U Shin Gyi ( my, ဦးရှင်ကြီး, or , ; also Lord of the Sea or Conqueror of the Salty Sea) is a Burmese ''nat'' commonly venerated in the Ayeyarwady Delta region, as he is widely believed to be a benevolent guardian spirit of waterways. He is commonly depicted next to a

tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus ''Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on ...

and crocodile, and is often holding a Burmese harp, as he was originally a harpist from Kasin village in

Bago Bago may refer to: Places Myanmar * Bago, Myanmar, a city and the capital of the Bago Region * Bago District, a district of the Bago Region * Bago Region an administrative region * Bago River, a river * Bago Yoma or Pegu Range, a mountain rang ...

. According to one version of his story, while on an expedition to find food, U Shin Gyi and fellow lumberjacks landed on Meinmahla Island, and his harp-playing enticed two nat sisters, who did not allow the boat to depart the island until they were appeased. U Shin Gyi allowed himself to drown, pleasing the spirits, and in return he became a nat. A nat festival is held in his honor every March.http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/myanmartimes/no52/timeout_4-1.htm

References

{{Burmese nats Burmese nats Culture of Myanmar Deaths by drowning