Manohra dance or kinaree

The kinaree appears in both Ramakian and most other Himapant fables. Thai traditional dance (called Ram thai) portrays Kinaree in most of their dances. here is a beautiful dance in Southern "Manorah" style. Kinarees were said to have been able to remove their wings and tails to become pure human, in order to entice unwitting humans.

Birth of Lord Latsatian

The Yaksas and the Kingdom of Langka 

Langka is Built and given to Jadturapaktra an, who begets a son Lord Latsatian

Latsatian Inherits Langka - And so begins the Ramakian.....

According to the Brahmin legends, On the side of the Yaksa race, the City of Langka was built by Sahabodii Prohm and ruled over by  a Brahma Lord called "Taw Jadturapaktra" (this is a revered national Angelic Deity in Thailand - Jadtu means 4fold, and Paktra means faces - so "four faces"). He was given a Concubine (wife) called Nang Maligaa, along with an entourage of Yaksa servants and Citizens to rule over. He was also bestowed a Heavenly gift of the Diamond Parasol (as in the Diamond Parasol Sacred Na design, which you can see on the Yantpedia website).

The Diamond Parasol. This Magical parasol posessed the power that, when you lifted it up in the centre of the City and opened it, it would obscure the sunlight and prevent any enemies from being able to see the City. Later, Nang Maligaa gave birth to a young Prince, name of "Taw Latsatian" (ท้าวลัสเตียน). Lord Latsatian has four Arms, and is, of course, the Father of The Yaksa lineage in Langka and the Thai Ramakian Epic. Pic left; The Vanora Pali crushes the Chatra (Parasol)

A note about Chatra (Parasols) in Asian Culture.

The meaning of the Parasol in Thailand is similar to that of many countries, such as India, Laos and Burma. In olden times, when one had erected a City one would erect a "Chatra" (Parasol) in the centre of the City as a sign of Rule. If there were 2 Cities in the Kingdom, then the Parasol should have 2 stories. If 7 Cites, then 7 stories/levels etc. In the picture below, of a Royal Chatra, the Nine Stories most certainly represent the Nine  Ruling Kings of the Chakri Dynasty. Apart from this, in Asia, the Chatra is used whenever Royal, Majestic, or Sacred religious figures are present, or in the case of statues and edifices, on display. Kings, Devas, and Chedis (stupas/shrines), have Chatras shading them. I shall be researching this more and will update the info if i feel it necessary (or interesting enough).

The Birth of Anomatan

Family Tree Heirarchies and Lineages of the Human, Vanora (Simian), and Yaksa (Giants) races.

After disposing of the Demon Yaksa "Hirantayaksa, Phra Narayn rode off on the back of a Naga serpent. He rode across a Vast Ocean, whilst casting a spell with a loud shout. As he cast his spells, a lotus flower sprung out of Phra Narayn's stomach, and opened to greet the sun. Not only this; a small Kumara (boy), was also born in the middle of the Lotus Flower.

Phra Narayn thus took the Kumara to Phra isworn, and offered it to him in reverence. Phra Isworn saw fit to comission Phra Intr (Indra), to design and build a City for the young Kumara to rule over. As Phra Intr was researching places to build  the City, he travelled to earth, and came across four Ruesi hermit Sages, who were practising their abstinences and meditations in the forest. This forest was called "Twaaraawadii".

The Ruesi Sages suggested that this was a good place to build the City for the Kumara, and that it would be a great blessing to name the city after the four Ruesi - taking one syllable from the name of each of the four;

This is how the City came to be named "Ayodhaya Twaaraawaradii" (see my ruesi legends to see the names of the four Ruesi). The town of Ayuttaya in Thailand is named after Ayodhaya.

When the City was sucessfully constructed and completed, Phra Intr informed Phra Isworn of the good news. Phra Isworn then instructed Kumara to go forth and rule the City of Ayodhaya, and bestowed upon him the name of "Anomatan" After this, Phra Intr arranged for a Royal Consort/Concubine for Lord Anomatan, whose name was Nang Mani Gaesorn, as well as conjuring servants and citizens for Anomatan to rule over, and fill the City. After this, Nang Mani Gaesorn gave birth to a Son, named "Taw Achaban" (ท้าวอัชบาล). The Lord Anomatan and his Queen Nang Mani Gaesorn then gave up their Rulership of the Kingsom and left it to Taw Achaban to Inherit and Rule over instead.

