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Car Temple, Yangon

At a small shrine about 30 kilometres north of Yangon along the road to Bago, a man ties a bundle of thapyé (sprigs from a eugenia plant) and roses onto the front grill of a car. He then sprinkles thanakha-scented water onto the bonnet as the car owner drives forwards and backwards three times. The ritual ends with the driver making a donation to the shrine and praying for a safe journey. When he pulls out of the parking lot and heads off for his destination, the next car in line pulls up and the entire sequence of events is repeated.

This is a typical scene at the Shwe Nyaung Bin Nat Shrine, so called because of the huge banyan tree (nyaung-bin) that shades the shrine and provides visitors with a sense of serenity.

People who are about to set out on long trips or who have just bought new cars come from miles around to have their vehicles blessed by nats (powerful spirits) to protect them from accidents and mechanical breakdowns.

The man who presides over the ceremony is called the nat htein. The plants that he ties to the front grill are said to bring good fortune to the driver, while the scented water, having been offered to the nats, is considered to be blessed.

The Shwe Nyaung Bin Nat Shrine.
So called because of the huge banyan tree (nyaung-bin) that shades the shrine and provides visitors with a sense of serenity.


Shrine facade.
People who are about to set out on long trips or who have just bought new cars come from miles around to have their vehicles blessed by nats (powerful spirits) to protect them from accidents and mechanical breakdowns.


Entrance door to the shrine.
Shoes are outside the door.


Bo Bo Gyi.
Bo Bo Gyi (lit. 'hallowed grandfather') traditionally refers to the name of a guardian deity (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.
  • Offerings of scarves and paso are common by worshipers.
  • There are many Bo Bo Gyi shrines throughout the country, and some are more widely respected than others. This Shwenyaungbin (Golden Banyan Tree) Bo Bo Gyi shrine between Yangon and Bago is often visited by new car owners hoping to have their cars blessed by the Bo Bo Gyi spirit at that site.
  • See more at Bo Bo Gyi - Wikipedia.

Praying to the protective spirits (nats).

Spirit Medium (Nat Htein).
The man who presides over the ceremony is called the nat htein.

  • The plants that he ties to the front grill are said to bring good fortune to the driver, while the scented water, having been offered to the nats, is considered to be blessed.

Donating flowers, money and traditional set of coconut and banana.

Small shrine dedicated to the tree spirit.

Another small shrine next to the main shrine.

Flower-sellers.
Over 100 flower-sellers rotate their own turns at the lucrative spot.

  • They only work certain shifts, so everyone has a chance, and during their shift they can only sell to one car at a time before – carefully watched by a supervisor – they have to go back to the end of the line again.
  • Still, the place is such a good spot for business they have agreed not to allow anyone else in. If a new seller wants to join, he or she has to buy out an existing seller’s spot.

Car ritual.
A man ties a bundle of thapyé (sprigs from a eugenia plant) and roses onto the front grill of a car. He then sprinkles thanakha-scented water onto the bonnet as the car owner drives forwards and backwards three times.

  • The ritual ends with the driver making a donation to the shrine and praying for a safe journey.
  • When he pulls out of the parking lot and heads off for his destination, the next car in line pulls up and the entire sequence of events is repeated.

Monks passing by on the road.

See also

Source

Location

Location: Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)