of the Taungbyone Festival, which is the largest and best-known '' nat'' festival in Myanmar. During most of the year, it is a small village, but durin ...

Worship

They are portrayed on pedestals, one lying down and the other upright with his sword shouldered arrogantly. The largest Nat festival in Myanmar is the Taungbyone Festival, celebrated annually for six days in Taungbyone village near Mandalay. The festival pays tribute to the Shwe Hpyin brothers. Thousands of festive worshippers gather for the event, engaging in dance with spirit mediums, enjoying roadside snacks, and shopping for souvenirs. Muslims in the area also celebrate the memory of the brothers, but do not partake in the worship and hold their celebration on a different date to the Taungbyone festival.

References

{{Burmese nats *25 Executed Burmese people Deified Burmese people 11th-century Burmese people Burmese people of Indian descent