LECTURE No. IV: Religious Condition in Bagan

LECTURE No. 4

Describe the religious condition in Bagan before the arrival of Buddhism?

            Before Theravada Buddhism arrival to Bagan, religious prevailed there was a school of Myanmar Buddhism especially it was the emergence and widespread influence of Theravada Buddhism.

            Debased Buddhism was a mixture of Mahāyana and animism and local superstitions, it was practice by the forest monk they owned land did business lending money at great interest trade performing social and religious rite such as nuptial ceremonries and funeral. According to their doctrine some pariyatti if properly recited could be used as a means for the expiation of sin all guilt and a monk did it for him the forest monk also responsibilities at bloody scarified connect with indigenous worship. They worship Hindu deities such as Vishnu Siva, Brahma, Paramisva, Naga and spirits worship, therefore their Buddhism was practiced to attained Nibbāna and escape from all craving and suffering. Buddhist monks promoted mundane life by practice of superstitions rite and application of occult science.