Translator : Aketawan Manowongsa

Bang Fai Phaya Nark (Naga fireballs) is a phenomenon that the mysterious fireballs raise from the Mekong River into the air above water surface. The fireballs are smoke-less, smell-less, and sound-less. They rise 20-30 meters straight up to the air then disappear without falling back to the earth as the normal fireballs do. Their sizes vary from a thumb-size to an egg-size. The amounts of the fireballs also vary, starting from around 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 or 9.00 p.m. The locations for spotting the fireball phenomenon in the Mekong River are the area of Phon Phisai, Pak Khad, Sung Kom, Sri Chiang Mai, and Bung Kan districts in Nong Khai province. The fireballs can also be found in other locations such as ponds and streams near Mekong River.

The fireball event is an unexplained phenomenon that generally takes place on the full moon night of the 11th lunar month, which also coincides with the end of the Buddhist Lent. If there are two 8th months in a particular year, the phenomenon will take place on the first waning moon night of the 11th month, which coincides with Lao’s Buddhist Lent. (Panida 2538 B.E.:77)

Beliefs and the Legend – Mekong River: Thai people in the northeast, especially in the provinces on Mekong riverbank, have believed for generations that Mekong River was the route of the Naga named ‘Pu Chao Sri Sutho’ who crawled around the mountains, differently from the other Nagas who crawled straight through the mountains. The route therefore became such winding and was called Lum Nam Kod (winding river), which then became slightly out of tone to Lum Nam Kong or ‘Kong river’ (Special Report 2544 B.E.: inside cover).

The Legend of Bang Fai Phaya Nark: When the Lord Buddha was in his Bodhisatta Phaya Kan Kark incarnation, he incarnated in Sida’s belly. When he grew up and practices his pray, Lord Indra made him a very good-looking person and also gave Udorn Kurutaweeb to be his wife. The couple regularly studied Dhama and gave sermon to all kinds of beings.

Both human and other beings admired and greatly had faith on the sermons of Lord Bodhisatta Phaya Kan Kark. They then forgot to dedicate offerings to Phaya Tan, the God who created the beings and rainfall for the earth.

Phaya Tan then became very angry because he did not receive any offerings from human and beings. Moreover, all the angels who are usually around him had gone to attend the sermon performed by Phaya Kan Kark.

The angry Phaya Tan then condemned all of the beings by not making any rainfall for the total period of seven years, seven months, and seven days. The drought then spread to the whole earth. Human beings then urged to Lord Bodhisatta and asked for his help.

Phaya Kan Kark then realized, by his sight, and told the human that Phaya Tan did not receive offerings and became angry, hence resulting in not making rainfall for seven years. When Phaya Nagi, a mythical serpent and the king of the underworld, who was attending the sermon knew the cause, he then took his troops to attack Phaya Tan who lived in heaven, despite the advice against from Lord Bodhisatta Phaya Kan Kark.

But Phaya Nagi lost to Phaya Tan and was heavily wounded. Lord Bodhisatta Phaya Kan Kark felt sympathize and he considered that Phaya Nagi did all for the happiness of mankind. He then blessed Phaya Nagi and the followers.

‘May your wound gets fully cured and becomes beautiful pattern as if crystal scales. Your crest shall become beautiful silvery crystal. Your pain shall be wholly eliminated. You shall be happy and become a truly representative of such a happy place’ (Copied from a performance script and adapted to be Thai dialogue as spoken in central region).

Since then, Phaya Nagi dedicated himself as a servant to Lord Bodhisatta in every reincarnation. However, the drought remained. Lord Bodhisatta Phaya Kan Kark planned to attack the heaven. The termite king built an anthill to reach the heaven. Kings of Mang Ngod, Mang Ngao (king scorpion) transformed themselves and catch on Phaya Tan’s clothes. Phaya Nagi transformed himself as a small centipede and hid in Phaya Tan’s shoe. When Lord Bodhisatta Phaya Kan Kark gave the signal, all of them bit and poisoned Phaya Tan.

