Shin Arahan visit to Pagan

According to the tradition, Shin Arahan was a Theravada Buddhist monk from Thaton Kingdom. (His origins are unclear. The Burmese chronicles report that Shin Arahan was born of a Brahmin’s virgin wife. He is generally believed to be of Mon descent though when asked, he did not say that he was Mon; instead he replied that he was of the race of Buddha and that he followed Buddha’s dhamma.)

At 22, he left for the northern kingdom of Pagan because was dissatisfied with the decaying state of Theravada Buddhism, and an increasing influence of Hinduism at Thaton. The Mon chronicles corroborate the story, hinting that King Manuha of Thaton was reprehensible for making a compromise with Hinduism. At Pagan, the young monk met the king of Pagan, Anawrahta, and converted him to Theravada Buddhism from his native Ari Buddhism. The king had been dissatisfied with the state of Buddhism at Pagan. He considered the Ari monks, who ate evening meals, drank liquor, presided over animal sacrifices, and enjoyed a form of ius primae noctis, depraved.

It turned out to be a perfect partnership. Shin Arahan found in Anawrahta a powerful monarch that could help implement his dream of purifying the religion. Anawrahta found in Theravada Buddhism, a substitute to break the power of the clergy, and in Shin Arahan, a guide who could help him accomplish it.

More on the Shin Arahan cruise website http://www.shinarahancruises.com/stories/shinarahanvisittopagan