Hirantayaksa

Hirantayaksa rolls up the Earth หิรันตยักษ์ม้วนแผ่นดิน

Hirantayaks rolls up the earth and puts it under his arm. Locked in his armpit, he takes it to "Mueang Badan" (เมืองบาดาล the Underworld), and attempts to do away with it forever, leaving the Humans with no place to reside.

There was once a Yaksa called "Hirantayaks"; he lived on the Mount "Jagrawala" (jakrawal means "Universe, in Thai and Pali). He was an extremely powerful Yaksa, due to him receiving a blessing from Phra Isworn (Shiva), and was the fear of all the Ruesi and Devas. One day, Hirantayaks was feeling especially Malevolent and Destructive, and decided he wanted to attack the world and make it break and fall to pieces; So he rolled up the surface of the Earth, and put it under his arm, taking it to the hidden Underworld of Mueang Badan. When the Devas witnessed Hirantayaksa's evil doings, they rushed to see Phra Isworn, and begged him to help in his Mercy.
"Lord Shiva! Hirantayaksa is doing evil deeds and destroying the world and the people in it! please help them good Lord!!"

Phra Isworn looked down from the Heavens and saw Hirantayaks - and thought to himself; "Look at you Hirantayaksa.. why do you turn to such Evil deeds?" "You have broken your promise not to bother the world with the powers i gave you - for this i shall not spare you." So Phra Isworn called upon Phra Narayn (Vishnu) to Avatar into the world and destroy Hirantayaks.

Phra Narayn obeyed Phra Isworn's request immediately, and journeyed straight to the Underworld as soon as he heard of Phra Isworn's request. On arrival in the Underworld, Phra Narayn saw Hirantayaks holding the rolled up surface of the earth nipped in his armpit, and Phra Narayn mutated into a white Wild Boar, with fur like cotton wool, and diamond tusks.

 He charged straight into Hirantayaksa and started scewering him with his sharp diamond tusks, and biting him with his sharp teeth. Hirantayaks didn't know that this was Phra Narayn in disguise, and began to fight back with all his strength. Phra Narayn increased his attack and consequently bit so much that Hirantayaksa's head was completely severed, and death fell upon him. The wild boar (Hmoo Phra Narayn หมูพระนารายณ์) returned the Earth back to it's rightful place and laid it out as before.

This is one of the many legends that come in the sequence before Ramayana starts, and is part of the Hindu Vedas.

Ravana compared to Totsakan « ไทยพราหมณ์ Brahminism in Thailand

Ravana compared to Totsakan « ไทยพราหมณ์ Brahminism in Thailand:
"Ravana compared to Totsakan"
As i blog on the Thai Ramakian here, so have i also begun to attempt the documentation of the Hindu Brahmin version of Ramayana by the Hermit Ruesi Sage Valmiki on the Thai Brahmin Blog, sister site of sak-yant.com. There i shall also be investigating the differences between the two versions of the Mythical tale of love, war, friendship and enemies. Some of the differences are extremely subtle, and others rather great.
Below is one of the articles from the Ramayana section of Thai brahminism blog and website, for you to enjoy.

Characteristics of Ravana in Valmiki’s Ramayana, as compared with those of Totsagan in the Thai Ramakian.

The Hermit Sage Valmiki (Author of Ramayana), made mention of the previous incarnation of the Rakasasa (Yaksa, demon giants), namely, that he was the Yaksa Nontuk (alternatively called Nontok).
Ravana was a Rakasasa who had been given the blessings of Brahma to posess great might and magic.


As a result of this (and his malevolent attitude), he went causing havoc thought all of the three worlds. He even though to conquer “Phra Intr” (the God Indra), who was Lord of the Angelic beings (Devas).He loved to bother and bully the Brahmin priests and Priestesses as well as even the common folk. As a result, the Devas went to beg Brahma (Phra Prom) to find a way to stop Ravana from his evil deeds.Lord Brahma looked into the emptinesss and saw that Ravana request from Brahma had only limited itself to preventing any Devas, “Kon Tan” (คนธรรพ์) Yaksas, or Rakasasas be able to kill him.But Ravana never once had mentioned anything about Humans, leaving the possibility for a Human to kill him.



