Apauk-kyit Lok
In Burmese mythology, Apauk-kyit Lok is a significant figure responsible for introducing death into the world. Despite his advanced age, Apauk-kyit Lok had managed to escape death nine times, continuously renewing his life because, at that time, death did not exist. However, his final act would change the course of existence for all beings.
The turning point came one day when Apauk-kyit Lok went fishing. While by the river, he noticed an animal — various versions of the myth suggest it could have been a monkey or a squirrel — sleeping on a branch and floating down the river. Mistaking the creature’s sleep for death, Apauk-kyit Lok placed the animal in a basket and covered it with his own clothes. Then, mysteriously, he disappeared. Shortly after, word spread through his village that Apauk-kyit Lok had died, though the myth does not specify how this rumor began.
The news of his supposed death shocked the villagers, and soon everyone came to see his body. Yet, no one was brave enough to remove the clothes covering the basket and inspect the situation closely. The mystery grew, and curiosity spread far beyond the village. When the lord of the sun, a powerful celestial figure in Burmese mythology, learned of the event, he grew suspicious and sent a group of messengers to investigate the situation.
These messengers disguised themselves as dancers and arrived at Apauk-kyit Lok’s funeral. As they performed their dance, they skillfully removed the layers of clothing from the basket. With each motion, the truth was revealed — there was no body beneath the coverings, only the sleeping animal. Apauk-kyit Lok’s deception was uncovered.
In response to this fraud, the lord of the sun decided to intervene directly. He decreed that Apauk-kyit Lok would finally meet his end, and this marked the beginning of death in the world. From that moment forward, death became an inescapable part of life, not only for Apauk-kyit Lok but for all living creatures. This myth explains the origin of mortality in Burmese culture, illustrating how death, once absent, became a natural and inevitable part of existence due to Apauk-kyit Lok’s actions.
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow-Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante
