Fauna Of Himapan Forest (Thai Mythology)

ps the most popular realm in Thai mythology,as “the tireless and spirited inhabitant of
Himapan Forest is the invisible woodland believedHimapan Forest.”
to exist in the Himalayas, in the India-Nepal border,*RAJASI: Grandeur and Magnificence*
just below the equally legendary Buddhist heaven.People depict Rajasi, the king of fierce forest
The fabled forest is home to a great number ofmammals, as a lion whose mane, tail, and paws
mythical beasts that have become symbols ofare burning with golden flames. Most inhabitants of
exemplary Thai traits. Some of such fabulousHimapan Forest dread the lion king not for his
creatures are described below.slyness but for his splendor. Although Rajasi
*GARUDA: Royalty and Supremacy*symbolizes grandeur and magnificence, many
Half human and half bird, Garuda has the torsoThailanders, especially those who are living in the
and arms of a man and the head, wings, tail, andNorth, blame him for the forest fires.
feet of an eagle. The king of all birds is the*KINNARI: Gracefulness and Elegance*
favored mount of Vishnu, a deity shared by bothHalf human and half bird, Kinnari has the head,
the Hindu and the Thai faiths. The Thai peopletorso, and arms of a beautiful woman and the
honor Garuda as a symbol of royalty andwings, tail, and feet of a swan. Her voice is
supremacy. In fact, he represents the Thaienchanting and her gait graceful. She is sometimes
monarchy or government, and an artist’sdepicted playing a 'khryang ditt,' making her a
rendition of the majestic creature appears on Thaipatroness of dance, poetry, and music. Many Thai
bank notes and on the royal flag of Thailand.parents encourage their daughters to emulate the
*NOK HASADEE: Ambivalence and Balance*gracefulness and elegance of the swan lady. A
A gigantic elephant-headed bird, Nok Hasadeefavorite subject of artists, Kinnari’s
inhabits the tangled, thorny rattan-cane areas ofgraceful form appears frequently in sculpture and
Himapan, where he patiently waits in camouflagemurals.
for ungulates—his favored prey. During*KINNON-NUA: Swiftness and Serenity*
heavy rains, especially when he is neither furiousPartly human and partly artiodactyl, Kinnon-nua
nor famished, Nok Hasadee fancies making noisehas the torso and arms of a muscular man and
by playing an enormous 'khawng wong yai' or,the antlers and lower body of a deer. The swift
simply, smelling the scent of the forest with hiscreature roams Himapan Forest seasonally,
proboscis. This is the reason many Thai natives,safeguarding the realm’s endangered fauna
especially those of the Central Plains, viewand flora and promoting serenity. Whereas the
thunderstorms as one of Nok Hasadee’ssatyr of Greek mythology plays the panpipe,
destructive pranks. Nevertheless, they describeKinnon-nua plays the 'pi chawa.' The sylvan Thai
him as a paradoxical character—playful yetnative will readily regard him as a symbol of
lonesome, childlike yet predatory.nature.
*NAGA: Comfort and Safety*========
A multiheaded serpent whose main head sports aVocabulary:
beard and wears a typical pointed Thai crown,========
Naga inhabits the densest part of Himapan Forest.1. ambidextrous, adj. able to use both hands in
It is a half sibling yet a sworn enemy of Garuda.equal ease.
Naga is a familiar motif in Thai architecture,2. artiodactyls, n. ungulates that include all types of
featured frequently on stair handrails of manydeer, like antelopes and elks.
temples. Thailanders regard the serpent as a3. prehensile, adj. adapted for grasping.
symbol of comfort and safety.4. proboscis, n. a long snout.
*PRANORN PUGGSA: Agility and Dexterity*5. sylvan, adj. fond of wooded areas.
The Thai folk derived the name of this creature6. ungulates, n. hoofed mammals.
from the Thai words ‘pranorn’==========================
(monkey) and ‘pugg’ (bird orReferences:
birdlike). Pranorn Puggsa has a monkey’s[ 02/15/04.
head, torso, and forelimbs; the lower body of a[ 10/09/03.
bird; and a prehensile feathered tail. Ambidextrous,“The Literature of Thailand.” [ 10/09
he is excellent in climbing trees, moving from03.
branch to branch with agility. Pranorn Puggsa[ 02/15/04.
fancies mangoes and apples. People describe him