Hintha Bird (Golden Goose)

mythical-bird · Myanmar · Southeast Asia

The hintha, or hamsa, is the golden goose of Mon-Burmese tradition, sacred emblem of the Mon people and symbol of Bago Region (Hanthawaddy). Legend holds that a pair of hintha guided the Mon across the sea to Suvannabhumi, where Bago was founded; the paired birds adorn the Mon State flag and temple roofs. In the Hamsa Jataka the goose is a Bodhisatta preaching non-attachment.

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