A story told and passed on through generations since the
Ayutthaya period and which inspired a poem by King Rama V of Thailand.
Kinnaree Manorah was a princess of Thai legend and was
the youngest of the seven Kinnaree, daughters of King Prathum and Queen
Jantakinnaree. She lived in the mythical Mount Grairat kingdom. The Seven
Kinnaree appeared as half woman half swan. They could fly or shed their
wings to change to human form as they pleased.
Within the Grairat kingdom there was the great Himmapan
Forest in which lived strange creatures, unknown to human realms. In the middle
of the forest was a beautiful lake which the seven Kinnaree loved to visit
regularly on the auspicious day of Panarasi (Full moon day). Nearby, the lake,
an old hermit practiced his meditations.
One day, a young man named Prahnbun, was strolling in the
Himmapan forest, saw the seven princesses at play at the great pond. Prahnbun,
stunned by the beauty of Manorah.
He thought, "If I can catch her and present her to
Prince Suton, son of King Artityawong and Queen Jantaivee of Udon Panjah the
Prince would surely fall in love with her. But how will I be able to catch
her?"
He knew of the old hermit who meditated nearby in the
forest and he decided to seek advice from the wise old man about his plans. The
hermit told the young man that to catch the Kinnaree would be very difficult,
as they would fly away if anyone frightened them, but that there was a great
dragon living deep in the forest that might be able to help him. Prahnbun
thanked him for his advice and raced off to see the dragon.
The great dragon was not happy to hear Prahnbun's plan
but was, eventually persuaded by Prahnbun to give him a magical rope with which
he would be able to catch Manorah. Prahnbun thanked the dragon, hurried away to
the pond with the magical dragon rope.
He crept up to the pond's edge where the Kinnaree were
playing. While the Kinnaree were all happily occupied with their play at the
water's edge, he struck; throwing the magic rope around the neck of Manorah and
caught her so tight, she could not escape. Her sisters fearful of being caught
themselves; all took flight and flew away to safety.
Prahnbun then secured Manorah's wings to stop her from
flying away and lead her away through the forest heading back to Udon Panjah to
present her to the Prince Suton.
The Prince happened to be riding through the forest when
he came across Prahnbun with his prize. The beauty of Manorah instantly charmed
the Prince and when Prahnbun told him that he had captured Manorah for him, the
Prince was delighted with Prahnbun's good intentions and rewarded him
handsomely.
The Prince returned to his Summer Palace in the forest
with Manorah where their love for each other blossomed. When the Prince told
his mother and father the whole story, they were very happy and immediately
arranged the wedding between the Prince and Princess Manorah who returned to
the Udon Panjah palace where they were married and lived happy ever after.
-FIN-
Read the Indonesian translation HERE
Author: Unknown
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are satisfied with the stories, please help by clicking on the Ad in this page. Thank you ^-^
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 comments:
Post a Comment