Bhikkhu Sumanapal
(The
Rakhine people or Arakanese people are a Southeast Asian ethnic group. We do
not have any particular data about their number; most probably they constitute
5.53% or more of Myanmer's total population.) They also dwell in Bangladesh
particularly in Chittagong and Barishal Division. We can also find Rakhain
people in Tripura. In North East India Arakanese people are known as
Maghs.
(The
Rakhain people are predominantly Tharavada Buddhists. Due to its close
proximity with the Indian subcontinent Arakense culture shows a very strong
Indian influence. The Arakanese language is closely connected with Burmese
language.
The
ancient city of Dhanyawadi is now completely in ruins. During the period
580 B.C.to 326 A.D.
the Buddha makes his first appearance in Dhanyawadi. The period During the
reign of King Nga Tone Mun the civilization Dhanyawadi reached its peak. It was
at the zenith of its glory and had trade relation with many foreign
countries.
In
Arakan there were three Golden Maruk periods. The first one started in the year
1430 and lasted till 1530, the second started in the year 1531 and lasted upto
1638 and the final period started in 1638 and continued till 1784. The second
golden period in which Rakhain attained supremacy in the field of national
integration and became the supreme in the adjoining areas.
In
Marak U we find many archaeological remains such as inscriptions, Buddha
images, and his footprints, and great pagodas, and these remind us of the Gupta
age of India. All these things exerted a great spiritual influence in the
people of that country.
Among
the historical relics of that period we may mention coins, inscriptions, Buddha
image etc..
In
Arakanese coins we find the image of the ruler on one side and the logo of the
sun and the moon on the other. One such coin made during the reign of king Niti
chandra in 8th century can be seen in British Museum.
The.famous
archaeologist Forchhammer discovered a stone inscription written in Nagari
character.
It
was a hilly region and according to Burmese tradition the Buddha himself had
visited the place some 2500 years ago. Apart from this archeologists have also
discovered a Buddha image in the dharma chakra mudra, relef sculpture made in
4th century A.D, red sandstone slabs, etc.
From
these testimonies it is conclusively proved that Buddhism entered Burma in the
ancient period.
It
was King Dvan Chandra who founded the city of Vesali, during 327 A.D. King Dvan
Chandra carved a Buddha image in 327A D and on it a Pali incription can be
found. If it is translated into English it will be like this, "Of these
dhammas which arise from cause/ The Tathagata has declared causes/ Lord Buddha
preached about the causes and that which is the ceasing of them /And that which
is the ceasing of them, Nirawada Thitesa/ This the great ascetic declares. This
verse shows that when it was composed theravada Buddhism was at its zenith in
Burma."
There
were also many stone inscriptions in different scripts and languages. Scholars
like Dr E.H.Johnston have made an analysis in which we are provided with a list
of kings. Those many of the pagodas and inscriptions are now in ruins they
amply prove that Buddhism in those days was highly popular among the masses in
Burma.
Now
we can discuss the Buddhist Councils that took place in Rakhain. It happened in
638 under the joint venture of Ceylon and Rakhain. The council was organized by
king Dhamnawizaya who was its chief patron. Hundreds of monks from Ceylon and
Rakhain took part in the council.
To
commemorate the occasion pagodas, statues and inscriptions were made, the
Tripitaka was inscribed. Another Budhist Council was organized by King Mim Yin
Phru in the year 847 A.D The Council was attended by 800 arhats. The practice
and development of Buddhism was never hampered and there was no lack of royal
patronage.
In
architectural style this region shows influence of India, particularly that of
east India. Dr. Forchhammer claims that "in durability, architectural
skill, and ornamentation the Maruk.U temples far surpass those on the banks of
Arrawaddy".
The
Vesali kings started making coins around the fifth century A.D. On one side of
the coin we find the name of the ruler during whose rule the coins were made
and on the other side we find inscriptions written in Persian and Nagari
language.
Various
foreign powers like the Mongols, Mon, Bamar and Poruguese invaded this country.
In the year1784 the crown prince of the Konbaung dynasty attacked western Yoma
(Arakan Mountains) and then annexed Rakhaine. The Rakhain people fought for
decades and their leader was Nga ThannDe and Chin Byan.
In
the year 1826 Rakhine was annexed by the British and Sittwe or Akyab became its
new capital. In 1852 Rakhain became a part of lower Burma. Some monks like U
Ottama and U Seinda became the leaders in the freedom struggle against the
British.
During
the Second World War Arakan Defence force turned to the allies and fought
against the Japanese. After became independent Rakhine was made a division
within the Union of Burma.)
Though
in 1974 the Ne Wins government gave Rakhine Division state status it was
useless in effect. We find a group of Rakhain people living in the coastal
areas like Cox's Bazar, Borguna, and Patuakhali. Before the two countries
Myanmar and Bangladesh were formed they had migrated from Myanmar to
Bangladesh. In 2020 there are 16000 members in their community.
History
says that the Rakhains migrated from Myanmar during the eighteenth century and
Cox's Bazar and Patuakhali district. When Arakan was annexed by Burma in 1784
the refugees went to Cox Bazar for shelter. The place received its name from
Captain Hiram Cox who was entrusted with the task of allotting land to the
refugees. The Rakhain people and the local Bengali population communicate
in a very unique dialect. The Rakhains managed to keep intact their culture,
religion, and language to a great extent. Schools imparting instructions in
Rakhain language used to exist in that area till the year 1998 but they had to
be closed down due to lack of funds.
