Thai name for the demon Mara.
Name of a monkey of the genus macaca. They are often used for picking nuts at coconut palm plantations (fig.). There are several species, including the crab-eating macaque, the pig-tail macaque, etc. In Thai they are either called kang, or ling hang san when they have a short pig-tail.
Sanskrit-Thai. The son of Hanuman and the mermaid queen Suphanamatcha in the Ramayana, thus having the body of a monkey with a fish tail. Later, Rama cut off his tail so that he was no longer part fish. Also spelled Matchanu.
madeua (มะเดื่อ) Thai name for the ficus racemosa or cluster fig tree. It usually grows near watersides where it thrives well. Its fruit grows in clusters on the main, usually thicker branches, and directly on its trunk.
Madhava (माधव) Madhavi (माधवी) A name for Lakshmi, a consort of Vishnu. Madira (मदिर) Sanskrit. A name for Varuni, goddess of wine and consort of Varuna. See also Sura. Thai. 'Shy mother'. Nick name for the maiyarahb. Thai. Buddhist nun. They have lay status and do not belong to the Sangha. See also bhikkuni. The small capital of a jangwat of the same name in Northwest Thailand (map), at 924 kms
from Bangkok and
by mountain road over Pai, 1,864 curves and 245 kms from
1. Thai. Popular name of the 12th longest river in the world that rises in the Himalayas and forms the border between Thailand and Laos, and Laos and Myanmar (Burma), at the Golden Triangle. It is formed by the melt waters of the Tibetan Himalayas joined by several other rivers. It is 4,590 kms long and passes through 7 countries, namely Tibet, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, where it finally forms a delta and flows into the South China Sea. It is Thailand's longest waterway. Also spelt Mekhong, though its full Thai name is Mae Nam Khong.
2. Name of a Thai brand of rice whisky. Mae Khongkha (แม่คงคา) See Khongkha. Full Thai name for the Mae Khong river. 1. Thai name for a giant water bug. They are consumed by some and can be served both fried as well as an ingredient in nahm prik num, a spicy dish of pounded grilled green chilies.
2. Thai slang for a pimp. 3. Short for maengda talae, the horseshoe crab. Thai name for the horseshoe crab. Mae Phra Thoranee (แม่พระธรณี) Thai name for Thoranee. Another name for the Thai goddess of rice Poh Sop. 1. Thai name for Hmong. Also Miao. MORE ON THIS. 2. Language belonging to the family of Miao-Yao-Pateng, a subgroup of the Sino-Tibetan language group that includes Chinese, Burmese and Tibetan. Also Miao. MORE ON THIS. Thai. 'Beckoning cat'. Thai name for the Japanese cat maneki-neko (fig.). Compare with nang kwak. See also kwak. Thai. Mascot or spirit guarding a ship or a boat. Thai name for a tree of the family euphorbiaceae, yielding small yellowish berry-like fruits. It fruits from April to May and is found in all over Thailand. Thai name for a tree with the Latin name averrhoa carambola and its fruit, the star fruit. Magadha (मगध) See Makot. Magadhi (मागधी) Ancient language from Magadha. It is believed to be the language spoken by the Buddha. Also called Magahi. Another name for Magadhi. 1. Sanskrit-Pali-Thai. 'Great' or 'mighty'. A prefix often placed before the name or title of important persons, things and places. 2. Thai. A graduate in Buddhist theology who has passed at least the third grade exam, out of a total of nine. He must be a member of the clergy, though retains the title after leaving the priesthood. Maha Bali (महाबलि) Name of the king who became so powerful that he dominated the triloka (three worlds). Vishnu in his avatar of a dwarf (Vamana) eventually subdued him. Mahabharata (महाभारत) Sanskrit. 'The Great Bharata'. Great epic from India dated around the 4th century BC. It contains chronicles of the Vedic times and is composed of eighteen books consisting of one hundred and ten thousand couplets relating the great battle of the Bharatas between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, two related families of a royal lineage. The Hindu god Krishna emerges as one of the protagonists of the poem in which he reveals the Bhagavad Gita. In Thai Mahapharata. Thai. The story of the last great incarnation of the Buddha, consisting of many episodes or lae. 1. Thai. Another name for Samut Sakon. 2. Thai. 'Great accomplishment or triumph'. Name of a canal that connects Samut Songkhram with Bangkok and runs straight across the province of Samut Sakon where it crosses the Tachin River. Name of a monkey in the Ramakien. He has a dark blue complexion and is the ruler of Chomphoo City. His queen is from a northern continent and is hence named Kaew Udon. Since they didn't have any children Phra Idsuan granted them a son with a black complexion, who was named Nilaphat.
Mahadhammaracha Lithai (มหาธรรมราชาลิไท) King of Sukhothai in the 14th century who commissioned the casting of the Phraphut Chinnarat image (fig.) from Wat Phra Sri Rattanamahathat. Beside his kingship he also taught Buddhist cosmology. Also spelled Mahadhammaracha Leuthai.
See mahathat. Mahakala (महाकला) Sanskrit. 'Great time'. The personification of kala in a terrible form, associated with the destructive aspects of Shiva. In some texts Mahakala was initially a follower of Shiva and became, according to Tantric Buddhism of the 10th century, his protective deity as well as one of the eight protectors of the law. His female counterpart is Mahakali. See also Kali. Mahakali (महाकाली) Sanskrit. 'Great Kali'. The awesome form of Parvati with two or more arms and sometimes with several heads with protruding tongues. Around her waist she often wears a dress of severed arms and around her neck a garland of decapitated heads. Sometimes depicted standing over Shiva. See also Kali.
The monk that succeeded the Buddha as leader of the Sangha. Usually represented in murals as an old man accompanied by the young monk Ananda, the Buddha's cousin and his most important disciple. A palace or grand building in India, as in Taj Mahal. mahamandapa (महामण्डप) Sanskrit. 'Great pavilion'. A large porch or pillared hall in a temple, usually in front of the main shrine. See also mandapa. Maha Maya (महामाया) Sanskrit. 'Great illusion'. Wife of king Suddhodana and mother of prince Siddhartha who later became the Buddha. In Vajrayana Buddhism a protective deity.
Thai. Twin brother of Anantayot and son of the legendary Chamadevi of Lopburi,
queen
of the Dvaravati empire in the 7th century AD.
Mahaparinippahn (มหาปรินิพพาน) See Mahaparinirvana. Mahaparinirvana (महापरिनिर्वाण) Sanskrit. The definitive transition of the Buddha to nirvana and his total extinction following death in which all his suffering, desire, and the cycle of rebirths cease. This happened in 483 BC in Kusinagara after he had gathered all his disciples to hear his final sermon. In Thai Mahaparinippahn. See also parinippahn.
Thai name for Mahabharata. Maha Prajapati (महाप्रजापति) Sanskrit. 'Great protector of creatures'. Name of the sister of Maha Maya who served as Siddhartha's guardian when his mother died seven days after his birth. She later married Siddhartha's father Suddhodana. She is also known by the name Gautami. mahapurusha (महापुरुष) Sanskrit. A great man destined to become a world leader or saviour and recognizable by the 32 lakshanas, the marks of a great person to be. maharadja (महाराज) Sanskrit. Great king or monarch. In Thai Maha Raj. Thai. Great king or monarch. Usually occurs as a suffix with the names of important kings of Thai history. In Thai maharadja. maharani (महारानी) Sanskrit. Great queen, the wife of a maharadja. maharishi (महर्षि) Sanskrit. Great rishi, master, teacher or sage. An honorary title. Thai. 'Great independent village'. Capital of Maha Sarakham province (map) in central Isaan, about 475 kms Northeast of Bangkok, between Khon Khaen and Roi Et. The city was founded on the banks of the Kut Nang Yai river by thao Maha Chai and thao Bua Thong, two brothers from Roi Et, and in 1865 AD the city was renamed Meuang Maha Sarakham by king Phra Chom Klao. The province has eleven amphur and two king amphur.
