Learn As You Travel In Burma: The Burmese Zodiac

A land full of fascinating and beautiful locations to travel in

, Burma is equally rich in interesting traditions; those visitors who take an active interest in the country around them can learn much from the people they meet on their travels. One set of traditions revolves around the Burmese Zodiac, which is unlike any other zodiac system in the world. Based on a branch of Hindu astrology, it has links with Indian astrological beliefs, as well as those in other Southeast Asian countries, but is also uniquely Burmese. Those who learn a little about the zodiac, its symbols and its meanings, may be able to spot references to them in the art and architecture of the countrys religious sites, so read on for an introduction.

The Number Eight

If those who travel in Burma notice a preference for the number eight, this is not without reason. Eight is considered the most important number in Burmese cosmology, representing harmony in the cosmos. According to this tradition, there are eight cosmic bodies that exert influence over our lives, including the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and Rahu a celestial energy that connects the Sun, Moon and Earth. Each of these is connected to an animal sign, and to a day of the week. To fit the rule of eight to a seven-day week, Wednesday is counted in Burmese astrological tradition as two distinct twelve-hour days. Unlike most other systems, in which a persons zodiac sign depends chiefly on the year or month of their birth, in Burma it depends on which day of the week they were born on.

The Zodiac Animals

Those who plan to travel in Burma may be interested in finding out what planet and personality traits are associated with their Burmese astrological sign. They are as follows: for those born on Sunday, the Garuda (a mythical man-bird), ruled by the Sun, and said to be kind and tenacious; Monday, the tiger, ruled by the Moon, intelligent and responsible; Tuesday, the lion, ruled by Mars, noble and determined; Wednesday (before noon), a tusked elephant, ruled by Mercury, spontaneous and enthusiastic; Wednesday (after noon), a tuskless elephant, ruled by Rahu, active and independent; Thursday, the rat, ruled by Jupiter, clever and resourceful; Friday, the guinea pig, ruled by Venus, artistic and kind; Saturday, the Naga (serpent/dragon), ruled by Saturn, self-reliant and understanding.

Zodiac Iconography

No matter where you travel in Burma, references to the zodiac can be found by those who look for them. Shwedagon Pagoda, for example, contains eight planetary posts, or shrines dedicated to a particular planet, containing a Buddha image and a representation of the planets corresponding animal. Devotees can visit the post that represents their day of birth and offer flowers, pour water, and pray for good fortune.

by: Jude Limburn Turner

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