On the evening of 9 August 2010, I watched a news story on TV that there emerged the forth white elephant in the Union of Myanmar. White elephants usually emerge in only countries that see flourishing of Buddha Sasana, heads ruling the countries in conformity with the ten precepts of a king, and future prosperity. So, while I was watching the news on TV, my heart swelled with joy.In Myanmar tradition, a dream about a white elephant is an omen of prosperous future. According to a treatise on dreams, if a person dreams of an ordinary elephant, he will get a new friend or outside aids. If he dreams of a white elephant, he will obtain worship from other people, he will gain good reputation, and will be held in esteem and served choice items of foods and drinks. When Queen Maya got pregnant with the would-be-Buddha, she had a dream that a white elephant flied down in the north from the sky, holding a branch of thabye (Eugenia) with his trunk, and opened her abdomen on the right side and got into her womb. Then, royal court Brahmins predicted that the queen got pregnant with a noble son. This is one of the facts stated in treatises on life stories of the Buddha to interpret the signs to predict the future.

The event is not a dream. By good fortune, I had a golden opportunity to witness a white elephant. The white elephant, accompanied by her shed mates, arrived at the precinct of the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw on 9 August 2010 afternoon. Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo and officials extended a welcome to the elephant, sprinkling paritta water and scented water on it. Her title is Baddawady.
In the Myanmar culture, white crow, white peacock, white goat, white cow, white horse and white elephant are regarded as noble animals. White colour represents being bright and new, cleanliness, nobleness, being free from dangers and adoration. Therefore, Myanmar monarchs chose white cows in royal ceremonies to plough fields to grow paddy.

According to treatises, emergence of a white elephant is in connection with power and glory of the ruler of the nation. King Vesatara, would-be-Buddha, was a king with a white elephant, and in his time, the nation was peaceful and prosperous with abundant crops. According to historical documents, King Anawrahta owned 38 white elephants apart from his favorite white elephant. King Alaung Si Thu, grandchild of King Kyansittha, owned 36 white elephants:King Bayintnaung, founder of the Second Myanmar Empire, owned many white elephants including four offered by Yodhaya king. So, he tookthe title “Hsinbyumyashin” (a king possessing many white elephants). In his time, the nation was militarily strong and free from dangers, and the people enjoyed economic growth and prosperities.

Emergence of a white elephant is an omen that the nation will become prosperous and peaceful and will enjoy greater development and will be free from the three catastrophes namely famine, war and epidemic diseases. In the course of Myanmar history, there were a great number of monarchs who did not have any white elephants. Kings with white elephants were more powerful than those without any white elephants. In addition, in the times of the former, the nation was free from thefts, robberies and wars, enjoyed economic development and remained peaceful with charities and festivities.

In the time of the State Peace and Development Council, the nation has seen four white elephants including Baddawady. The first white elephant was discovered in Upper Nanya Village-tract, Yathedaung Township, Rakhine State, in the third week of October 2001. It arrived in Yangon on 15 November. According to the wise in successive periods, a white elephant has many characteristics including a pair of eyes with pearl colour, white soles, back as curved as a banana, grey fur, a tail of door bolt shape, and a pair of larger size of ears. The first white elephant has a pair of pearl coloured eyes; its back is slightly curved, and grey fur and he meets the characteristics of a white elephant. It was titled Yazagaha Thiri Piccaya Gazayaza. The nation saw the second white elephant in April 2002. It arrived in Yangon on 5 April. She was named Theingi Marlar. The third elephant titled Yati Marlar arrived in Yangon on 6 December 2002. From that time on, the nation had not seen any other elephant. Only in the time of shaping the nation into a democratic one in accordance with the State’s seven-step Road Map, did the forth white elephant emerge.

I would like to present some facts about white elephants. Originally, elephants (wild elephants) are native to Africa, India in South Asia, and Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in South East Asia. However, I have never heard that there emerges a white elephant in those regions. Ancient treatises say that not one in every 1000 elephants can be a white elephant. No doubt, emergence of a white elephant is a good omen. Therefore, white elephants emerge with good signs and omens. It is impossible to discover a white elephant however long a nation is in search of a white elephant. Only when the ruler and a nation are of great power and glory and auspicious occasion has come, does a white elephant emerge.

According to some treatises relating to times of monarchs, a white elephant’s whole body is white and adorable with fair complexion, good looking and fine characteristics. Such elegant, graceful elephants are smililar to white elephants belonging to would-be-Buddhas. If an elephant is white the whole body with good looking and is adorable, it has all characteristics of a white elephant. If an elephant is all white, it has all characteristics of a white elephant. That is to say, the whole body of an elephant is white colour, it has all characteristics of a white elephant.

The forth white elephant Baddawady has better complexion than the other three. Her all toe nails are white. She is gentle, calm and serene. Her eyes are pearl colour. She has a back as curved as a banana. Needless to say, she meets all the characteristics of a white elephant enumerated in ancient treatises.

According to 15 treatises including Gazabada Treatise on Elephants, Gajaviniccha Treatise by Venerable Kyaukye Monk, Treatise on Characteristics of White Elephant by Venerable Maunghtaung Monk, and Yodhaya White Elephant Paper by Mingyi Maha Zeya, a white elephant possesses 64 characteristics in general and 305 characteristics in detail. Of the 64 characteristics, 35 are related to head and face, and 29, related to rear part of the head. According to Pitaka Treatise, white elephants are of 10 colour, greenish blue, reddish, green, golden, cupper and silver.

Although an elephant is not white colour, it is deemed to be a white elephant if it possesses characteristics of a white elephant. White elephant Baddawady is completely white with all the characteristics, thus indicating good omens to the nation.

In the Myanmar history are records of significant events, poems of epic proportions, classical songs, classical songs sung to the accompaniment of harp, and songs featuring white elephants. To my knowledge, there are 13 records of significant events, six lyrical ode on the seasons, and three verses on white elephants. So, such literary works depict that the king, royal servants and the people adored and valued white elephants greatly. According to Pitaka Treatise, white elephants are of 10 types: Kalawaka, Gingayya, Pandaya, Peingala, Ganda, Mangala, Hayma, Upawthahta and Hsaddan. White elephant Nibbana Pissa Nagayaza belonging to King Bodaw possessed the characteristics of a Hsaddan elephant. So, he took the title “King Master of Hsaddan Elephant”. In his time, the nation was prosperous with very strong forces and literature, music and mundane affairs thrived.

The emergence of white elephant Baddawady coincides with the nation’s transition to democracy. So, it is an omen of prosperous future of the nation and the people. White elephants emerge only in regions where Buddhism flourishes, the people take refuge in the Dhamma (the Teachings of the Buddha), and the head rules the nation in consistence with the 10 precepts of a king. From 2001 to date, there have been four white elephants, thus reflecting the fact that the Union of Myanmar possesses those characteristics. In conclusion, I would say the Union of Myanmar will soon become a peaceful, modern and developed land.

Translation: MS
Myanma Alin, Kyemon: 15-8-2010