mahat (महत्) Sanskrit. The great intelligence produced during creation. It is related to the word 'manas', meaning 'mind, intellect, understanding'. Mahathat (มหาธาตุ) Thai. 'Great relic'. Term used in Thailand to name the most important relic shrines which usually hold a relic of the lord Buddha. mahatma (महात्मा) Sanskrit. 'Great soul'. Honorary title given to sages and teachers. Mahavairochana (महावैरोचन) Sanskrit. 'Great illumination' or 'great sun'. The Adi-Buddha. One of the five jinas or transcendental buddhas from Vajrayana Buddhism. He is positioned in the middle of a mandala and makes the gesture of supreme wisdom by holding the right index finger in the left fist with the thumb pointing upward. His signs are the wheel and the sun. Sometimes transcribed Mahavairocana. Also Vairochana. Mahavamsa (மகாவம்சம், महावंश) Tamil. Singhalese chronicle in Pali containing the history of Buddhism in Ceylon from its beginning in the 3rd century BC to the early 4th century AD. In Thai Mahawong. Mahavir (มหาวีร) Thai for Mahavira. Mahavira (महावीर) Sanskrit. 'Great hero'. Title for the last of the twenty-four omniscient great teachers called tirthankaras and the founder of Jainism. He was a contemporary of the Buddha. In Thai Mahavir. See also Vardhamana. Thai for university. See education. Thai name for the Mahavamsa, the Singhalese chronicle that traces the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Thai name for Mahayana. Mahayana (महायान) Sanskrit. 'Greater vehicle'. The branch of Buddhism whose believers rely on bodhisattvas for their salvation from the endless cycle of rebirths and their aim to become a buddha. This sect of Buddhism spread from northern India in the 2nd century AD and is mainly practiced in countries of northern Asia, including Tibet, Nepal, China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan, but also in Vietnam and at one time also in Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia. The latter three now practice Theravada or Hinayana Buddhism, the other main branch of Buddhism. In Thai called Mahayaan.
Mahayogi (महायोगी) Sanskrit. 'Great ascetic'. A name of Shiva. Mahendraparvata (महेंद्रपर्वत) Hindi-Sanskrit. 'Mountain of the Great Indra'. One of the seven mountain chains of the Himalayas and the early name for Phnom Kulen in Cambodia. Mahesvara (महेश्वर) Sanskrit. 'Great Lord'. A name for Shiva. Also Maheshwara. Thai pronunciation for mahisha, buffalo. mahisha (महिष) Sanskrit. 'Buffalo'. The mount of Yama. In Thai pronounced mahingsa. Mahishasura (महिषासुर) Sanskrit. 'Buffalo demon'. An asura or demon of darkness with immense powers who after continuously changing shape eventually transformed into a buffalo (mahisha) and thus got slain by Durga. In the Mahabharata he is slain by Skanda. Mahishasuramardini (महिषासुरमर्दिनि) Sanskrit. 'Slayer of the buffalo demon'. The name given to Durga when she is fighting Mahishasura, the buffalo demon that represents the forces of evil and darkness. Thai name for the betel palm and its fruit the betel nut. Thai. 'Red betel palm'. A palm tree with a reddish trunk up to 6 meters high and the scientific Latin name cyrtostachys renda, and cyrtostachys lakka, a similar but slightly shorter species. Often seen in gardens.
Thai. 'Dragon-horse'. Another name for mah nin mangkon. Thai. 'Dark blue-black (nin) dragon-horse'. Name of a mythological animal in the story of Phra Aphaimanih. It is partly horse (mah) and partly dragon (mangkon). It is the mount of Sut Saakhon. Also mah mangkon.
See klong mahorateuk. Thai. An orchestra chiefly composed of stringed instruments.
English-Hindi. Herd, caretaker and keeper of an elephant. In Thailand mahouts often belong to the Karen hill tribe (fig.) and are usually assigned to a young elephant when still a young boy, allowing them to stay attached to one another throughout their lives. Also transcribed mahaut and sometimes called kornak. In Thai kwan chang.
