Nat (deity)

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The nats (နတ်; MLCTS: nat; IPA: [naʔ]) are deities worshiped in Myanmar and neighbouring countries in conjunction with Buddhism. They are divided between the 37 Great Nats who were given that status by King Anawrahta when he formalized the official list of nats. Most of the 37 Great Nats were human beings who met violent deaths. There are two types of nats in Burmese Belief: nat sein (နတ်စိမ်း), which are humans that were deified after their deaths, and all other nats, which are spirits of nature (spirits of water, trees etc.). Much like sainthood, nats can be designated for a variety of reasons, including those only known in certain regions in Burma. Nat worship is less common in urban areas than in rural areas and is practised among ethnic minorities of Myanmar as well as in mainstream Bamar society. However, it is among the Theravada Buddhist Bamar that the most highly developed form of ceremony and ritual is seen. Every Burmese village has a nat kun (နတ်ကွန်း) or nat sin (နတ်စင်), which...

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