SACRIFICJAL HEART
An epic depicting a love drama based on historical events ofBagan Dynasty during AD 1074 to AD 1084 involving
 three Bagan Kings-King Anawtahta, King Saw Lu, King Kyansittha-and Bago prillcess Mani Sandal" Synonsis
AD 1044: Bagan king Anawrahta w~ building the First State of Myanmar Kingdom.
Bago region in southern Myanmar was invaded by the foreign army ofJunpeople of
the east outside Myanmar territory. Bago used to bea peaceful place, and the King of Bago had
a daughter called Princess Mani Sandar. Bago King sought the milital.y assistance tl.om the
Bagan King to repel against the foreign violation of his territory.

While welcoming the Bagan army led by four famous generals Kyansittha,Nyaung
Uphee, Nga Htweyoo and Ngalbne Letphe lliTiving in B.ago to protect it against the foreign
invasion, Commanding Ge:neral ~yansittha and B~go princess ManiSandar ex;changed glances
!evealing their mutual attractiqn. Ky~sit~a qid not knoW Mani Sandar was the Bago King's daughter.

Bago citizens were grateful to the Bagan generals who drove out the mighty .run-aimyby clever milital"y tactics,
They hosted the viCtory feast in honour of the Bagan generals; Kyansittha met Mani Sandar that eventing but did
not know she was the Bago princess. The real identity of the princess was known to him only at the luncheon
given by the Bago the next day. They professed their mutual love,

On his way to Thaton in the south-eastern pal-t to request for the l3uddhist scriplurc,')
fromtheThatop King, KingAnawarhta'ssonCrown Prince Saw Lu alTived in l3ago, Kyapsittha
had to accompany Swa Lu to Thaton,Prince Saw Lu met Princess Mani Sandal' while in Bago,
and although he was romantically interested in her, he was suspicious of the relationship between
Kyansittha and Mani Salldal". tvlani Sapdal. on her Pal't was hopeful that she and Kyansittha
would be able to malTy one day, However, ancient monal"chical system tl"aditionallyrequired to

--present one's own daughter and sister of the rOyal blood to the more powerful King as a prudent
measure to ensure alliance and protection. True to this tradition, Bago King presented his own
daughter Mani Sandal" to Bagon King Anawrahta,

Although his heart was in gr~at tal"ment, Kyansittha faithfully calTied out his duty
escort his beloved to Bagon for his sovereign lord King Anawrahta. On alTival in Bagon, Mani
Sandar fell ill due to travel exhaustion, and only then she become more appreciative of loving
kindness and cal-ing shown to her by the people of Bagan- One day after the royal wedding of
King Anawrahta and Mani Sandar, Prince Sawlu ti"alned a chal"ge accusing Kyansittha that he
had misconducted with Mani Sandar throughout the whole ~ourney li"omBago to Bagan. King
Anawrahta threw his royal lance Areindama which was magical and capabel of knowing the
truth at Kyansittha who was tightly roped, The lance did not hit Kyansittha di1'ectly but only hit
and cut the rope binding him, and thus making Kyansittha able to escape ti"om his alTest and
flee from Bagan.

 In this exile in a forested area Kyansittha met a monk's niece called Than1bulla with
whom he fell in love and lived with her throJ,lghout his exile.
King Anawrahta apologized Mani Sandar fOl" his misunderstanding leading to
sorrowful events which was due to hisignol"ance of the past between hel" and Kyansittha- In AD
1077, King Anawrahta died and his son Saw Lu ascended the throne, He was fond of gan1bling
and incompetent as a king. Since he could not pl"Opeliy manage the atIau"s of the State, Kyansittha
was called back from hi,) exile to serve him but later his suspicion of the relation belwc~11
Kyansittha and Man] Sandal" made hlin to send Kyanisttha away to a forested al-ea in the lower
region of the Kingdom. King Saw Lu and Mani Sandal" exchanged st1"ong words between them
over this incident.

King') childhood friend Nga Raman with one d(unaged eye was his favourite and was
appointed as a lord of a region of the Kingdom. Dul"ing one of the dice games between them.
they fell into a dispute (deliberately created by Nga Ral1lan) and Nga Ralnan openly revolted
aganist the King. Saw Lu called bac~ (ever dependable) Kyansittha from his exile to serve hiln


Saw Lu ignoring Kyansittha'scounsel attackedNga Raman under conditions not favourable
to him. The King was captured by Nga Raman and became a prisoner,
Since Bagan throne was now without a king, Bagan ministers turned to Kyansittha
and appealed him to accept the throne. Ever loyal, Kyansittha declined the offer,
Kyansittha personally attempted to rescue Saw Lu from Nga Ral11an'S capture but
Saw Lu trusting more in his childhood friend than in Kyansittha shouted to alert Nga Ral11an,
Kyansittha had no choice but to leave Saw Lu to his own fate and flee tl"om the enemy'sten'itory,
N~aRani~ killed Saw Lu.
InAD 1084, Kyansittha with the aid Hunter Nga Sint conquerred rebellion and Killed
Nga R~an. He tl1en accepted the Bagan throne and became the King of tl1e State of Myanmar
founded by King Anawrahta.
His wife from the forest Thambulla 'accompani~d by tl1eir young son came to the
roy~city and was welcomed at the city gate by King Kyansittha and Mani Sandar,
Mani Sandar got over her jealousy against Thalnbulla when she saw Kyansittha's
youhg son. She also loved the child a$ hyr"o'wn and everything could be forgiven,

(The End)