Phaya Tan then lost and begged Lord Bodhisatta Phaya Kan Kark to release him. Lord Bodhisatta Phaya Kan Kark asked Phaya Tan to give three blesses in return, which are:

One…Let the rainfall become regular in each season, and the mankind shall offer the fireballs as a propitiation for Phaya Tan.

Two…After the rain, there must be frogs available in the paddy field.

Three…When it reaches the harvest season, Phaya Kan Kark shall give signal that the rice or farming products are truly rich.

When Phaya Tan heard so, he agreed to grant these three blesses. Since then, at the middle of the sixth month, the northeasterners make the streak fireballs, parade them around the village, and fire them to worship Phaya Tan.

When the Lord Buddha had enlightened, he traveled to propagate Buddhism around the Indian subcontinent. Phaya Nagi who followed him as a servant knew by his sight that the Lord Buddha was previously Phaya Kan Kark. He then transformed himself as a human and asked for becoming a Buddhist monk.

In one night, Phaya Nagi was asleep and mistakenly returned to his original figure. All the monks were frightened. When the Lord Buddha knew what happened, he asked Phaya Nagi to give up the monkshood because the beast is not allowed to be a Buddhist monk.

Phaya Nagi accepted the Lord Buddha’s request, but he asked in return that all the persons who wish to become Buddhist monk must be called ‘Nagi,’ for the pride of Phaya Nagi, before they enter the Buddhist monastery. Since then, the persons who are going to be a monk is called ‘Naga’.

Later on, the Lord Buddha traveled to perform a sermon, during the Buddhist Lent, in the second heaven for Buddha mothers and the angels. When the Buddhist Lent ended, Phaya Nagi and his followers prepared offerings and performed fireballs for the Lord Buddha as he returned to the earth.

Since then, on the full moon night of 11th lunar month, there has been phenomenon that the fireballs raise from Mekong up to the air until present. People call this natural phenomenon ‘Bang Fai Phaya Nark’.

Source

Please also read, Bang Fai Lao – Traditional Lao Rocket, I personally think it’s well written by Wat Lao Buddhavong of Washington D.C.

Translator : Mathurose Satiplan, Source

It is believed by Thai people that ‘Phi Tai Hong’ is the most horrible ghost, especially the person died by accident. A woman died with a baby in her womb can give the people extremely horrible and exciting feeling. The ghost called ‘Nang Nak Phrakhanong’ popularly narrated by people until the present is an example.

It was narrated by villagers in Phrakhanong district that, near the canal, which was next to Mahabus temple, there was a garden belonging to a rich man called ‘Phoo Yai Suk,’ the leader of village. At the end of the garden, the way to the temple, there was a small house, which was far from people. A couple of husband and wife lived there. The husband named Tid Mak was a man in Klong-Toey district. The wife was called Mae Nak who was a beautiful woman in Phrakhanong district. Even though, they worked in the garden and poor, they loved each other very much. Tid Mak was sent to be a soldier during Mae Nak was pregnant. Tid Mak could, at first time, come back to visit his wife. Later on, he was sent to join army in the north of Thailand for months. The army finished after Mae Nak’s baby had been born for two months.

When Tid Mak came back from army, he near the nighttime, took a boat to Wat Mahabut’s port to see Mae Nak suddenly. That night was Wan Phra’s night, 15 Khum (full moon shine). The moon’s light was enough for him to find the way to his house. When he arrived at his house, he called Mae Nak and saw her with a baby. He was very glad and hurriedly went to her. Then he had a little bit shock when touching the unusual-cool and thin wife’s body, also the baby. Mae Nak brought him favorite food as if she knew her husband was hungry. While a little bit eating, cool wind coming touched him and made him felt cold, and a spoon fell down the ground floor. Suddenly, Mae Nak could lengthen her hand to keep it. When Tid Mak wondered, she cried and told him she already died. When the baby heard his mother talking, he ran to his mother and jump to a beam, which is under the roof to show his father. Suddenly, Tid Mak knew his wife and baby was ghosts, he hurriedly ran out to his sister’s house, her name was Wan, while the lamp’s light did not work anymore. After that, Nang Nak followed and called him. Tid Oum protected him by spreading the holy water around the house and asked her to go.

