Bang
Fai Phaya Nark (Naga fireballs) |
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Bang Fai Phaya Nark (Naga fireballs) is a phenomenon that the mysterious fireballs rise 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 amount 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 practice 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 peformed 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 get 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 paddyfield. 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 rise from Mekong up to the air until present. People call this natural phenomenon "Bang Fai Phaya Nark" (KemaChart 2544 B.E.: 256-258) Bang Fai Phaya Nark in scientific views In scientific concerns, Dr. Kanoksilpa, a pediatrician at Nong Khai hospital, has continuously studied this phenomenon for four years, including scientifically conducted experiment to investigate its occurrence. Here is a brief information (Panida, 2538 B.E. : 78-79) Bang Fai Phaya Nark may be an amount of physical matter that can rise through water. It may be a color-less and smell-less self-inflammable gas that is lighter than the air. The conditions at which the phenomenon can occur are the areas of 4.55-13.40 meters deep and underwater puddles that contain gasses. Those gasses are believed to be organic materials such as dung, plant and animal remains. These fermented substances create adequate amount of gases to emerge from the paddles and rise through water to the air above water surface. The amount of gas in a fireball is around 200 cc. When the 100 to 200 cc gas balls rises 20 feet to water surface, its size expands up to 310 cc. When it rises 1-4 meters above water surface, its size reduces to 100-200 cc, which is not larger than an orange size, it then starts to be self-inflammable. These properties exist in hot gasses of which Methane and Nitrogen gases are their main components. Travelling to experience the "Bang Fai Phaya Nark" phenomenon The Bang Fai Phaya Nark phenomenon annually takes place for years. Public previously ignored it. However, it is now very well known. Thousands of people flock to Nong Khai province and spread to various locations for spotting the mysterious naga fireballs, especially in Phon Phisai, Sung Kom, Sri Chiang Mai, and Pak Khad districts. The more detailed story can be viewed in the Journal of Arts and Culture, year 16th, Vol.4, February 2538 B.E. In 2545 B.E. (2002 A.D.), the Thai Buddhist Lent is Monday, Oct 21st. It was, however, forecasted that the Naga fireballs would be mostly observed on Tuesday, Oct 22nd, because this day coincides with the Laotian Buddhist Lent. Travelling to experience the Naga fireballs can be made via various means. The buses from Bangkok are available daily and it takes 10 hours to reach Nong Khai province at the cost of 545 Thai Baht. Having arrived Nong Khai, local transportation to each spotting areas such as Sri Chiang Mai, Pak Khad, and Bung Kan districts. The Naga firballs are most seen in Phon Phisai district. More details of spotting locations are available locally. Documentaries and references of Bang Fai Phaya Nark There are numbers of such studies and literatures of Bang Fai Phaya Nark, for example. Books
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Translator : Aketawan Manowongsa 7 Feb 2003 |
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