So Phra Narayn (Vishnu พระนารายณ์) was sent to “Avatar” (incarnate-manifest) as a HUman being and execute Ravana, Differingly, in the Thai Ramakian, Phra Narayn told Nontuk Yaksa that he would be born as a Human with only two arms and that Nontuk would be born as a Yaksa named Totsagan, with 10 heads and 20 arms, but that Phra Narayn would still beat him. But in the Hindu version of Valmiki, Vishnu is called on by all the Devas to be born as the sone of “Taw Totsarot” (Lord Totsarot) and defeat Ravana.
Ravana is relatively Identical with Totsagan; namely, 10 heads, 20 arms, but his skin is light blue, and has many scars from his battles; such as the scar of the lightning bolt of Phra Intr (Indra พระนทร์), the scar from the Chakra disc of Vishnu, the wound of Erawan’s tusk (Erawan the 33 headed elephant on which Indra rides).He has the power to stir up the ocean, lift mountains, and even bully the Devas. He was able to shift shape, and become as handsome as he wished, in order to seduce,just as could Totsagan in the Ramakian. As for Malevolence, the two are equal in both tales. Both have a “Busabok” (magic dais บุษบก), stolen from his older brother Giberan (กุเวร - Guwen in Thai), upon which he is able to fly to any place he wishes.

But in Valmiki’s Ramayana, after Ravana kidnaps Sida, he does not get to come close to Sida’s side, because he once had bothered the goddess Lady Absara (Nang Absorn in Thai - นางอัปษร), who went and complained to Brahma, who then cursed Ravan that if he ever bothered Lady Sida another time, that he would make his head separate from his body.As a result, Ravana does not dare to make any advances to Sida.."

Read on ....  the continuation of the complete story on Thai Brahmin Blog

Fon Kinaree ฝนกินนรี

Kinaree (กินรี or Ginari), are female devas with birdwings and tails that can sometimes be removed to take on full human form. The clip below is of a laoatian Khone theater song and dance, and captures perfectly the strange offtone harmonies of Traditional Thai Khone theater



Part Two ตอน๒


Kinarees are Depicted in the Thai Ramakian story, as well as often to be seen in Thai Temple architecture, stone, metal and wood Sculpture and many other classical Artforms, such as ceramics, pottery, painting and enamel work.


Links;
Thai Pottery

The Thai Brahmin website and blog is up and online - please visit it as it is the first real project of the siamfoundation portal with quality interesting content to read. - the website needs your support by visiting it, so please give it a chance and have a look

เวบไทยพราหมร์ (Thai Brahmin)

<<<< สงครามสวรรค์ War in Heaven | **Hindu Deities** | Video Clips >>>>

Links;

<<<< สงครามสวรรค์ War in Heaven | **Hindu Deities** | Video Clips >>>>

http://brahmin.siamfoundation.org/thai/index.php

Phra Ram - Phra Laks - Ramakian Khone Theater

Phra Lak Phra Ram Khone dance (1 of 5)

พระราม พระลักษมณ์

This is a series of 5 clips of Traditional thai Khone theater, portraying scenes from the Ramakian.

Part 2 Phra Ram Phra Laks ตอน ๒

Part 3 Phra Ram Phra Laks ตอน 3

Part 4 Phra Ram Phra Laks ตอน ๔

Part 5 Phra Ram Phra Laks ตอน ๕

Totsakireewan - Totsakireetorn

ทศคิรีวัน ทศคิรีธร

Totsakireewan (ทศคิรีวัน - green color), and Totsakireetorn (ทศคิรีธร - red colored), are the sons of Totsagan, but were requested as fosterchildren by Lord Asagan (อศกรรณ). They are represented riding on horses (Totsakireewan on a white horse and Totsakireetorn on a black horse).