1. Thai for silk. 2. Thai for silkworm.
Thai for sandalwood. Thai. Flexible yet strong bamboo wooden (mai) pole used for carrying loads (kaan) across the shoulder (haab) as often seen in rural Thailand and with itinerant food sellers. Also kaan. Compare with kaanhaam.
Thai. Name of wooden logs that are used to be placed against a bodhi tree in order to support it. They are believed to be auspicious logs, preventing hardship and prolonging life. It is sometimes done as part of the seubchatah ceremony and the logs are therefore also called mai kham chatah.
See mai kham. Thai for teak. Thai for hand-woven Thai silk.
maithuna (मैथुन) Sanskrit. 'Couple' or 'the act of pairing'. Copulating figurines or sculptures as seen in iconography or used as amulets (fig.). Also spelled mithuna. In Thai methun. See also yabyum.
Maitreya (मैत्रेय) Sanskrit. A bodhisattva now living in Tushita heaven waiting to be reborn as a future Buddha in order to restore faith. He is worshipped in both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, and is sometimes represented as a bodhisattva dressed in royal attire ruling from his throne in heaven. He wears a stupa in his headdress and his attributes may include a vase and wheel. In another form he is also known as Huan Xi Fo or Budai, the Chinese 'smiling buddha' (fig.). Also Metraiy and Metteya.
Thai. Name of an omnipresent weed that thrives well and is found all over Thailand. This shrubby, sensitive plant has the scientific name mimosa pudica. Its leaves fold up with the slightest touch or when they come into contact with rain. This is a self-defence system that prevents the heavy raindrops from damaging this very fragile shrub. It also protects itself from predators by small spikes underneath its stalks and leaves. It can sometimes grow to a height of well over two meters and blooms globular amethyst flowers. Due to its sensitivity it is nicknamed mae ai (shy mother) and some varieties are known as maiyarahb yak (giant mimosa pudica) and maiyarahb leuay (climbing mimosa pudica vine).
Thai. 'Way, path'. One of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. Thai. 'Temple liaison man'. A layman responsible for the liaison between the clergy of a temple or monastery and the laity, a male appointed to look after the interests of a temple or monastery. Also maknayok. makara (मकर) Sanskrit. A mythical aquatic creature symbolizing 'water' and 'abundance'. In architecture, especially in Khmer buildings, it may be found as a decoration on lintels, doorway frames, etc., sometimes in combination with kala. In Thailand it is usually found on the balustrades of temple buildings, where a naga (fig.) is seen emerging from its mouth (fig.). In India it has the body and tail of a fish, but in Southeast Asia usually that of a reptile. Though, in Java its head is that of a crocodile with a large jaw and an elephant's trunk. In Champa it has the head of a lion with tusks and a trunk, or the head of a antelope with forelegs. It is the emblem of Kama and conveyance of the Hindu goddess Ganga as well as that of Varuna. In North Thailand it is called mom and is the mount of the god of the storm clouds, Thep Patchanna.
Thai. The third lunar month corresponding to the sign of Capricorn in the zodiac. Thai for tamarind (fig.). Besides this it is also known by different local names, depending on the region: in Kanchanaburi it is known by its Karen name muang klohng, in Korat it is called taloob, in the South it is named khaam and in the province of Surin the Khmer name ampial is used. See also makhaampom and makhaamthet.
Thai. Name of the Indian gooseberry, a tree and its fruit which is known by the scienticfic name phyllanthus emblica. Its fruit has a rather sweet-and-sour taste. Also known as the emblic tree.
Thai name for the camachile, a tree and its fruit known by the scientific name pithecolobium dulce. Its fruits are similar to those of the tamarind tree but has a softer skin and a different taste. Its tender curly skin is red-green and its whitish-pink flesh sits around shiny brown seeds.
Thai. Buddhist holiday that commemorates all saints and is held during the full moon of the third lunar month (Makha), usually mid-February. It celebrates the 1,250 enlightened monks who, without prior notice or call, simultaneously came to the Buddha to hear him preach. This public holiday reaches its climax in candle processions around the main temple buildings or chedi. Also Wan Makha Bucha. Thai. Generic name for plants that produce bulbous vegetables, such as the different varieties of eggplant and the tomato, which both belong to the family of solanaceae. There are many different varieties, such as the makheua khao (white eggplant - fig.), makheua phuang (pea eggplant - fig.), makheua muang (purple eggplant), makheua thet (tomato), makheua proh (crisp eggplant - fig.), etc. Any of the eggplant varieties grown to its full size may in Thai also be called makheua yao (long makheua - fig.), whereas their small appearance may in English be referred to as baby eggplant. Compare with taeng. Thai. 'White makheua'. Name for the white eggplant, a plant with the scientific name solanum melongena. It is a variety of the purple eggplant, in Thai known as makheua muang. It produces white, bulbous vegetables that when still young look like round eggs and are full of tiny seeds. Similar varieties may be slightly green or have green stripes. They are edible and usually harvested when still young and hard. Especially in this stage they are popular in Thai cuisine. Cut in half and boiled they are used as an ingredient in red and green curries (fig.), usually together with the seed boxes of the cluster eggplant which in Thai is known as makheua phuang. On occasion they are also eaten fresh.
Thai. 'Purple makheua'. Name for the purple eggplant, a plant with the scientific name solanum melongena. It is a variety of the white eggplant, in Thai known as makheua khao, and is usually grown to a much larger size. Despite its clear differences, it has the same Latin designation. When grown into an elongated size it is also known as purple aubergine. Thai. 'Cluster makheua'. Name for the pea eggplant, a species of eggplant with the scientific name solanum tarvum. It produces clusters of small green balls, each the size of a large pea. These spherical seed boxes are edible and contain numerous small seeds. They are eaten when still unripe and are mainly used as an ingredient in red and green curries, usually together with the white eggplant which in Thai is known as makheua khao.
Thai. 'Crisp makheua'. Name for a species of eggplant of which the fruits are either oval-round or round-flat. The size of a full-grown fruit is somewhere between a ping-pong ball and a small fist. The fruit is crisp and comes in two colours: green-white and purple-white, depending on the type. It is used as a vegetable, mainly as an ingredient in red and green curries, similar to the white eggplant which in Thai is called makheua khao.
Thai. 'Long makheua'. Name for any species of eggplant that has grown into a full-grown lengthy size, although the term is also and in particular used for the elongated green eggplant or green aubergine.
A Thai name for Indra. See makanayok. Thai for 'crown'. Also mongkut. makutrajakumaan (มกุฎราชกุมาร) Thai for 'crown prince'. Thai. A plum tree of the genus spondias. 1. The kingdom of Magadha in ancient India, now called Bihar. 2. Magadhi, the Prakrit language of Magadha, similar to Pali. Thai for an insect, such as a bug, a beetle, etc. Although not completely interchangeable some insects may also be called maeng, usually those with 8 legs. Several species of insects are eaten (fig.) by some locals, e.g. scorpions (malaeng/maengpong), crickets (jingrihd), giant water bugs or horseshoe crabs (maengda - fig.), silk pupae (dakdae), grasshoppers (takkataen), bamboo worms (rotduan - fig.), etc.
Thai. 'Ghost insect'. The popular name for an insect that camouflages as a stick (fig.), dry twig or withered leave. It comes in many sizes and shapes, the most common being a walking stick.
See puang malai. malai khlong meua (มาลัยคล้องมือ) Thai. A round-shaped garland to wear around the wrist. See also puang malai. Thai. An oval-shaped garland with below a tassel of flowers and at the top a string to be hung from one point. See also puang malai. Thai. A double garland with two ends connected with a string or band to wear around the neck. See also puang malai. Thai. A somewhat bulbous garland with below a floral tassel and on top a bowed band for hanging. See also puang malai. Thai for papaya. A small tree with the Latin name carica papaja that can grows up to 7.5 meters. Its fruits, when still green (fig.), are used as the main ingredient for the popular dish somtam. When ripe the fruit is orange (fig.) and resembles melon. The Hawaiian species is smaller than the usual Thai variety (fig.). Also called melon tree.
Disease that causes a recurrent fever caused by a parasite transmitted by a bite of the anopheles mosquito, the carrier of this parasite. In Thai called khai pah (jungle fever) and khai jab san (shivering fever). Small species of bear whose natural habitat is southern Thailand, the Malay peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago. It has the scientific name helarctos malayanus but is also known by the name sun bear, due to a creamy-white crescent-shaped curve on its upper chest (fig.). In Thai it is named mih mah, literally 'dog bear'.
malay lukkaew ok kai (มาลัยลูกแก้วอกไก่) Thai. A redented chedi with a central part of several successive rings (malay) with three angles, in which the outer edge of each ring in profile resembles the form of a chicken breast (ok kai). This part of the chedi resembles a decorative buffer and was popular towards the end of the Ayutthaya period. Thailand's neighbouring country to the South. It includes the southern peninsula and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam. Its total area is 329,750 km². It has a total land border of 2,669 km, that is 381 km with Brunei, 1,782 km with Indonesia, and 506 km with Thailand. Its total coastline is 4,675 km long (the Peninsula 2,068 km and East Malaysia 2,607 km) and its highest point is Gunung Kinabalu with 4,100 m. The country's capital is Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a federation of the former British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, including the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the federation in 1965. It has a population of just over 23 million, consisting of 58% of Malays and other indigenous people, 24% Chinese, 8% Indians, and 10% others. Bahasa Melayu is the official language, but a variety of other languages are also spoken, such as English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, and Thai. In addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest being Iban and Kadazan. Practiced religions are Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity and the Sikh religion. In East Malaysia Shamanism is practiced. The currency is the 'ringgit' and natural resources are tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas and bauxite.
Thai for Arabian jasmine, a shrub of the genus jasminum sambac. There are different species. The Thai variety has white scented flowers and its flower buds are used as the main item in most puang malai garlands (fig.).
Thai for mango. A tree and fruit of the genus mangifera indica with a large variety of species, the most popular in Thailand being ma muang ok rong. ma muang fah lan (มะม่วงฟ้าลั่น) Thai. 'Thundering mango'. A mango with a green skin and yellowy spots. Fruits mainly in the month of April. It makes a slight sound (lan) when peeled, hence its name fah lan (thunder). The flesh is yellow and quite sweet. ma muang himaphan (มะม่วงหิมพานต์) Thai for cashew nut. Thai collective term for all mangos eaten when still green and consequently still hard and sour.
ma muang nahm dok mai (มะม่วงน้ำดอกไม้) Thai. 'Barracuda mango'. Name for a sweet and soft mango with yellow flesh.
ma muang ok rong (มะม่วงอกร่อง) Thai name for a popular kind of mango. Thai. 'Rhino mango'. A hard mango with a green skin in season from April to May, especially in the province of Chachengsao. At the top it has a typical hook resembling a horn, giving it its name 'raed' (rhinoceros). mandala (मण्डल) Sanskrit. 'Circle'. A complex and mystic diagram symbolizing the universe and used as an object of meditation in Vajrayana Buddhism. They usually comprise one or more circles (fig.) divided into geometrical figures and with representations of buddhas, deities and their pantheons.
mandapa (मण्डप) Sanskrit. 'Pavilion'. In India an open hall in front of the entrance to a Jain or Hindu sanctuary. In Khmer temples it is the projecting porch to the main shrine. In Thailand it is called mondop and consists generally of an open square building with a pyramidal or four arched roof, used to house distinguished religious objects or texts. Mandara (मन्दर) Sanskrit. The mountain that the gods used with the demons and Ananta to churn the 'Ocean of Milk'. mandir (मन्दिर्) Sanskrit for 'temple'. maneki-neko (招き猫) Japanese. 'Beckoning cat'. Statue of a beckoning cat that makes a welcoming gesture with one paw, often holding an ancient coin with the other. It invites happiness and good fortune, its meaning dependent on its colour. Thus, a white cat invites happiness whilst a golden cat brings richness. If its left paw is raised it invites prosperity. Often found displayed in shops to attract good business.
