Aungzwamagyi is one of the 37 nats

Nat (spirit)

The nats are spirits worshipped in Burma in conjunction with Buddhism. They are divided between the 37 Great Nats and all the rest . Almost all of the 37 Great Nats were human beings who met violent deaths . They may thus also be called nat sein...

 in the Burmese pantheon of nats. He is the nat representation of Aung Zwa, a commander in the service of Crown Prince Narapatisithu

Narapatisithu

Narapatisithu was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1173 to 1210. He is considered the last important king of Pagan. His peaceful and prosperous reign gave rise to Burmese culture which finally emerged out of the shadows of Mon and Pyu cultures. The Burman leadership of the kingdom was now...

 of Pagan, and the assassin of King Naratheinkha

Naratheinkha

Naratheinkha was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1170 to 1173. When Naratheinkha succeeded his father Narathu, the new king was greeted with multiple rebellions by the Kudus in the Tagaung region in the north and the Mons of Tenasserim coast in the south...

. He is portrayed sitting on a throne, playing a harp

Saung

The saung is an arched harp used in traditional Burmese music. The saung is regarded as a national musical instrument of Burma. The saung is unique in that it is a very ancient harp tradition and the only surviving harp in Asia today.- Description :...

 and wearing a headdress and a sash.

In 1173, Aung Zwa on Narapatisithu's orders assassinated Naratheinkha who had tried to take one of Narapatisithu's queens as his own. Aung Zwa led a group of 80 soldiers, and infiltrated the palace. He found the king in the privy

Outhouse

An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...

, and slew him there.

Narapatisithu had promised Aung Zwa the three queens of Naratheinkha for his efforts. But the new king reneged on his promise, after hearing pleas by his three sisters-in-law not to be given to a commoner like Aung Zwa. (The queens were also Narapatisithu's cousins.)

The king told Aung Zwa that:

Nga Aung Zwa Nge, I made thee a promise indeed but if I were to give thee one of my sisters-in-law, it would be held a sin against my grand-sires and great-grand-sires. I will make thee great, and give thee a daughter of a great nobleman.

Aung Zwa, disgusted, said: Pish!

Narapatisithu slew him at once, saying He hath braved me to my face.