Myanmar
is predominantly Buddhist country where the faith of the Buddha is practised by
nearly 90% of the population. Most of the citizens of the country belong to the
Theravada tradition. Various tribes like the dominant Bamar people, Shan,
Rakhain, Mon, Karen, and Chinese are well integrated into Burmese society.
Among them the Rakhains are a South East Asian ethnic group in the country who form the majority community along the coastal region of
present day Rakhaine state (formerly officially called Arakan.) (The Arakains
are approximately 5.53% of the total population of Myanmar but we cannot be
certain as there is no accurate census figure. Rakhaines are among the four
principal ethnic groups of Burma and they claim to be one of the earliest
groups who started following the ideals of the Buddha in South East Asia. Though Rakhaine culture is predominantly
Buddhist it shows some Indian elements because it is not very far from the
Indian subcontinent. The music, literature and culture of Rakhaine are strongly
influenced by their Indian counterparts. The people of Rakhaine practise
Theravada Buddhism like most other tribes in Myanmar along with nat worship
which means worshipping spirits that are believed to be in control of the
worldly affairs of the people.
For
the devout Buddhists of Rakhaine as well as for the Buddhists of Myanmar there
are two very popular practices, namely merit making, and Vipassana. For the
Buddhists of Rakhaine the most common path adopted is the path of merit making.
Merit making chiefly consists of the following five
precepts and doing good deeds like charity and dana. The main objective of
these acts is to ensure rebirth in a favourable condition. On the other hand
Vipassana meditation which became popular around the early twentieth century.
According to popular belief, by participating in vipassana meditation
enlightenment can be attained.
Like
the Buddhist of the other parts of the country the Buddhists of Rakhain are
devout in their belief and practice and the influence of this religion is all
pervasive over there. It was king Anawratha who founded first Burmese empire in
the 11th century. He took significant steps for the simplification
of the spiritual and religious beliefs of the country. But he was unable to get
rid of the animistic ideas held fast by his countrymen and as a result of it
the worship of countless gods and goddesses or nats is still continuing among
the masses. We can find the image of at least one nat in every Burmese Buddhist
temple.
The
efforts of the missionary monk Shin Arahan is primarily responsible for the
establishment of Buddhism as the state religion. His achievement becomes more
creditable when we consider the fact that it was the period in which it was
declining in other parts of Asia. Like the Buddhists of the other parts of
Myanmar, the Buddhist of Rakhaine, monks and householder alike, recites three
times a day, ‘The Three Jewels’ or the Triratna or in other words taking refuge
to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. The
formula of the triple gem offers solace and peace to the Buddhists, this
recitation gives them strength. Besides, there is also the understanding of the
Four Noble Truths which teaches them the following: 1.There is always an
element of suffering in life. 2. Desire is the cause of suffering 3. If we can
give up desire and attachment all our suffering will come to an end. 4. If we
can follow the Noble Eight Fold Path all our suffering will come to an
end. By Noble Eight Fold Path we mean
right view, right intent, right conduct, right speech, right livelihood, right
endeavour, right mindfulness, and right meditation. These Eight Noble means can be divided into three categories namely wisdom,
morality and mental discipline. Right view and right intent come under the
category of wisdom, speech, conduct or action and livelihood are included
within morality, and endeavour, mindfulness and meditation are the qualities
which originate from mental discipline.
Now
we can mention some Buddhist terms that are used in Rakhaine
Gyo
daing: Small Buddha shrines found in temples.
Kyaung:
A Buddhist monastery
Pagoda:
A Burmese Buddhist temple.
Parabaik:
folded palm leaf manuscript
Paya:
generic form of a Buddhist temple
Pahto:
another word for a temple generally referred to the hollow Indian style temples
(with minor shrines as opposed to temples constructed around a solid stupa.
Pongyi:
a Buddhist monk. Pyat -that multi roofed pavilions, usually made of wood,
Samsara:
cycle of birth and death (rebirth)
Sayadaw:
Tazaung:
A Buddhist shrine
Thabeik:
Thilashin:
a Buddhist nun
Zedi:
a stupa
The
monks provide the people of Rakhaine the way to salvation by playing a model
for them. Most of them are novices or students who become monks only for a
stipulated period of time. The monks has to vow for abandoning all material
possessions except the following items: three robes, a
razor for shaving, a needle for sewing, a strainer to ensure that no living
being is swallowed , a belt, an arms bowl. Secondly, the monk takes the vow not
to kill any living being or to injure anyone. Finally, the monk has to observe
complete sexual celibacy throughout his life. The monk makes his livelihood
through begging from door to door. The food collected from house to house is
the only source of food for the monk.
A
Buddhist is not considered civilized until and unless he undergoes the ceremony
shin-pyu which is the ceremony by which he is initiated into the order
of the monks. Here the Buddha is his ideal because he left his family in search
of spiritual life and enlightenment. Before the night of shin-pyu a grand feast
is organized in which all the monks of the monastery as well as the young boy
participates. In the weeks before the ceremonies, the boy would have been
familiarized with the language and behaviour befitting a monk. During the
initiation ceremony the novice prostrates himself three times, and then he is
accepted in the community that originated with the Buddha. During his time in
the monastery, his parents must address him in honorific terms. He
will call them Upasaka-Upasika, which is not
applicable to his fellow monks in the order.
