Shin Panthagu
Encyclopedia
The Venerable Shin Panthagu was primate of Pagan Kingdom
from 1115 to 1167. The Theravada Buddhist monk, son of the lord of Seinnyet, succeeded his teacher Shin Arahan
as primate. For the next five decades, he was the chief religious adviser to King Alaungsithu
, and helped advise many of Alaungsithu's religious deeds. The notable works were the repairs of the Buddhagaya Temple circa 1118, and the buildings of the Thatbyinnyu Temple
, and the Shwegugyi Temple
.
In 1167, he left Pagan
(Bagan) for Ceylon in protest of Narathu
who killed his father Alaungsithu and his elder brother Min Shin Saw
to seize the throne. Shin Panthagu was especially disgusted by Narathu's treachery because Narathu used Panthagu in his scheme. By Narathu's urging, Shin Panthagu had gone and asked Min Shin Saw, whose troops were massed outside Pagan, to take the throne—with the explicit promise by Narathu that he would not harm Min Shin Saw. Narathu did not harm Min Shin Saw during their initial meet but poisoned his brother later that night.
Shin Panthagu returned to Pagan after Narapatisithu
's ascension to the throne in 1173. Shin Uttarajiva, a renown Mon
monk who had studied in Ceylon, was then the primate but Shin Panthagu was treated as the primate. The elderly Shin Panthagu died soon after.
Pagan Kingdom
The Pagan Kingdom or Pagan Dynasty was the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute the modern-day Burma...
from 1115 to 1167. The Theravada Buddhist monk, son of the lord of Seinnyet, succeeded his teacher Shin Arahan
Shin Arahan
The Venerable Shin Arahan was primate of Pagan Kingdom from 1056 to 1115. The monk, a native of Thaton Kingdom, was the religious adviser to four Pagan kings from Anawrahta to Alaungsithu. He is credited with converting Anawrahta to Theravada Buddhism, and overseeing the subsequent reformation of...
as primate. For the next five decades, he was the chief religious adviser to King Alaungsithu
Alaungsithu
Alaungsithu or Sithu I was king of Pagan Dynasty of Burma from 1113 to 1167. Sithu's reign was a prosperous one in which Pagan was an integral part of in-land and maritime trading networks...
, and helped advise many of Alaungsithu's religious deeds. The notable works were the repairs of the Buddhagaya Temple circa 1118, and the buildings of the Thatbyinnyu Temple
Thatbyinnyu Temple
Thatbyinnyu Temple is a famous temple located in Bagan , built in the mid-12th century during the reign of King Alaungsithu. It is adjacent to Ananda Temple. Thatbyinnyu Temple is shaped like a cross, but is not symmetrical. The temple has two primary storeys, with the seated Buddha image located...
, and the Shwegugyi Temple
Shwegugyi Temple
Shwegugyi Temple is a Buddhist temple built during the reign of King Alaungsithu in 1131. The temple itself is built on an expansive brick foundation 3 metres tall. The temple is known for its arched windows, and its history, which is inscribed in two stone slabs in Pali. According to its...
.
In 1167, he left Pagan
Bagan
Bagan , formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana and also known as Tambadipa or Tassadessa , it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma...
(Bagan) for Ceylon in protest of Narathu
Narathu
Narathu was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1167 to 1170. Narahthu ascended to the throne by murdering his father King Alaungsithu and his elder brother Min Shin Saw. In atonement for his many cruelties, Narathu built the largest of all the Pagan temples, the Dhammayangyi.Narathu's conduct...
who killed his father Alaungsithu and his elder brother Min Shin Saw
Min Shin Saw
Min Shin Saw was the eldest son of King Alaungsithu of Pagan dynasty of Burma . The prince was the heir apparent of the kingdom for a long time until he ran into disagreements with his father, late in his father's life. He was exiled to a place near Ava, a few miles north of Pagan. He turned the...
to seize the throne. Shin Panthagu was especially disgusted by Narathu's treachery because Narathu used Panthagu in his scheme. By Narathu's urging, Shin Panthagu had gone and asked Min Shin Saw, whose troops were massed outside Pagan, to take the throne—with the explicit promise by Narathu that he would not harm Min Shin Saw. Narathu did not harm Min Shin Saw during their initial meet but poisoned his brother later that night.
Shin Panthagu returned to Pagan after Narapatisithu
Narapatisithu
Narapatisithu was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1173 to 1210. He is considered the last important king of Pagan. His peaceful and prosperous reign gave rise to Burmese culture which finally emerged out of the shadows of Mon and Pyu cultures. The Burman leadership of the kingdom was now...
's ascension to the throne in 1173. Shin Uttarajiva, a renown Mon
Mon people
The Mon are an ethnic group from Burma , living mostly in Mon State, Bago Division, the Irrawaddy Delta, and along the southern Thai–Burmese border. One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Burma and Thailand...
monk who had studied in Ceylon, was then the primate but Shin Panthagu was treated as the primate. The elderly Shin Panthagu died soon after.