MANGALA SUTTA: ITS INFLUENCE OVER THE WAY OF LIFE OF SHAN PEOPLE AND THEIR POETIC LITERATURE IN SHAN STATE, UNION OF MYANMAR

Abstract

This research aims to make the understanding of the Mangala Sutta and the Poetic Literature of Shan people in Shan State, Union of Myanmar. It is to explore the background and meaning of the Mangala Sutta, Shan Poetic Literature or Lik Loung or Shan Manuscript and the infl uence of Mangala Sutta on the daily life of Shan people in Shan State. The article also shown an understanding of the Mangala Sutta which is a part of Paritta chanting and also deals with Shan Manuscript tradition. It shows the role of traditional poetic writing, lik loung, in the practices and teachings of Theravada Buddhism among the Shan people and analyses how the lik loung draws on and enfolds other literature from the Theravāda tradition and the religious context in which such texts are read to an audience. It is concerned with some of the traditional ceremonies commonly celebrated by Shan people in Shan State and discloses some of the historical background and the expected benefi t of Buddhist ceremonies according to the beliefs of Shan people.