One day the two brothers started to miss their father Totsagan, and set out to journey to Langka to see him. Once they arrived, theyheard of the war with Phra Ram and joined forces to help their father Totsagan to defend the Yaksa Lineage.

The went into battle against Phra Laks (Lakshman), and were tragically killed by the arrows of Phra Laks, who is brother of Phra Ram and one opf the three emanations of the Vishnu Avatar

Thai Poem about the Yaksa brothers

โอรสคชกับท้าว ทศกัณฐ์
นามทศคิรีวัน ออกอ้าง
มงกุฏกาบ ไผ่พรรณ เขียวสด
งวงงอกออกเช่นช้าง ส่อเชื้อหัสดี
บุตรกบีเกิดกับท้าว จอมลงกาเอย
นามคชคิรีธรทรง ฤทาธิ์ร้าย
งส์ดินผ่องผิวมง กุฎกาบไผ่แฮ
งาสิกเป็นงวงคล้าย เงื่อนเค้าชนนี้

The author spencer offers this design as a tattoo for special price. E-Mail him for details.

Guberan and the Magic Dais

Guberan (also known as Taw Waes Suwann (ท้าวเวสสุวัณ) in Thailand); Purple skin, two arms, grimacing mouth. He wears the "Mongkud Ganok" (Ganok is a kind of filigraine flamy decoration for ceremonial regalia and religious architecture).His Father and Mother wer Taw Latsatian and Naang Sri Sunanta. He is the ruler of Kalachakra city, & the older brother of Totsagan (same mother different fathers).

One day Guberan was riding the "Busabok" (magical dais/chariot), which he recieved as a gift (some tales say from his father, and some say it was the Deity Brahma who bestowed this gift upon him). He was on the way to visit Phra Isworn (Shiva), who on that day was out on his elephant, when his younger brother Totsagan (who had just completed the ceremony to remove his heart and give it to the Ruesi), saw him hovering through the air on the magical chariot and was filled with envy and avarice. Totsagan flew into the air and attacked Guberan, who was unable to prevent Totsagan from gaining advantage.
Totsagan was know for his uncontrollable desire and ferocity when jealous or angry. Whatever Totsagan's emoptions were, they were always extremely vehement.
When Totsagan transformed into his true higher self he would have 20 arms and ten heads.


Below pic shows the Busabok in a later scene where Nok Sadayu fights Totsagan to save Naang Siidaa

Click to view Nok Sadayu Enlarged

Guberan thus called out to Phra Isworn to help, so Phra Isworn threw a tusk from his elephant at Totsagan which pierced his breast. Phra Isworn cursed him to have the tusk remain until his dying day stuck in his chest. For this reason,Totsagan always had to cut the tusk regularly in oredr to keep it level with his chest and prevent it from growing.


You can read my full story of Guberan as seen from both the Brahmin and Buddhist philosophies on my latest project; the Thai Brahminism blog.



Links:
Read the story of Lord Waes Suwann (Guberan) as a complete synopsis on the Thai Brahmin blog.
Below are various pics of Thai Ganok (as seen in Guberan's crown/mongkud), and also of "Busabok" like furniture.


The beautiful filigraine handwork on the left is typical "Ganok" (or alternatively called "Granok"). Granok are fire like flamy tongues of decorative imagination that will end in naga head formed tips. The nagas are strongly emphasized in the metamorphosing flow of fine line abstract decorative Asian art which leaves the Western eye both amazed and staggered by its intricate beauty and delicacy of form.
This piece to 285 people from four different professions to make it and took one year to finish the job. It was made to celebrate the occasion of the Queens birthday on 12th August of 2547 B.E.
The pic below this was also made for the same occasion and took one and a half years work by 73 people
size; 112 x 128 x 115 cm.




Reference lInk;
http://www.dvthai2.com/Bd0a95.htm

Hanuman's Reconnaissance Mission;

The three monkeys set out - Ongkot saves the Yaksa Paklan and send him to Heaven, Hanuman saves the lady Busamalii and removes her curse, gets a new consort and extends his tail as a bridge.



