Saw Lu ascended to the Pagan throne on 11 April 1077 after his father Anawrahta had died under mysterious circumstances. When he became king, he married his father's Mon queen
Manisanda (Khin U) and made her the chief queen. His regnal title was
Śrīvájrabharaṇatribupati (). To run the Mon-speaking territories in the south, he appointed his trusted childhood friend
Yamankan, an ethnic Mon. To administer the upcountry, Saw Lu, at the urging of
Primate Shin Arahan, reluctantly brought back Kyansittha, who had been sent to exile by Anawrahta for his affair with Manisanda. However, Saw Lu soon had to banish Kyansittha again (this time to
Dala near
Yangon) because the latter renewed his affair with Manisanda.
Mon rebellion As governor of Pegu, Yamankan continued to visit Saw Lu at Pagan. Knowing the inexperience of his childhood friend well, Yamankan decided to rebel. The chronicles describe the final breach between Saw Lu and Yamankan in a dramatic way. The two were playing a game of
dice, and Yamankan won. As Yamankan romped about in joy at his victory, Saw Lu taunted him, "If you are so clever, why don't you rebel against me?" ==Death==