The first two Birmans that were imported into France were wearing a necklace of nine silver bells. The necklace pictured below was purchased from "Pier One Imports". It was made in Burma. Notice that the necklace is silver with nine cats and nine silver bells.

Could the tribe that made this necklace be  worshipers of the Sacred Cat of Burma?

Keeper of the Bells

The Sacred Necklace of Nine Silver Bell. Used to assist in meditation, each bell and each link represents one step in the "Wheel of Life".

(Part of the Burmese temple tradition, and embodied by the lovely Birman cats)
The Meaning of each SILVER BELL:

1.   CAT - Birth or beginning
2.   PRIEST - He east what is left over and is easily satisfied with little.   * RIGHT BELIEF - that truth is the guide of man
3.   WARRIOR - Marches in front, and ready to fight.   * RIGHT RESOLVE - to be calm at all times and not to harm any living creature..
4.   HUSBAND OR WIFE - Watchful, and goes out of the house first, and returns last.   *RIGHT SPEECH - never to lie, never to slander anyone, and never to use coarse or harsh language.
5.   STROLLING SINGER - Ill-trained and changeful and wounds him who gets near    *RIGHT BEHAVIOR - never to steal, never to kill, and never o do anything one may later regret or be ashamed of.
6.   THIEF - He prowls around in darkness and is a shameless eater.   *RIGHT OCCUPATION - never to choose an occupation that is considered bad.
7.   COURTESAN - Fond of singing and roams along the road.   *RIGHT EFFORT - always to strive for that which is good and avoid that which is evil.
8.   CHILD - Fond of sleep, gentle, and trusting.   *RIGHT CONTEMPLATION - of the NOBLE TRUTHS, in calmness and detachment.
9.   HERMIT - Digs the earth with his paws.   *RIGHT CONCENTRATION - will then follow and lead to the path of perfect peace.

*Religious part, following the eightfold path*

"THE WHEEL OF LIFE" the meaning of each link of the chain

The Birman Mandala is specially
designed of the traditional geometric
pattern, enhanced with a beautiful
image of a Birman.  
 

	Beginning of all sorrow; because of ignorance, there is individuality; the end of sorrow with absolute cessation of ignorance, comes the end of individuality.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of individuality, there is intellect; the end of all sorrow with the end of individuality, comes the end of intellect.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of intellect, there is a separate name and form; the end of all sorrow with the end of intellect, comes the end of name and form.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of name and form, there are the six senses; the end of all sorrow with the end of name and form, comes the end of the six senses.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of the six senses, there is contact; the end of all sorrow with the end of six senses, comes the end of contact.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of touch, there is sensation; the end of all sorrow with the end of touch, comes the end of sensation.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of sensation, there is caving; the end of all sorrow with the end of sensation, comes the end of craving.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of craving, there is grasping; the end of all sorrow with the end of craving , comes the end of grasping.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of grasping, there is individual existence; the end of all sorrow with the end of grasping, come the end of individual existence.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of individual existence, there is earthly existence; the end of all sorrow with the end of individual existence, comes the end of earthly existence.
	Beginning of all sorrow; because of earthly existence, there is decay and death; the end of all sorrow with the end of earthly existence, comes the end of decay and death.
	Beginning of all sorrow; rises from the chain of grief, sorrow and despair: suffering.

The Four Noble Truths;
With the expectances of Karma ends the chain of all grief, sorrow and despair.

	First Noble Truth; is that old age is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering; being exposed to what one dislikes is suffering; being separated from what ones likes is suffering; failure to realize one’s ambitions and desires is suffering.
	Second Noble Truth; is that suffering comes from the desire for being which leads from birth to rebirth, together with lust and desire which finds gratification here and there; the desire for being; the desire for pleasure and the desire for power, these are the sources of suffering.
	Third Noble Truth; is that suffering can be dissolved with the complete annihilation of desire, separating oneself from it and completely expelling it.
	Forth Noble Truth; is that the cessation of all desire can be gained by following the Eightfold Path. "The Wisdom of Buddha; Renewed births are the cause of suffering and death, and in turn lead back to number one (1) and the cycle starts again.
	Thus the Wheel of Life Keeps Turning. The Sacred Cat of Burma Is The Keeper of the Bells.

The following was taken from the
"BIRMAN BIBLE"