After the army of Wanora were successfully installed and encamped on mount Kanthamat, the three heroes set out to search for the right way to Langka.After wandering for a while, they stumbled upon the Yaksa Paklan, who had been cursed by Phra Isworn (Shiva) and condemned to remain at the lake of a thousand eyes (Pantha lake). The Yaksa agreed to help Hanuman and his two companions, and pointed the way towards Langka for them. Ongkot stroked the Yaksa's back in thanks with compassionate gratitude, and Paklan was released from his curse, and was returned to the Celestial Realms to be a Devata (angelic being).

After this, the three continued along the path and after a while, came across the lady Naang Busamalii, who was cursed and forced to remain prisoner of the palace they found her in.As soon as Naang Busamalii found out that the three Wanora monkeys were soldiers and servants of Phra Ram, she pointed out the way onwards to Langa for them. Hanuman wooed Naang Busamalii and obtained her as a consort (wife) - he then threw her into the sky and removed her curse with the power of his great merits. She was then able to return to the Heavenly Realms.



The journey continued, and after some time travelling, they encountered Naang Suwannamalii, who had been ordered by Phra Isworn to come and wait for the three wanora, and inform them of how to get to Langka. She told them to take their forces across the water (river) to meet the Hermit Sage Chadila Ruesi (ชฎิลฤษี). They were told that the Ruesi Chadila would then lead them further along the road to Langka.

But how were they to cross the water with all the soldiers and weapons of war, chariots etc? Hmm.. thought Hanuman - then he had an idea! He changed his size and his tail grew and grew, until it was big enough to stretch out and use as a bridge for the armies of Phra Ram to cross the river and reach the banks on the other side.The Army crossed successfully and gathered around the clearing where the Ruesi lived to await instructions for continuing the journey

<<< The Council of Vanora Paklan and the lake of a thousand tears >>>

Council of Vanora Hanuman

War Council of Phra Ram and the Wanora.
A council hearing was called between Phra Ram, and the monkey soldiers.
Phra Ram asked Sukreep for advice, to which Sukreep that the army should be sent to encamp at Mount Kanthamat, whilst the 3 bravest and able soldiers would do reconnaissance to find the Lady Siidaa without making the approach of Phra Ram's army of Wanora (monkeys) evident.



The three soldiers chosen to go were of course, Hanuman Ongkot and Chompupan. In order to make Naang Siidaa believe they were truly servants of Phra Ram, Siidaa's shawl and famous magical Molee ring of Phra Isworn was given to Hanuman to show to her when he appeared to tell her that Phra Ram was on his way to rescue her. Hanuman, however, insisted that this might not be enough to convince Siidaa that he was a true servant of Phra Ram, due to the fact that the ring and shawl could be something he found in the forest.
Hanuman explained that anyone could have found the dropped items and posed as a friend of Phra Ram in order to dupe Lady Siidaa, and suggested sharing a secret that only Phra Ram and Naang Siidaa could ever know about.




So Phra Ram told Hanuman the story that only Himself and Siidaa could know about - the time when Phra Ram came to contest for the hand of Siidaa in the Molee Bow lifting ceremony, and they cuaght their eyes when Siidaa was looking out of the window as Phra Ram approached the city, and they fell in love instantly. Hanuman was told to tell her this story when he found her.

The Royal Poem from picture number 29 of the wall paintings in the Royal Palace chapel of the Emerald Buddha;

ซึ่งจะเจรจาปรีชาชาญ เห็นแต่หนุมานผู้ฤธี
กับชมพูพานรินทร์ องคตหลานอินทร์เรืองศรี
ทั้งสามแต่ล้วนตัวดี นอกนี้ไม่เห็นผู้ใด
ถึงพบยักษ์มารจะราญรอน ทีหักทีอ่อนก็ทำได้
ขอให้สามนายนี้ไป เฝ้าองค์อรไทในเมืองยักษ์

previous episode - Hanuman Offers his Services to Phra ram
Related Links; Hanuman - Monkey general of Phra Ram

รามเกียรติ์ ไทยรามะยะณะ

Thai Ramakian รามเกียรติ์ ไทยรามะยะณะ:

Pra Pay พระพาย- Hanuman's father in the Ramakian is the elemental spirit of the wind. In the Hindu and Brahmin Cosmology, the Elementals are represented as personified Deities. Payu also means "wind storm" Pra Pay is the God of the Wind. He is one of the five elemental gods, (panchamahabhoota). The other elemental gods are earth (prthivi), water (aap), fire (agni), air (vayu), and space (akasha). Vayu is best known for being the father of Hamuman, the monkey king
.

