Bo Bo Gyi

Bo Bo Gyi (Burmese: ဘိုးဘိုးကြီး, pronounced [bó bó dʑí]; lit. 'hallowed grandfather') traditionally

refers to the name of a guardian spirit (called nat) unique to each Burmese Buddhist temple or
pagoda. Bo Bo Gyi is typically depicted as a nearly life-sized elderly man, dressed in a curved cap
and sometimes carrying a cane, to signify old age.[1] Offerings of scarves and paso are common
by worshipers.[1] There are many Bo Bo Gyi shrines throughout the country, and some are more
widely respected than others. The Shwenyaungbin (Golden Banyan Tree) Bo Bo Gyi shrine
between Yangon and Bago is often visited by new car owners hoping have their cars blessed by
the Bo Bo Gyi spirit at that site.[2][3]

Botahtaung Pagoda's Rohani Bo Bo Gyi shrine and image.

According to a legend of Shwedagon Pagoda, the Gautama Buddha's hair relics were given to
two Mon merchants who later gave them to the King of Yangon, wanting the relics to be properly
enshrined in a pagoda. Bo Bo Gyi, as an avatar of Indra, came down to earth and pointed his
finger to the proper location where that pagoda should be built, which is where the Shwedagon
Pagoda is.[4] Hence, he is popularly depicted as a figure pointing his finger as a reference to this
legend.[4]

Bo Bo Gyi is highly respected amongst Thai people as thep than chai (Thai: เทพทันใจ; the deity
[who may grant your wish] immediately). Many believe that praying to, wishing to, and having
their forehead touched by the deity's pointing finger of the thep than chai, especially at Botataung
Pagoda in Yangon, will bring them luck.[4]

Images
Bo Bo Gyi shrine at the Yay-Le Pagoda in Kyauktan

Bo Bo Gyi shrine at Sule Pagoda in Yangon

 Bo Bo Gyi shrine in Bago

References

1. Sadan, Mandy (2005). Skidmore, Monique (ed.). Burma at the turn of the twenty-first century. Hawaii:
University of Hawaii Press. pp. 90–111. ISBN 978-0-8248-2897-4.

2. "Myanmar's Belief in the Dead" (https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121432598657200325) . The Wall

Street Journal. 29 June 2008.(subscription required)

3. Verlag, Nelles (1998). Myanmar (Burma). Hunter Publishing. p. 100. ISBN 978-3-88618-415-6.

4. อาโด๊ด รามัญคดี (2021-03-16). "ข้าฯ ถูกอุปโลกน์ให้เป็ น "เทพทันใจ" " (https://www.silpa-mag.com/culture/a

rticle_33024) [I am established as "thep than chai"]. ศิลปวัฒนธรรม (in Thai). Retrieved 2021-11-20.

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