Arakan & Arakanese
What is Arakan: Rakhine, Rakhaing or Rakhaing-pray?
The land that is known as Arakan by the foreigners is called "Rakhaing-pray" by its own peoples,Rakhaing-thar (Arakanese). The Arakanese history records the early Arakanese to migrate in Arakan and settled down in their true land since time immemorial.
According to the Arakanese chronicles, the name Rakhaing (Rakhine) was originated from Pali word Rakhapura meaning the land of the people of Rakhasa (Rakhasa > Rakkha > Rakkhaing > Rakhaing) who were titled this name in honour of preservation on their national heritage and ethics or morality (Sila).
Arakanese History at a Glance
The independent and sovereign Buddhist Kingdom of Arakan had been splendidly flourishing from 3325 BC. till the Burman invaders occupied it in 1784 AD.
The Mahamuni Buddha Image (which was brought to Mandalay during the Burmese 1784 occupation), the utmost ancient and sacred Buddhist statue of World Buddhism, symbolised the heart and sovereignty of Arakan and its people, Arakanese. Thus, the country was called by "The Land of Great Image" in the foreigners' records. Besides that, millions of magnificent Buddhist pagodas, temples, statues and Buddha relics have been prevailing in the ancient capital cities of Arakan such as Dhanyawaddy, Vesali, Laemro and Mrauk-U.
The well-known traditional Saying in both Arakan and Burma "thazon pan-khaing ta-mraing-mraing Rakhaing phara paung" indicates that total number of Buddhist pagodas in Rakhine-pray (Arakan) is up to more than six millions (6,352,755).Religious harmony in the independent-sovereign Arakan Kingdom was remarkable. Annual contributions of the Arakanese Kings to all religious are acknowledged their respect to secularism though they all are authentic Buddhists.
Even though Arakan had reached zenith of power in the Bay when it was under the rule of the skilled and powerful kings, the country's glory and fame has steadily declined when it was succeeded and ruled by the unqualified kings. Chittagong, a part of Arakan was invaded and occupied by the Moghal in 1666 AD. And internal instability and dethroning of kings happened very often in Arakan Court. Taking opportunity in the overall weakness inside the country, the Burmese King U Wine violated the good-friendly neighbour's ethics and dispatched his invading forces into Arakan in mid-November, 1784 and occupied it by the end of 1784.
The national independence of Arakan and sovereignty of the Arakan Kingdom were lost on 31 December 1784 (7 waxing day of Pratho 1146 AE.) when it was invaded and subjugated by the Burman King Maung Wyne. The people of Arakan became enslaved. The national flag hoisted in honour of the nation on the top of the Royal Assembly Hall was dropped. The dignity, the honour and the prestige of the Rakhine as a FREE NATION had terminated immediately after loss of independence.