Ava Kingdom's
Royal Angel Weights
The Five Points necessary were:
1. Angel animals cared for the Buddha, symbolize these animals and their devotions.
2. Buddha had 550 previous lives, some of those lives were animals, symbolize these animals, their story.
3. Symbolize Angels influences over all things such as good luck, prosperity, protection, and nature.
4. The same 7 metals used for Buddhas must be used for Angel Weights.
5. Angel Weights are to be made for three groups people: Royal Family, Doctors, and Public.
The origins of "Angel Weights" in Ratunapura"Ava" began here.
King Swa Saw Ke the second ruler of Ava, was the first to introduce the concept of symbolic disk weights in Ava. However, he proclaimed symbolism not commercial uses prevail. Disk weights had now evolved to be esteemed as holy statues with significant meaning, with new and higher practices under the rule of King Swa Sawke. The origins of Angel Weights had now evolved from India's commercial intents to Pagan's symbolized disk weights to Ava proclaiming; their "Angel Statues" were not just "weights" but the symbol of the heart of Ava's kingdom, its "Angels".
Ratunapuras "Ava" diaries dictate, King Anawrahta of Pagan Period was the first to use flat disk weights in Myanmar that portrayed symbolic angelic characteristics. Explaining during king Anawrahta reign of Pagan, people of India traveled to Myanmar. These Indian traders used a scale tree and flat weights as they bartered with the Burmese. After king Anawrahta observed this Indian practice, he commanded his royal artisans to make flat disk weights, so the kingdom of Pagan could use them as well. This was the origins of symbolic weights in Myanmar. During the Pagan era, only disk weights were used in bartering with scale trees, but always overshadowing the marketplace were the symbolic emblems.
After the demise of Pagan, its peoples as well as Mon, Shan, and others began migrating to the new kingdom of Ava, bringing many cultural understandings and practices. Ava's 1st King of Ava (Thadomingbye Ratunapuras, a blood descendant of Pagan), reigned only 4 years dying leaving no heir to the throne. The kingdoms ministries then appointed King Swa Saw Ke to reign. He ruled for over three decades becoming the most loved of all Ava's kings. Ava's prosperity under his reign attracted aristocrats, artisans, skilled and unskilled, peoples from every where seeking opportunity in the rising kingdom. Among them were the Royal Artisans of Pagan, bearing gifts for the popular King Swa Saw Ke, as they wished to gain favor and obtain a place in Ava's royal courts. Among their gifts were Pagan's flat disk weights portraying angelic characteristics.
Upon receiving the disk weights, King Swa Saw Ke inquired as to what they were? He could sense from their angelic emblems they had significant meaning. The Pagan artisans explained during King Anawrahta reign of Pagan the angels portrayed on the disks brought good luck to Pagan and could to the emerging kingdom of Ratunapura "Ava". King Swa Saw Ke had deep Buddhist convictions; he already believed in angels divine influences. The Pagan artisans expressed passion, and angels fell upon the king’s heart, causing him to feel Ava must embrace angels in symbolic ways to gain their powers.
He therefore decreed a royal gathering of all artisans; they were to compete in the creation of the first Angel Weights within Ava's first kingdom. King Swa Saw Ke decreed there must be 5 specific points that all weights must have to be accepted and given a royal mark of approval. The king also proclaimed his intent and meaning was to show Ratunapura "Ava" was a people devoted to Buddha's ways. The king acknowledged angels are a divine source, and followers would have good fortune, therefore Angel Weights began portraying the kingdoms devotion.
ORIGINS
"Angel Disk Weights"