Shin Raá¹Âá¹ÂhasÃÂra (; 1468âÂÂ1529 (1530) was a Buddhist monk and prominent classical poet during the Ava Kingdom, known for his pyo poetry. His 1523 Kogan Pyo () based on the HatthipÃÂla JÃÂtaka, is among the most widely known pyo in modern-day Myanmar, and is taught in Burmese schools. His Buridat Pyo (; based on the BhÃ
«ridatta JÃÂtaka) is also considered an exemplar of the medieval literary style, is considered a masterpiece of Burmese classical poetry. Raá¹Âá¹ÂhasÃÂra also composed metrical versions of other Jataka tales, including the Saá¹ÂvarajÃÂtaka, besides a number of other poems.
Despite his poetic contributions, Burmese chroniclers excluded him from the succession of elders (thera), because he not only wrote verse, but also recited and instructed pupils in the art of recitation, which was considered a transgression of the Vinaya, specifically the rules governing singing and dancing.
Background
Raá¹Âá¹ÂhasÃÂra was born on 1468 in Ava Kingdom and growing up in royal palace of Ava. Descended from royal lineage, Raá¹Âá¹ÂhasÃÂra was the son of DhammapÃÂla, a minister, a nephew of Queen Shin Sawbu; his mother was the great-granddaughter of Thado Minbya, the founder of the Kingdom of Ava.
He taught astrology, poetry and Pali under a Buddhist monk, VaracakkapÃÂla () and Thiho (Sri Lanka) Sayadaw (). He began writing poems at the age of 12. At 16, he wrote Buridat Pyo (). His writer rival is Shin Maha Silavamsa ().
A prolific writer, he wrote many pyo, mawgun () and other types of poems during his lifetime. His last work was Thanwara Pyo (), based on the Saá¹ÂvarajÃÂtaka. Raá¹Âá¹ÂhasÃÂra died in 1529 at the age of 61.
Works
Raá¹Âá¹ÂhasÃÂra was a prolific writer, composing at least 17 works throughout his lifetime, including:
- CatudhammasÃÂra Pyo (áÂÂ
áÂÂá¯áÂÂáÂÂá¹áÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂáÂȇÂÂá¯á·)
- GambhësÃÂra Pyo (áÂÂáÂÂá¹áÂÂá®áÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂáÂȇÂÂá¯á·)
- BhÃ
«ridat Zatpaung Pyo (áÂÂá°áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂá‡ÂÂáºáÂÂá±á«áÂÂáºá¸áÂÂáÂȇÂÂá¯á·)
- BhÃ
«ridhÃÂt Linkagyi (áÂÂá°áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂáºáÂÂáÂÂáºá¹áÂÂá‡ÂÂá¼á®á¸) first pyo (at the age of 16)
- Saá¹Âvara Pyo (áÂÂá¶áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂȇÂÂá¯á·) last pyo (final)
- Pondaungnaing Mawgun (áÂÂá¯á¶áÂÂá±á‡ÂÂáºáÂÂáÂÂá¯áÂÂáºáÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá½áÂÂáºá¸)
- Record of the Establishment of RatanÃÂpÃ
«ra City (áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂá°áÂÂáÂÂá¼áÂÂá¯á·áÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá½áÂÂáºá¸)
- MitthilàLake Bwe Mawgun (áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂá¹áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá½á²á·áÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá½áÂÂáºá¸)
- Record of the Dada-u Mingala Zedi (áÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂᇸá¦á¸áÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá½áÂÂáºá¸)
- Yeyitet Mawgun (áÂÂá²áÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá½áÂÂáºá¸)
- Yadu Kabyamya Taungtetun Yadu (áÂÂáÂÂá¯áÂÂáÂÂáÂȇ‡ÂÂáÂȇ‡¸ áÂÂá±á‡ÂÂá·áºáÂÂá²áÂÂá½áÂÂá·áºáÂÂáÂÂá¯)
- Wutyonkyaung bwe Mawgun (áÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂá¯á¶áÂÂáÂȇ±á‡ÂÂáºá¸áÂÂá½á²á·áÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá½áÂÂáºá¸)
- Hsommasa Linka (áÂÂá¯áÂÂá¹áÂÂáÂÂ
á‡ÂÂáÂÂáºá¹áÂÂá¬)
- Letthittaungta (áÂÂáÂÂáºáÂÂáÂÂ
áºáÂÂá±á‡ÂÂáºáÂÂá‡ÂÂá¯áÂÂá¹áÂÂáÂÂ
á¬)
- RÃÂjavasasatë Khanpaikson Yadu (áÂÂá‡ÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂá®áÂÂáÂÂáºá¸áÂÂáÂÂá¯áÂÂáºáÂÂ
á¯á¶áÂÂáÂÂá¯)
- Shweset Tawthwa Tawla (áÂÂá½á¾á±áÂÂ
áÂÂáºáÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂá½á‡¸áÂÂá±á‡ºáÂÂᇸ)
- Homily to Minkhaung II (áÂÂá¯áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáºá¸áÂÂá±á«áÂÂáºáÂÂá¶áÂÂá½áÂÂáºá¸áÂÂá±áÂÂá¹áÂÂá‡ÂÂ
á¬)
References
See also