Kawtongrait and two dragon brothers

Rammarwaddy is the name of the largest island in Arakan. It exists as if it were on a lotus leaf atop a river. The island was called Mya-Nan-Oo as it first came into existence on the emerald-like water. As it was a pleasant island, it was named Rammadipa or Rammarwaddy which conveys the meaning of “pleasant island.”

It is said that Kassava Buddha made a sojourn to Arakan with His 500 Arhat monks. During His sojourn, He saw an island which resembled a duck from His viewpoint on the Arakan Mountain Range. Then He landed on a highland at the center of the island.

Once upon a time, there existed a city-state called Kawtongrait at the northern head of Rammarwaddy Island. Therefore, Rammarwaddy Island was also called Kawdamva or Kawda Island. It is said that it was later changed into Ram-Pret by omitting Mar from Rammar and getting the meaning of Pret (wealth) from Wa-Ta or Waddy.

Another version goes thus: the island was also called Ram-Prae Island as a notion of freedom from perils of war. It is said that as years passed, its name has changed from Ram-Prae, then Ram-Pret and finally to Ram-Bre (Ramree).

One more version goes as follows: it was about time to start setting up towns and villages on this island when a strange omen emerged. A big buffalo intervened between two enraged horn-locked junior buffaloes, that immediately stopped fighting and went away. Derived from the incident of buffaloes locked in horns who later stopped fighting, the island became known as Ram-Prae or Ram-Bre (Ramree).

The town was also called Tant-Mrot (Landing Town) denoting the Kassava Buddha’s sacred landing. There are still names such as Tant-Chaung (Landing Stream), Tant-Rwa (Landing Village) and Tant-Shon-Prunn Pagoda. When a town and villages were set up on the island, the town was known as Rammarwaddy, Ram-Prae, Ram-Pret, Ramm-Pret, Ram-Bre or Mrot-Thar-Yar (Pleasant Town).

Since Ram-Bre (Ramree) is surrounded by mountains, it looks like Rajagriha, a significant city during Lord Buddha’s time. The mountains by the names of Aunn, Bahan, Ri-Myet, Let-Pan, Nyaung, and Ko-Ran are surrounding Ram-Bre (Ramree).

Rammarwaddy (Ramree) Island is surrounded by rivers, sea, bay and islets. Kaleindaung River divides Taungzin area and Ramree Island.

Man-Aung (Cheduba) Island is also scenically seen from afar. A town named Kyaukphru exists in the northern tip of Rammarwaddy Island. There is an area called Gawdu on the coast near that town. It was once a city-state during King of Kawtongrait’s reign. Kings of Kawrabya ruled the areas to the east of Kaleindaung River.

King of Kawrabya and King of Kawtongrait venerated a great hermit by the title of Kaleinga, who had clairvoyance and super powers. The hermit was also revered by powerful dragons and Galon birds. The mountain where the hermit dwelt was called Mount Kalein. On that mountain, there were a hermitage made of stones where the hermit dwelt and several tubs crafted from stones which were used for washing and bathing purposes. Two dragon brothers often came and paid homage to the great hermit. The dragon brothers reigned the sea to the north of Kawtongrait. As the two dragon brothers were supposed to live there, those parts of waterways became known as Naungdaw River (Sea). One can see the wide rivers between Mrebon and Kyaukphru. It is often said that the rivers are too wide even for a bird to fly across.

The great hermit wore only robes dyed with bark. When he washed his robes, reddish liquid flowed down Kaleindaung River. The reddish liquid reached up to the cape at the southern-most tip of Rammarwaddy Island. It is said that the rocks at the cape became reddish when they were repeatedly stained with the washed-away liquid. Hence, that area became known as Kyauk-Ni-Maw (Red-Stone Cape).

King of Kawtongrait was a lover of paintings and sculpture. One day, he had a desire to have a portrait of his adorable princess painted. Therefore, he called for a great artist and ordered that the artist had to paint an exact portrait of his beloved princess. The great artist tried his best. However, he had to paint the portrait again as the king did not like it.

The king disliked the second portrait and rejected it again. Then he ordered that if the artist could not submit the exact portrait on the third time then he would be banished. The artist was so much at his wits’ end that he approached the great hermit and asked for some advice. The great hermit made a clairvoyant scrutiny. He foresaw the fateful downfall of the king and the demise of the city-state and advised the artist to do something for his precious life.

The artist presented to the king the third portrait where he put a pimple on one of the princess’s thighs as Kaleinga, the great hermit, advised. When the king saw the portrait, he was furious. He asked the artist how he came to know that secret. The artist admitted that he put the pimple as suggested by the great hermit. Upon hearing that, the king immediately believed that his princess had an affair with the great hermit. He was also convinced that the hermit would plot against him to take the throne with the princess as an accomplice. Hence, he ordered that the hermit be seized and executed. As the hermit knew about it in advance, he fled from his dwelling place. He kicked the stone hermitage upside-down. He also placed the stone tubs with their openings down. Then he started dwelling in a hermitage somewhere near the Arakan Mountain Range which could be obviously seen from Mount Kalein. The mountain where the hermit took his refuge is now called Mount Myunn-Ma-Tain since it was easily visible if the two dragon brothers tried to find him.

When the dragon brothers did not find their revered hermit at the usual place, they were extremely enraged. Thus, they showed their powers by making torrential rain and huge waves. Galon-birds also created powerful wind over the land with their mighty wings. Consequently, the whole city-state of Kawtongrait along with the king were terribly inundated and destroyed. Kawrabya City-state was also destroyed in the same manner.

It is said that from then on, there appeared torrential rain and huge waves in Arakan. It is also said that Man-Aung (Cheduba) Island was free from inundation as a great hermit by the title of Dipa requested the powerful creatures to leave the island unscathed.

Later, the creatures continued searching for their venerated hermit, thinking that he would not be dead. They continuously searched for him along the coastline of Arakan – anywhere on and under the ground, in the water and in the mountains. They dug out rivers and streams. They also pierced holes in the mountain-sides. It is said that caves were made from the dragon brothers’ piercings. Today, one can see Kyauktalon Cave of Kyawphru, Ma-Ei Cave, Lamu Cave and Kamar Cave. Many tunnels were also made along the rivers. It is said that the thirty stream-tunnels of Taunggoke, the thirty stream-tunnels of Tan-Hlwe, the thirty river-tunnels of Wi were made accordingly.

When the great hermit found out that the dragon brothers were destroying things out of infuriation, he thought that the dragons would destroy all the forests, mountains and waterways if they could not find him. He felt an immediate need to show himself to the dragons. Hence, he showed himself standing somewhere on the mountain. Only then did the dragon brothers see their revered hermit and pay homage to him. As soon as they saw the hermit, their infuriation subsided and they stopped destroying the land at once.

The hermit offered admonishing sermons to the two dragon brothers, who later kept away from destroying things.

Nowadays, it is often said that if the dragon brothers get furious, they create floods, torrential rains and huge waves. It is also said that the dragon brothers usually swim in Naungdawgree (Elder Brother) Sea and Naungdawnge (Younger Brother) Sea. People say that when the dragon brothers swim there, the waves become big.

(Original story was written by Ashon Sekkeinda)

        Translated with some adaptations by

Zwe Thit (Rammarmray)

1/1/2016 (Fri)

(ေလးေတာင္မဂၢဇင္း၊ အမွတ္ (၂) (၂၀၁၆) တြင္ ေဖာ္ျပျပီး)