Phaya Naga

Phaya Naga
A naga guarding the Temple of Wat Sisaket in Vientiane, Laos

The Phaya Naga or Naga are mythical serpent-like creatures believed by locals to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong river or estuaries.Some have tried to explain sightings as oarfish (Regalecus glesne), elongate fish with red crests. However these are exclusively marine and usually live great depths. The creature is more likely to be some kind of huge snake.People in both Laos and Thailand attribute the Naga fireballs to these creatures .

Contents

History

Lao mythology maintains that the Naga are the protectors of Vientiane, and by extension, the Lao state. The Naga association was most clearly articulated during and immediately after the reign of Anouvong. An important poem from this period San Lup Bo Sun (or San Leupphasun Lao: ສານລຶພສູນ) discusses relations between Laos and Siam in a veiled manner, using the Naga and the Garuda, to represent Laos and Siam, respectively.[1] The Naga is incorporated extensively into Lao iconography, and features prominently in Lao culture throughout the length of the country, not only in Vientiane.

References

  1. ^ Ngaosīvat, Mayurī; Pheuiphanh Ngaosyvathn (1998). "III.13". Paths to conflagration : fifty years of diplomacy and warfare in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, 1778-1828. Studies on Southeast Asia, no. 24. Ithaca, N.Y.: Southeast Asia Program Publications, Cornell University. p. 68. ISBN 1000877277230. OCLC 38909607. http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100616420. Retrieved November 16, 2011. Lay summary (Jan-March, 2001). "The first stanza of the San lup bo sun depicted the situation allegorically" 

See also

External links

  • Mekong River Commission paper on eels (pdf)
  • Dr. Kanoksilpa, a pediatrician at Nong Khai hospital, studied this phenomenon for four years and concludes the most likely explanation to be seasonal accumulations of methane gas. (Panida, 2538 B.E. : 78-79)Thai folk : The knowledge of Thai life-style [1]



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Phaya Naga — Nâga Pour les articles homonymes, voir Naga. Le nâga (नाग ou serpent en sanskrit) est un animal fabuleux de l hindouisme, à corps de serpent et souvent représenté à plusieurs têtes, souvent chimériques et effrayantes : capuchon de cobra,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Naga fireball — The Naga fireballs (Thai: บั้งไฟพญานาค; RTGS: bang fai phaya nak), also referred to as Mekong lights, are a phenomenon seen in the Mekong river in Thailand (Nong Khai province in Isan) and in Laos (Vientiane Province) in which glowing balls rise… …   Wikipedia

  • Nāga — For the modern ethnic group, see Naga people. For other uses, see Naga (disambiguation). A Hoysala sculpture of a Naga couple. Halebidu …   Wikipedia

  • Naga fireballs — The Naga fireballs ( th. บั้งไฟพญานาค, bangfai payanak ) are a phenomenon seen in the Mekong river in Thailand (Nong Khai province and Isan) and in Laos in which glowing balls rise from depths. The balls are reddish in colour and about the size… …   Wikipedia

  • Wat Nang Phaya — Der alte Chedi und der Schrein Der Wat Ratchaburana (Thai วัดราชบุรณะ พิษณุโลก, sprich: [wát râːt bùː rá ná pʰít sà nú lôːk]) ist eine buddhistische Tempelanlage (Wat) in Phitsanulok in Nordthailand. Inhaltsverzeic …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Rocket Festival — This article is about the traditional Rocket Festival of Laos and Thailand; for another meaning, see Rocket Festival Spain A Rocket Festival ( th. ประเพณีบุญบั้งไฟ Prapheni Bun Bang Fai , lo. ) is a merit making ceremony traditionally practiced… …   Wikipedia

  • Lancang Jiang — Mékong Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lancang. Mékong …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mekong — Mékong Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lancang. Mékong …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mékong — 9° 44′ N 106° 36′ E / 9.74, 106.6 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • List of Destination Truth episodes — This is a list of episodes of the paranormal reality series Destination Truth. Contents 1 Season 1 (2007) 2 Season 2 (2008) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”