| Shin Mahasilavamsa | |
| Alias: | Shin Maha Thilawuntha |
| Birth Name: | Maung Nyo |
| Birth Date: | 1453 |
| Birth Place: | Taungdwingyi |
| Nationality: | Kingdom of Ava |
| Religion: | Buddhism |
| School: | Theravada |
| Shin Maha | |
| Location: | Ava, Myanmar |
| Occupation: | Buddhist monk |
Shin Mahāsīlavaṃsa (Burmese: ရှင်မဟာ သီလဝံသ, variously transcribed Shin Maha Silavamsa, Shin Maha Thilawuntha or Rhaṅʻ Mahāsīlavaṃsa) was a Theravadan Buddhist monk and a classical Burmese poet who lived in 15th century Ava Kingdom (now modern-day Myanmar).
He is famous for his pyo poetry and he is considered one of the greatest poets of pre-colonial Burma, in particular his masterpieces, Paramidawkhan Pyo and Sodaungkhan Pyo, which are considered ideal models of the medieval literary style.[1] While the primary focus of Mahāsīlavaṃsa's compositions was dhamma (Buddhist teachings), he also composed the earliest extant Burmese chronicle, Yazawingyaw.[2] His contemporary literati rival was Shin Raṭṭhasāra.
Mahāsīlavaṃsa was born Maung Nyo in Myolulin village (north of Taungdwingyi on a Friday in 1453, to U Kyi and Daw Dwe.
He studied Buddhist scriptures and literature at the Yadana Beikman Monastery under the tutelage of the Natmilin Sayadaw (Shin Sīlācārabhidhaja). While it is not known when he became a novice monk, his gift for poetry was recognized from the age of 7. When he was 20, he became a monk under Shin Sīlācārabhidhaja. At the age of 38, he wrote his masterpiece, Paramitawkhan Pyo, which garnered recognition from throughout the kingdom. At the age of 40, he moved to Ava; King Minkhaung II of Ava subsequently donated the Yadana Beikman Golden Monastery at Sagaing as his residence.
Paramidawkhan Pyo is one of the greatest compositions of Burmese literature. Throughout this literary career, he composed numerous epics, stone inscriptions, and poetic verses including: