- Nang Kwak
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Mae Nang Kwak figurine at a shrine in Cha Am.
Mae Nang Kwak, Nang Gwak (Thai: แม่นางกวัก) or Nang Kwak is a spirit or household divinity of Thai and Laotian folklore. She brings prosperity.
Contents
Iconography
Mae Nang Kwak is represented as a beautiful woman wearing a red dress (not always, but more often than other colors) fashioned in the Thai and sometimes Laotian traditional style. She also wears a golden crown on her head and is in the sitting or kneeling position. Her right hand is raised in the Thai way of beckoning a customer, with the palm of the hand pointing downwards. Her left hand is resting on her side or holds a bag full of gold on her lap.
The figure of Mae Nang Kwak evolved from Mae Po Sop (แม่โพสพ), the Siamese rice goddess,[1] in recent times. The only difference is that she is not wearing the harvested rice sheaf on her right shoulder. The iconography of these goddesses is based in the Hindu goddess Sri Lakshmi, but their true origins are local and more ancient. To dispute this concept, Mr. Spencer Littlewood, author of Specialist Niche Thai Mystical Ezine 'Buddha Magic', has written an extensive article which uproots two different legends as to the Nang Kwak Deity, both of which purportedly originate from Brahman roots. The first legend presents Nang Kwak as Nang Supawadee.
In the introduction to the first story, Littlewood tells; The legend of Nang Gwak, is something that occurred a long time ago, before or during the time when Buddhism was beginning to spread, about 2500 years ago. The legend tells that, in the Indian province of Sawadtii in the small town of Michigaasandhanakara. There was a married couple whose names were Mr. Sujidtaprahma and Mrs. Sumanta, who had a daughter named Supawadee. They were merchants who sold small amounts of wares on the markets, only earning just enough to maintain their small family from day to day. One day, they were discussing their hopes and dreams for the future, and decided that they should try to expand their business to make more profit and begin to think of being able to save something for their old age.
As a result of this conversation, they decided to try to afford to buy a gwian (cart) in order to use to travel with and sell their wares to other towns and villages. They also then brought wares from the other towns to sell in Sawadtii and Michigaasandhanakara when they returned. Sometimes, Supawadee would ask to tag along for the ride, and help them. One day, as Supawadee was helping her parents to sell wares in a distant town, she was lucky to be able to hear a sermon by Phra Gumarn Gasaba Thaera; she was so convinced and moved by his sermon, that she took refuge in the Triple Gem. When Gasaba Thaera saw her faith and devotion, he collected all his powers of thought and concentration of an Arahant (for indeed Phra Gasaba Thaera was and Arahant), and bestowed blessings of good fortune and luck in salesmanship on Nang Supawadee and her Family. (Spencer Littlewood; Buddha Magic Issue 4).
The alternative story from Mr. Littlewood, tells of Nang Kwak living on a higher plane of existence than this one; In This version of the story, Nang Gwak is the daughter of 'Phu Jao Khao Khiaw' (meaning 'Grandfather Lord of the Green Mountain - Khao Khiaw could also mean 'Green Horns'). Phu Jao Khao Khiaw was a Lord of the Jadtu Mahaa Raachiga realm (one of the lower levels of Heaven - an Asura realm of giants and monster beings). His other name is 'Pra Panasabodee', and he is the Lord of the forest and places where wild plants grow. In that time, there was an Asura demon called Taw Gog Khanag (otherwise known as 'Taw Anurach'). Taw Gog Khanag was a good friend of Phu Jao Khao Khiaw, who had been attacked by 'Pra Ram' (the name of Rama in the Thai Ramakian - adapted from the Indian Ramayana Epic), who had thrown a Gog tree at him which pierced his chest and carried him through space to be pinned to the side of Pra Sumen (Mount Meru). In addition, Pra Ram cursed him with the following magic spell; Until your descendants weave a Civara monks robe from lotus petals, and offer it to Pra Sri Ariya Maedtrai (Maitreya - the future Buddha), your curse will not be lifted.
After this, Nang Prajant, the daughter of Lord Gog Khanag (Taw Anurach) had to serve her father, spending the days and nights trying to weave a Civara robe from lotus petals, in order to have it ready for offering to Pra Sri Ariya Maedtrai, who will descend to become enlightened in a future age from now. Because Lord Gog Khanag had to remain cursed and pinned to Pra Sumen, his daughter was in a pretty dire state without her father to help run things. Because she had to spend all her time weaving the Civara, she had no time to go sell things or make money, nor time to run a shop. When Jao Khao Khiaw heard the news of this, he felt compassion, and sent his daughter Nang Gwak to go stay with her as a companion. Because of the 'Bunyarit' (power of her great merit), Nang Gwak caused merchants and rich nobles from around the area to flock to Nang Prajants home and bestow gifts of gold, silver and money on them. Nang Prajant became wealthy and led a comfortable life. (Spencer Littlewood; Buddha Magic Issue 4).
The position of her hand in present-day iconography is quite likely borrowed from the Japanese Maneki Neko beckoning cat.[2]
Symbolism
Mae Nang Kwak is a benevolent spirit. She is deemed to bring luck, especially in the form of money, to the household.She is the patron Deity of all Merchants and Salesmen and can be seen in almost every business establishment in Thailand[3]
Thai people like to have a figurine or cloth poster (called a Pha Yant,or Yantra Cloth) of this goddess in their home or shop, where it is often placed by the shrine. Some people also wear amulets with her figure around the neck, which is a logical development, due to the fact that many people in Thailand must travel around to sell their wares, which makes a portable nang Kwak amulet the obvious choice for such a person.
Bibliography
- Phya Anuman Rajadhon, Essays on Thai Folklore ISBN 974-210345-3
- Pranee Wongthet, Reconfiguration of the Role of the Guardian Spirit: Reflection from the Phuan Feasting Ritual
References
External links
Categories:- Thai goddesses
- Thai folklore
- Lao folklore
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