The Birman legend is derived from a Hindu-Buddhist mix. The Hinduism encompasses many religions similar to the way Christianity encompassing Protestant, Catholic Lutheran etc. Hinduism is a dynamic religion having many gods and goddesses. These deities may take animal forms possibly even a "cat god." In the geographical areas under a Hindu-Buddhist influence, every village has the own god and every person has their personal god. In this environment a potential for a cat god exists now and for new ones in the future.

The Buddha is not a god but is the "Enlighten one." All Buddhists aspire to be Enlighten. People who follow the teachings of The Buddha venerate the Buddha like a god because he represents everything they strive to be. You can be a Buddhist and not believe in any god or believe in many gods. So it is possible that a village could have its gods (animal, sun, human, etc.) and still practice the teachings of the Buddha.

The Sacred Cat of Burma is surrounded in mystery and legend. There was a temple in Northern Burma that practices a Hindu-Buddhist mix and it is from this temple that the legend was born. Major Gordon Russell, an officer in the English, army then serving in Burma, and explorer Augusta Pavie of France, recieved a pair of Sacred Temple Cats. The cats were given as a gift in appreciation for their valiant efforts at defending the temple from an invasion. This pair was the foundation of the Birman breed. (Later to be known as the Birman: Sacred Cat of Burma)

Correction: according to Mrs. Griswold who imported some Temple Cat from this foundation. The Temple Cats came wearing a necklace of nine silver bells. These nine silver bells and the links in the chain represent the "eight-fold paths" and the "nobel truths." The sole history of the Birman is founded on the experiences of Russell and Pavie. Since we have nothing else to go by, we have to take their word as gospel.

The Temple of the Sacred Cat is a quasi religious site. It is a blend of Hindu/Buddhist/Wicca/Christian/New Age/etc. and roll playing game. Here everyone can choose what they want to practice, provided that it is centered on the cat. Participants can be true worshiper, dabblers, cat-lovers. Its not really cat worshiping as in a supreme being, it is more like cat-lovers who want to think that their cat is really special. We justify this by pointing out the cat's mystical behavior and The Legend of the Birman.