Thai for dragon. Thai for mangosteen. Fruit of an evergreen tree that grows up to twenty meters and has the Latin name mangifera indica. There are many different kinds which are categorized by the taste. In Thailand called ma muang. See also Big Mango.
Evergreen tree that grows up to twelve meters with fruits of the same name in a purple shell. It is known as the 'queen of fruits', with the durian being the 'king of fruits'. Its sweet cream-coloured flesh is soft, succulent and made up of several pieces. At the bottom of the thick rind is a small flowerlike 'crown' of which the number of 'petals' indicate how many peaces of flesh of fruit are inside. It is thus possible to tell from the outside how many slices it will have on the inside. It is generally believed that eating this fruit gives renewed strength and lowers the body temperature. Its season is from April to September. In Thai called mangkut.
Name of a tropical tree or shrub growing in coastal wetlands near brackish and salt water areas of estuaries, including coastlines and shores. There are many varieties of mangrove, including the sonneratia and avicennia, the rizophora species and the larger bruguiera trees. Sonneratia and avicennia have a long cable root system underneath the ooze as well as prickle roots, the so-called pneumatophores, growing above the surface of the shore-mud (fig.) and used for taken in oxygen through special pores during low tide. These pneumatophores also excrete excess salt making the shrub tolerant of high salinity. The sonneratia and avicennia differ in the colour of their leaves: those of the sonneratia are usually lighter in colour. Rizophora on the other hand are characterized by their distinctive long stilt-like buttress roots that grow above ground (fig.) and which enable the sturdy tree to thrive in soft mud and prevent it from falling over during strong tides. The bruguiera trees grows in rather compacted mud which is inundated with water only during high spring tides. Mangrove has large round seed pods that grow separate from each other dangling from thin woody wires. The unusual seed pods of the bruguiera trees are equipped with dagger-shaped appendages (fig.) that enable them to penetrate the mud when they drop, so they won't drift away with the tide. Due to this mangrove forests often colonize large coastal areas, such as the Bay of Phang Nga in Southern Thailand. Its tangled root system form a natural habitat for many animals such as the mudskipper (fig.), fiddler crabs, yellow-ringed cat snakes, small-clawed otters and crab-eating macaques. Mangrove wood is burned to make charcoal (fig.). In Thai ton gohng gahng.
Chinese name for Bangkok. See also Big Mango. mani (मणि) Sanskrit. 'Gem'. Name for stone plates, rocks and pebbles with sacred inscriptions. Mani walls at Buddhist locations are built of stones with sacred inscriptions. Manibhadra (मनिभद्र) Sanskrit. Protector of travellers and ruler of the yakshas. Small plant of the genus manihot mainly cultivated in the province of Kanchanaburi for its thick root from which tapioca or cassava is harvested. In Thai mansampalang and mansamrohng.
Thai. 'Chinese tuber'. A kind of edible root which is mainly sold on markets, especially Chinese ones, such as in Yaoraht, Bangkok's Chinatown. It looks like a elongated potato but with a reddish-pink skin.
