Hidden story of Burma - Kaw Hmu Funding Support

Tour guides must know something of everything and everything of something like journalists. If not, he can’t manage his clients which is a kind of arts. We usually deal with scholars and good travelers who had been many places around the World. Burmese tour guides are reluctant to manage the jewish tourist because they are very smart and courage. They read and learn about their trip before they set off. If their tour guide is weak in knowledge or language ,he must go back home. As the jewish seeks for the knowledge everywhere just like beggar so that they know even in unfamiliar facts in Burma. Really amazing.

Ten years ago, a jewish group came to Burma.

Photography by to Pro Tourist — Photography by Pro Tourist

Ten years ago, a jewish group came to Burma. Their special request was to visit Pashwer Buddha’s relic in Mandalay which is at U Khanti monastery at the foot of Mandalay hill next to Hill Resort hotel. The monastery campus is quite big. The Buddha’s collar bone relic is in the gold casket that is decorated with jewellery such as diamonds , rubies and sapphires. The senior monk keeps it in the safety box because it is valuable . The monk is very friendly. He warmly welcome us and showed us the relic. It was discovered by the Indian archaeological department in Pachewer , 1908. In those days, Pachwer was under India that is in Pakistan now. When the India archaeologists discovered, the relic was in the gold casket but they are not so interested in the relic so they gave to Burma but they didn’t give gold casket.

When the Buddha’s relic arrived Burma.

When the Buddha’s relic arrived Burma , it was displayed at the famous hermit U Khanti’s monastery in Mandalay. There is a small museum there, besìdes the relic where a sword is very interesting. The senior monk told me that it is ” Bo Chan’s sword “. To be honest, I haven’t heard Bo Chan in Burmese history. Actually, he was a hero for British in the severe battle in Gaza city in middle east. His story is very interesting.

Maung Chan, Maung Pya and Maung Gyi were servants at the time of King Thibaw in Mandalay.

Maung Chan, Maung Pya and Maung Gyi were servants at the time of King Thibaw in Mandalay. They lit the oil lamps in the palace. They all were in hard luck when King Thibaw was exiled to India, they lost job.

They were very unhappy and angry with the British. They all made up their mind to fight against with the British but the need to know about military knowledge and training. That’s why they joined the British army in Mandalay. Their idea was they would revolt against British after their training but the British were cleverer.

They three were sent to Gaza in Palestine

They three were sent to Gaza in Palestine, middle east where they fought for the British. Maung Chan showed his ability in the battle. He was award a sword and 38 gold coins. His son donated this sword to the museum.

When U Khanti was alive , he lived in this monastery. He is the most popular hermit in Burma. He did a lot of great jobs around the country for buddhism. He supervised and built the stairs-ways from the foot to the top of Mandalay hill, Hinthar Gone to Shwe Madaw in Bago, Mt. Popa, Shwe Settaw in Leking and Mawlamyaing as well. The most notable one is more than three thousand stone encryptions of Buddhist bible around Sandamuni pagoda near Mandalay hill.

Some people even the British officials had doubt about hermit U Khanti how to earn this big amount of money. One day the British police officer George Scott came to U Khanti’s monastery and asked how to get gold and money. U Khanti said that, I’ll show you how to get but stay away from here for a moment. He asked a boy to bring a tray. Later, placed a tray in front of him, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes and recited the religious verse. At that moments, many people came to him and donated big amount of money and gold, placed in the tray.

When police officer came back, he was so amazed at U Khanti’s ability. That’s why the British government donated free tickets for bus, train and boat across the country. Not only the British but also a jewish man called Mr.Shaman met U Khanti and asked his cap for souvenir. The hermit gave him. Nowadays it is in Museum Five Continents, Munich, Germany. Whenever you are in Munich, please drop in on.

See you soon.