Alternate Names: Anila, Sadagatha, Gandhavaha, Jalakantara, Pavana, Vata

Iconography: Blue in color, he is depicted with four hands. He holds a fan and a flag in two hands while the other two are held in abhaya and varada mudras (postures).

Mythology: When Hanuman was born, he flew up to the sky to steal the sun. To stop Hanmuman, Indra and he made Hanuman uncouncious. When Vayu learned of the fate of his son, he was enraged and withheld wind from the earth. Finally, Indra pacified Vayu by returning conciesness to Hamnuman.

Hanuman was born of the womb of Anjana. Anjana was once walking in the forest, when a cyclone came up and lifted the garmets of Anjana above her waist. The wind then entered Anjana and she felt as if something was placed in her womb. Hanuman was therefore born of Anjana and Vayu.

Riding Animal: Antelope

Consort: Anjana

Below is the Wikipedia example given by the Hindu version, where "Pra Pay" is alternatively called "Vayu"
'In Hinduism Vayu (Sanskrit: वायु, IAST: Vāyu; Malay: Bayu, Thai: Phra Pai) is a primary deity, the father of Bhima and the spiritual father of Lord Hanuman. He is also known as Vāta वात, Pavana पवन (meaning the Purifier), or Prāna. In the hymns, Vayu is described as having 'exceptional beauty' and moving noisily in his shining coach, driven by two or forty-nine or thousand white and purple horses. A white Banner is his main attribute.

As the word for air, (Vāyu) or wind (Pavana) is one of the Panchamahābhuta or five great elements. The Sanskrit word 'Vāta' literally means 'blown', 'Vāyu' 'blower', and 'Prāna' 'breathing' (viz. the breath of life, cf. the *an- in 'animate'). Hence, the primary referent of the word is the 'deity of Life', who is sometimes for clarity referred to as 'Mukhya-Vāyu' (the chief Vāyu) or 'Mukhya Prāna' (the chief of Life).

Sometimes the word 'vayu,' which is more generally used in the sense of the physical air or wind, is used as a synonym for 'prāna'.There is however a separate set of five deities of Prāna (vital breath), Mukhya-Prāna being chief among them, so that, in Hindi and other Indian languages, someone's death is stated as 'his lives departed' (uske prān nikal gaye) rather than 'his life departed.' These five Vāyu deities, Prāna, Apāna, Vyāna, Udāna, and Samāna, control life (and the vital breath), the wind, touch/sensation, digestion, and excretion.

In the Upanishads, there are numerous statements and illustrations of the greatness of Vāyu. The Brhadaranyaka states that the gods who control bodily functions once engaged in a contest to determine who among them is the greatest. When a deity such as that of vision would leave a man's body, that man would continue to live, albeit as a blind man, and would regain the lost faculty once the errant deity returned to his post. One by one, the deities all took their turns leaving the body, but the man continued to live on, though successively impaired in various ways. Finally, when Mukhya Prāna started to leave the body, all the other deities started to be inexorably pulled off their posts by force, 'just as a powerful horse yanks off pegs in the ground to which he is bound.' This caused the other deities to realize that they can function only when empowered by Vayu, and can be overpowered by him easily. In another episode, Vāyu is said to be the only deity not afflicted by demons of sin who were on the attack. The Chandogya states that one cannot know Brahman except by knowing Vāyu as the udgitha (the mantric syllable 'om').



Followers of Dvaita philosophy hold that Mukhya-Vāyu incarnated as Madhvacharya to teach worthy souls to worship the Supreme God Vishnu and to correct the errors of the Advaita philosophy. Madhvacharya himself makes this claim, citing the Rig Veda as his evidence.

Pavan is also a fairly common Hindu name. Pavan had played an important role in Anjana's begetting Hanuman as her child. Hence Hanuman is also called Pavan-Putra (son of Pavana) and Vāyu-Putra.