According to Myanmar belief, Buddhism arrived into the country soon after Siddhatha Gautama, was enlightened and became Buddha. The story tells of two merchant brothers from Lower Burma, who went on a journey to pay homage to the Buddha and received eight strands of these hairs to venerate. The merchants were the frist lay followers of the Buddha and the first people who took refuge in him and the Dhamma, his teaching, before the Sangha, the community of monks, began to exist. The offered strands were enshrined inside the Shwedagon pagoda by King Okalappa, and the place became the most precious treasure for all the people of Myanmer, a symbol of both religion and country.