Kinnara and Kinnari: The Original Love Birds
Myanmar's 6 million Shan people live in the Eastern state that bears their name. Mythology has sustained them for hundreds of years.
Half Human, Half Bird
Two of the most beloved mythological characters are the benevolent half-human, half-bird creatures known as the Kinnara and Kinnari, which are believed to come from the Himalayas and often watch over the well-being of humans in times of trouble or danger.
The two characters spring from the Shan's overwhelmingly Buddhist heritage and its roots in Hinduism. Four of the Buddha’s many animal incarnations are said to have been Kinnari, and the characters appear in various religious texts including the Lotus Sutra. The Kinnars also appear as one of the 108 symbols on the Buddha’s footprint.
Love Birds
These bird people are often depicted a bit differently from country to country, but what remains constant is the fact that the pair is extremely in love and hopelessly devoted to one another. In the most famous tale about these avian amours, one Kinnari is said to have wept inconsolably when a flood separated her from her mate (Kinnara) for 700 nights.
Some stories go so far as to say that the separation caused her to die of a broken heart. It is the ultimate story of love and loss, and the Kinnars are some of the most fantastic characters used to tell such a story.
1,600-Year Tradition
Because of their appearance on early wall paintings, Kinnars have been a part of Shan tradition since at least the 5th century. In India, they are believed to have been a part of the culture and mythology since written prehistory.
In Myanmar (Burma), the female Kinnari is a symbol of feminine beauty and accomplishment, skilled in poetry, song, and dance. Sometimes she uses her beauty to seduce men. She appears a bit more modestly in Myanmar than in some other Asian traditions in that her breasts are always covered.
In dance, performers mimic the motion of the Kinnars to relate the stories about them as well as to portray how deeply they love one another. The motions are supple and graceful and often focused on the position and motion of the hands.
Part of the dancer’s costume often includes a large and elaborate tail that helps to add to the illusion. The tail is often gracefully maneuvered as part of the dance itself, and it seems that a fair amount of skill would be required to keep from becoming entangled in one’s own plumage.
Popular Culture
The mysterious bird people have even made their way into popular culture. In Myanmar, the golden statuette presented to winners of the country’s Academy Awards is in the form of the Kinnari. The dances are often performed as part of cultural ceremonies, as well as presentations of Shan classical dance.
No matter who adopts the tale of the bird-people and makes it their own, the two remain forever a symbol of the power of love and loss.