Mae Nak extremely horrified the villagers because she was buried under trees called ‘Ta Khian Khoo.’ Before Tid Mak arrived at his house, she went to ask food from a young monk. While lengthening her hand to him, her hand was cut by a monk’s holy knife. An old monk took him to Kuti, the place for him surrounded by leaves of tree called ‘Bai Nad’ and slept near him. Nevertheless, he was killed by Mae Nak. It was rumored that Nang Nak with her baby always gave extremely horrible feeling to the villagers, travelers, and monks. Men often got the horrible feelings from her and ran out when they knew a beautiful lady coming to them became Mae Nak. Tid Mak could not go to the other place because he was always followed by Mae Nak. Finally, Mae Nak’s soul and her baby were defeated by Mor Phi (exorcist). He put her and her baby into a pot and threw it into the water. Tid Mak donated her some food through a monk. After that, she disappeared. By the way, Mae Nak Phrakhanong was legendary narrated until the film called ‘Mae Nak Phrakhanong’ is made for the public.

Great review of the movie Ghost of Mae Nak 2005 by Zomboscloset

Nang Nak, 1999 film, review by viewer below (link might not work properly.)

Thailand does not have a very large pedigree when it comes to their horror films being marketed in this country; unless one can get a hold of some of the Shaw Brothers’ films, many of which were filmed in Thailand. However, that is not to say that Thailand, as with many other countries, does not have its share of ghost stories. One of these is the tale of “Nang Nak.” For those who are not familiar with Thailand’s history, this story is a very prominent one. Moreover, this is a very sad ghost story. The scenery in the film is also a plus, and the village life where the husband Mak, and his wife Nak live gives the viewer beautiful and stunning visuals of Thailand. The fauna and flora make one feel as is if they are indeed stepping back in time into an old Thai village. I liked the film, due to the sadness the film incorporates, yet the film itself may not resonate with many other viewers. Do not expect blood and gore in this film: for it is the nuances and suggestion of horror that make this film great.

This film is based on famous Thai folklore and legend. The films narrative takes place in the 1860’s: as the Thais are at war. The viewer sees in the beginning dead and dying soldiers. And it is here that the films main protagonist is introduced to the audience. His name is Mak, and he is a citizen soldier. Mak has left home to do battle with the enemy. Moreover, he has left behind his pregnant wife named Nak. I would not go so far as to say that Nak is the antagonist, as her story is a touching one that is filled with sadness. Therefore, I will just write that hers is a sad story of love which permeates the screen. When Mak is seriously wounded in battle and goes home, it is his adoring and loving wife Nak that will greet him home. But much has happened since Mak went off to do battle. [SPOILER BELOW]

Unknown to Mak, both his wife and child have died. However, when the soldier returns to his home he is unaware that anything has happened to his family as nothing seems out of place. Further, he does not know that mother and baby are really ghosts. Many people in the village warn him about what has befallen his family, including a close friend, but he refuses to listen to them. He notices that friends and fellow villagers refuse to visit him. Finally, he goes to see some Buddhist monks who in turn tell him that his wife and baby are deceased. He is told to bend over and see between his legs; then and only then will he see the truth. But he still refuses to believe anyone.

It is only when he is working in and around his hut, that he bends over and sees that the hut is decaying, the food rotted, and cobwebs covering the baby’s crib that he realizes that they are indeed dead. Eventually the Buddhist monks do an exorcism ritual to rid him of the ghosts. I really liked this film, because this is a really sad ghost story, and the narrative is very well done. Nak’s love was so powerful for her husband that even in death, she continued to be by his side. And this made the sadness of the film even more sad, because the wife is trying to continue this existence even though she knows she and the baby are ghosts. A really sad film, and highly recommended. [Stars: 4.5]

Nang Nak (Trailer)