Mount Popa
Mount Popa of Bagan is one of the special mountains in Myanmar. It is also a must-go place when people come to visit Myanmar. The mount is a crater of an extinct volcano perched by a sacred monastery, in which believed to be home of the most powerful Nats and four of these Buddhist spirits worshiped by the Burmese. From a distant view, the mountain stands distinguishably in the foggy forests with its glistening golden crown, which is the sacred monastery, which is entirely surrounded by sheer cliff faces and offers stunning views of the surrounding plains and Mount Popa itself.
Home of the 37 most important Nat spirits
Mount Popa is the most important site in Burma for Nat pilgrimage. Nats have been worshipped on the mountain for at least a thousand years. The Nats (or divine souls) are spirits who have been worshipped all over Burma for many centuries.
They were probably worshipped before the arrival of Buddhism. Since then Buddhism and Nat worshipping have gradually merged over the centuries.
Ancient traditions and animist beliefs still play an important role in Burmese daily life. People come to the shrines to make offerings, including food. Many pilgrims from all over Burma visit Mount Popa to pay homage to the Nats, especially during the full moon festivals of Nayon and Nadaw.
Mount Popa’s Taungkalat Monastery
The most outstanding feature of the mountain is that it is home to the famous monastery of Taungkalat in which 37 nats have been enshrined.
At the base of the monastery, there are a lot of teahouses and restaurants which serve drinks and Myanmar food. From the base of the volcanic outcrop, you can take 777 steps of stair to the top of the monastery to be awarded a stunning panorama of surroundings and the mountain itself. Along the way to the top, visitors also have chance to see numerous cute monkeys playing around and expecting treats.
It can be said that the image of these monkeys is now extremely familiar with the Mount Popa, and is the uniqueness of this sacred mountain.
Legends of Mount Popa
Many legends are associated with this mountain including its dubious creation from a great earthquake and the mountain erupted out of the ground in 442 BC. Mount Popa is considered the abode of Burma's most powerful Nats and as such is the most important Nat worship center. It has therefore been called Burma's Mount Olympus.
One legend tells about brother and sister MinMahagiri (Great Mountain) nats, from the kingdom of Tagaung at the upper reaches of the Irrawaddy, who sought refuge from King Thaylekyaung of Bagan (344-387). Their wish was granted and they were enshrined on Mt Popa.
Another legend tells about Popa Medaw (Royal Mother of Popa), who according to legend was a flower-eating ogress called Me Wunna; she lived at Mount Popa. She fell in love with Byatta, whose royal duty was to gather flowers from Popa for King Anawrahta of Bagan (1044–1077).
Byatta was executed for disobeying the king who disapproved of the liaison, and their sons were later taken away to the palace. Me Wunna died of a broken heart and, like Byatta, became a nat. Their sons also became heroes in the king's service but were later executed for neglecting their duty during the
construction of a pagoda at Taungbyone near Mandalay. They too became powerful nats but they remained in Taungbyone.
Mount Popa Nat Festival
Myanmar travel is famous for its numerous festivals, including the Mount Popa Nat Festival taking place in March to celebrate two brothers. There is another festival called Mahagiri Nat Festival taking place in December to honor brother and sister nats.
At festival season, the mountain attracts a huge number of Burmese pilgrims to visit. Besides, as Myanmar new-year comes in December and April, numerous local people from the foot of the mountain hike in massive number
According to Burmese superstition, it is impossible for anyone on the mountain to wear red, back or green, or to take meat along them because it is considered to offend the resident nats.