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Story Mother Nan Ka Rine

In 187 Myanmar Era (825 AD), in the kingdom of Hansawady (Bago), now Mon State in Lower Myanmar. There was a king named Tha Ma La with a younger brother named Wi Ma La. The king appointed Wi Ma La to be the rightful heir to the throne but required that he gained more knowledge and understanding of the world. Thus, he sent Wi Ma La away to learn the mysteries of the world.

During the absence of his brother, the king lived prosperously in the kingdom and married a lady who was said to be born from a golden pumpkin flower. The king called her, Shwe Pha Yone Mar (Lady Pumpkin) and spent lots of time with her. As years passed, the king spent more and more time with Lady Pumpkin and gradually started to forget about his brother.

Wi Ma La returned to the kingdom having kept his promise and gained a deeper understanding of the world but found himself disappointed because King Tha Ma La had forgotten his promise. Furious at his brother’s negligence, Wi Ma La devised a plan to assassinate and dethrone his brother. Wi Ma La successfully dethroned the king and crowned himself king.

Meanwhile, the son of Tha Ma La and Lady Pumpkin, the rightful king, was born; thus, Wi Ma La ordered for the death of this boy immediately. Lady Pumpkin worried about the life of her son. She ran quickly into the forest and hid the boy in the shed of a water buffalo, where he was nursed by a female water buffalo, Nan Ka Rine. Through the nurture and love of Nan Ka Rine, the boy grew up to be strong, healthy and brave.

One day, King Wi Ma La heard rumors about Indian soldiers devising an attack to invade the kingdom of Hansawady. Threatened by the rumors, King Wi Ma La started to prepared to fight but lacked a worthy commander who possessed the bravery and loyalty of a chinthe, the strength and power of an elephant, and the love and compassion of a water buffalo. King Wi Ma La searched every inch of the kingdom and with great disappointment could not find a worthy commander.

Wi Ma La grew more nervous every day; until one day, a hunter reported that he spotted a strong young man in the forest. Wi Ma La ordered for the presence of the young man immediately. The young man was brought upon King Wi Ma La and was questioned by the king. At this moment Tha Ma La’s (brother of King Wi Ma La) spirit took the form wooden sculpture and revealed himself to the king. Tha Ma La told Wi Ma La that this young boy is his nephew and the only person worthy to be the commander. Wi Ma La shocked with the sudden appearance of his brother explained everything to the young boy, named him Ah Tha Komma, apologized for his faults and asked the boy if he would fight the Indian invaders. Hesitant, Ah Tha Komma requested that he needed permission from his foster mother Nan Ka Rine and then went back into the forest.

Nan Ka Rine gave Ah Tha Komma permission to fight the enemy and taught him how to win the war. Ah Tha Komma thanked his foster mother for teaching him how to fight and set to return to the kingdom. Upon his journey he was stopped by large waves created by the river. Ah Tha Komma stopped the large waves from overflowing the river which angered the water goddess, May Kha Lar. May Kha Lar furious, requested a wager where the winner will be permitted to ask for anything they want. Ah Tha Komma agreed but lost. May Kha Lar then asked for the head of Nan Ka Rine, whose horns are enshrined with pure gold, on the day of Ah Tha Komma’s wedding. Ah Tha Komma had no choice but to agree.

Ah Tha Komma left and set off to battle the Indian invaders. He led the army to victory and returned to the kingdom a hero. Wi Ma La rewarded Ah Tha Komma greatly for the victory and married his daughter to him. On Ah Tha Komma’s wedding day, Nan Ka Rine commanded her foster son to cut off her head but Ah Tha Komma strongly refused. Nan Ka Rine then asked Ah Tha Komma to place the sword on her neck. Hesitantly, Ah Tha Komma did as he was told. Nan Ka Rine then made an oath and mystically her head separated from her body. Nan Ka Rine upon her sacrifice immediately became a Nat (celestial being) and Ah Tha Komma offered her head to the water goddess. With extreme regret of his wrong doing, Ah Tha Komma began to worship his foster mother for her great sacrifice.

From that time onwards, Nan Ka Rine has been worshipped for wealth, happiness and the destroyer of enemies, by people who are living and doing business in lower Myanmar.

Traditionally, the Nan Ka Rine shrine is kept outside, separate from other things and worshipped with a flowerpot of asparagus and a pumpkin. Usually images of her son Ah Tha Kumma and a boy named Ko Aung Naing, who is a cow herder, accompanies Nan Ka Rine.

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