Always Remember My Grandmother…. With Pagoda Legends!

I was surely aware that we were grown up with Pagoda Legends. My
grandmother always told the stories when we were young. She told us
not only fairy tales but also the Pagoda Legends of Burma.
Burma is the land of pagodas. We will find pagodas everywhere we go.
The great Shwedagon in Rangoon like golden and towering pagoda
situated in Shwedagon Pagoda road. To start trip visiting pagodas, one
could start with the Shwedagon, the majestic shining stupa in Rangoon.
My grandmother said 'Pagodas are not lifeless monuments.' She believed
pagodas play a memorable part in the life of Burmese Buddhist.
While we were visiting Shwedagon Pagoda with our grandmother holding
her hands on each side (we – her beloved twins) under the cool shelter
of the gabled roof, we slowly ascended the stairway on the northern
side of the pagoda. We easily noticed the huge sculptured likeness of
Nga Moe Yeik the Crocodile which sketched full length on the
balustrade. We enjoyed riding on its back and loved to put our hands
into the immense jaws.
My grandmother said this crocodile was not an ordinary crocodile. He
was a kinsman to Burmese King Ukkalapa, founder of the kingdom of
Dagon(now Rangoon). This giant and terrible crocodile played the
important role in the Shwedagon pagoda legends. We were surprised to
hear this story. Then we asked her many curious questions and our
grandmother answered it patiently. She was happy to answer our
questions and we were excited to hear it very much. Before we reached
the top of the hill where a smooth tiled platform opened out under the
sky, where the great stupa stood, we were already told a part of the
story of legend of Shwedagon pagoda. She continued the legends by
pointing the figures of spirits, dragons and orgres which stood
everywhere on the pagoda platform.
When we were young, we all together travelled many parts of Burma
including Mandalay, Pathein, Sitkaing, Monywa, etc. (old photo ->
(above) – the family photo in Monywa- middle part of Burma) We felt
same excitement wherever we visited the pagodas everywhere . We were
happy finding questions and our grandmother loved to tell the stories
of pagodas. My grandmother always collected information about pagoda
legends wherever we reached these towns. She talked with older people,
villagers and asked the legends of pagodas of the places. Some pagoda
legends were written in Burmese language. Some were handed down from
generation to generation. Her non-Burmese friends wished her to write
down the stories into English. My grandmother one day compiled them
and put them into English. Her book named 'A Wonderland of Burmese
Legends.' was appeared in 1984 from Tamarind Press, Bangkok, Thailand.
In the book, there were fantastic Pagoda Legends of Burma.
My grandmother passed away in 2st January of 1999. Although she passed
away 11 years ago, I never forget her with many memories. The pagodas
and Burmese people are always together. I always remembered her with
the pagoda legends. It was wonderful, remembering my grandmother with
remarkable memoirs!
(photo –> above –> family photo - our grandparents, our parents and
we(twins) on the front travelled to Monywa in 1974.
The native of my

-->grandfather was Monywa, and my granmother, Sitkaing.)