Ava Kingdom's
Royal Angel Weights
Man-Lion God
MANUSSIHA / MONOTHIHA
In ancient times, two monks Sona and Uttara came to Burma to teach about the Buddha beliefs. That time the royal city was plagued by many Belus that came up from the sea whenever a child was born in the palace and take the baby to eat. Monks Sona and Uttara know queen will have a baby so many ogres soon come to the palace. The monks using their powers created from ancient belief a creature with many names even known in India and before this time that have a human head and body of two lions twice the size of the ogres. The Belus when seeing Manussiha were so afraid they returned to the sea unable to take the royal baby. From that day many Manussiha were made with bronze, stones drawings on stupas, and sculptures also worn as amulets to protect the kingdom from Belus. Manussiha is a belief from ancient times. Even before the monks Sona and Uttara believed about the Manussiha who had other names in ancient times before in India and the world. These many names meaning was the "Guardian of the Sun."
The Legend of Manussiha.
U Chit Sein explains,
In Burmese name is Manuthiha, sometimes Shan say Manussiha, come from ancient language Pali and Sanskrit, which have meaning, man-lion god. For Buddha, belief is the “great protector”, guards precious place like pagoda and those who follow Buddha. Lion part, shows strength and human part has keys for wisdom. Believe can take away sins of all, when enter a temple also protect from evil. Manuthiha is guardian of the horizons, the rising and setting sun. The Buddha's teachings are like the 'Lion's Roar'. Manuthiha Crown has shape of stupa and sacred leaves of tree with healing properties. In Burma Manuthiha sit on corner stupa, can protect from every direction.