นางมนโฑ - Naang Montoe
Her name is as familiar to the ears of Thai people as the Name of naang Siidaa, Naang Benjagaay or Naang Suwannamajchaa, if not more so than the last 2. In her life she would have up to four husbands!Naang Montoe is an important figure in the Ramayana and, and also had some important roles to play in previous lifetimes to that of her incarnation as Naang Montoe. For example,the events that led to her becoming Naang Montoe - Naang Montoe is the Royal Consort of Totsagan in the Ramakian, and also Naang Siidaa's Mother (although this is never really stressed in the story and both Naang Montoe and Siidaa are unaware of the fact at least until the closing scenes or possibly not at all);
The story goes like this; On the foot of Mount Himapant, there lived four Ruesi Sages, practising Yoga and self abstinence. They were extremely adept in thewir practise and were admired by one and all for their acheivments. every morning, 500 Cows would come to their ashram, and allow milk from themselves to drop into a large crystalbowl to give the Ruesi their breakfast, which the Ruesi would then give some of to the female frog who lived in the area of their ashram.
One day, one of the four Ruesi was wandering in the forest, and came across a Naga snake partaking of sexual intercourse with an earthly snake. the Ruesi thought the Naga (being of high stature) was too superior to be thinking of having such relations with an earthly animal snake, and took his walking staff and tapped the Naga lady on the tail with it;
The Naga was in ecstatic state and didn't notice, so the Ruesi tapped again repeatedly. The naga coiled his tail out of the way and turned to face the Ruesi Sage. Onr ealizing her exp[osure, she was overcome with shame, and fled to Mueang Badan (the underworld)As the naga came to thinking about if the Ruesi would talk about this to her father "Prayaa Gaala" the king of the Nagas would get to find out, aa wellas the fact that her own reputation would be destroyed forever, and probably be executed as a punishment. So she returned to the ashram of the four Ruesi Sages, and placed some poison in the crystal bowl of milk that the Ruesi cam to partake of every morning.
The lady frog saw the Naga snake come and put deadly poison in the milkbowl.The frog couldn't speak, so didnt know how to warn the Ruesi. Finally,so full of compassion for the kind Ruesi sages who had fed her for so long,that the frog threw herself in the pool of milk, it and dying so that the Ruesi would notice and abstain from drinking, and thus be saved.The Ruesi saw the frog in the milk, and thought she had died trying to drink it all out of greed. But they still had the compassion to decide to revive her.After coming back to life, the Ruesi asked her why she was so greedy after they had fed her well for so many years?Naang Gop explained about the Naga putting poison in the milk to kill the Ruesi, which led the Ruesi to see the self sacrifice and goodness of the lady frog.
So they made a ceremony of "Gor Akkii" (raise fire) and put the frog in the flames chanting Katas and Spells. Naang Gop (the frog) was revived, and transformed into a lady more beautiful than any Princess or Angel in the 6 heavens or on the Earth!
They named her "Naang Montoe" - the word montoe meaning "frog".
Below is the "Phra Ratchanipont" (Royal Poem) about this (in Thai)
เดชะพระเวทสิทธิศักดิ์ พระวิษณุรักษ์รังสรรค์
เกิดเป็นกัลยาวิลาวัณย์ งามวิจิตรพิศพรรณขวัญตา
งามพักตร์ยิ่งชั้นมหาราช งามวิลาสล้ำนางในดึงสา
งามเนตรยิ่งเนตรในยามา งามนาสิกล้ำในดุษฎี
งามโอษฐ์งามกรรณงามปราง ยิ่งนางในนิมาราศี
งามเกศยิ่งเกศกัลยาณี อันมีในชั้นนิรมิต
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Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom by Krishna Dharma (Paperback - Jul 15, 2004)
This book is well detailed including all the most important events and stories. It is also easy reading and does not require any extra effort to get through. Enjoyable, relaxing but still extremely informative content on the Ramayana
