What are the Nats of Burman folklore?
G’day Kevin, Thank you for your question. Nats are spirits worshipped in Burma together with Buddhism. There are 37 Great Nats almost all of whom were humans as well as hundreds of lower nats who are spirits of trees and water places. Households have an altar to their patron nat as do villages. Nats were worshipped in Burma before Buddhism came and they have been merged with Buddha as Buddha is considered to be the greatest of the Nats. I have attached sources for your reference. Regards Reference Wikipedia Nat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_%28spirit%29 Online Burma Library http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/show.php Atlantic Monthly “Folk-Elements in Burmese Buddhism” Feb1958, Vol.