Manjushri (मंजुश्री) Sanskrit. The god of learning and wisdom, a bodhisattva of Mahayana Buddhism. His attribute is a book, his mount a lion, and his consort Sarasvati. In Chinese Wen Shu. Manmatha (मन्मथ) Sanskrit. 'Churner or agitator (of the mind)'. An epithet of Kama, the god of love. 1. Thai. Longest existing dance drama in Thailand with similar themes to the Ramakien. The story relates the events of the protagonist prince Phra Suthon who sets out to liberate Manohra, an abducted kinnari. Performances are often complemented with comic comments. Especially popular in South Thailand. Also shortened to nohra. 2. Daughter of the king of the kinnons who eventually marries Phra Suthon. Thai name for manioc, the plant from which root cassava or tapioca is made. Also mansamrohng. Thai name for manioc, the plant from which root cassava or tapioca is made. Also mansampalang. mantra (मन्त्र) Sanskrit. 'Mystical syllables'. A mystical incantation or religious chant. It has a magical intention when used by Hindus. A stimulating phonetic symbol that evokes and revives the deity being worshipped. Its sound is more important than its meaning. In Thai pronounced mon. See also om. Mantrayana (मन्त्रयान) See Vajrayana. Chinese. 'Hairy pen' or 'furry writing brush.' Name for an ink brush used in Chinese calligraphy and painting (fig.). They are normally made from real animal hair with a stalk from bamboo, although other materials, such as baby hair and stalks made from jade, ivory, sandalwood or other precious materials, are also used for more luxurious brushes. Synthetic materials are not used. In English it is called Chinese writing brush or ink brush and it is part of the wen fang si bao (fig.).
A Thai name for persimmon. Thai for coconut. Thai. Name for a plum like-fruit tree of the genus anacardiaceae, which belongs to the sumac family. Its fruit is called marian plum in English and has a thin yellowish skin. Its fruiting season is from March to April. There is a variety called mapring.
A variety of the maprahng. Arabic. 'Place of burial'. A chamber or compartment in a Muslim tomb. Arabic. The arched façade of a mosque.
Mara (मार) Sanskrit. 'Destroyer, tempter'. Name of an important god that rules over the eleven levels of the World of Desire, derived from the Sanskrit root mri of the word mriti, meaning 'death', and thus the god of desire and death. He is the personification of evil and one of the five devils that tried to tempt the Buddha just before his Enlightenment. Although Mara tried to hinder him by sending him certain distractions Siddhartha Gautama seated in meditation under the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya refused to leave until he had found true understanding. He is usually portrayed in a fierce form with several arms. In Thai pronounced Maan.
Thai. 'Battle with Mara'. Thai term that refers to the scene during maravijaya.
See maravijaya. maravijaya (मारविजया, มารวิชัย) Sanskrit-Pali-Thai. 'Victory over Mara'. A name for the most common mudra in Thai-Buddhist iconography, also known as bhumisparsa. It symbolizes the episode from the Buddha's legendary life story when he was seated in meditation under a fig tree in Bodh Gaya and vowed not to leave from there until he had gained Enlightenment. Mara, the god of desire and death, tried to hinder him by sending a number of distractions and temptations, including some young girls. Upon this the Buddha touched the earth with his right hand calling for the goddess of earth Mae Phra Thoranee (fig.). She came to his aid by wringing water from her long hair thus washing Mara and his army of demons away, a scene in Thailand known as marapajon (fig.). In this way the Buddha was saved from the temptations of desire and called upon the earth goddess to bear witness of his accumulated merits from former lives. The Buddha made this mudra seated in a half lotus position. Occasionally this episode is portrayed with a pahng nahg prok posture (fig.). Also maravichaya.
See Wat Benjamabophit. Thai for a male deer. Thai name for Mrigadava. Thai for a female deer. Maruts (मरुत्) Sanskrit. Vedic storm gods made by the rishi Kashyapa for the goddess Diti, the mother of the asuras, who had asked him for a son powerful enough to destroy Indra, as a revenge for killing the asuras. Her embryo, however, got cut into pieces by Indra who entered her womb with his thunderbolt, and their number increased somewhere between 21 and 180, depending on the myths that narrate their origin. Arabic-Thai. 'Place of prostration'. A mosque. Also spelt masjid. Sometimes transliterated masyid.
Masayid Kreu Se (มัสยิดกรือเซะ) Name of a mosque in Pattani, built by Lim To Khieng, a Chinese immigrant who married a local girl and converted to Islam. His sister Lim Ko Niau however sailed from China on a sampan to try and sway her brother to forsake Islam and return to his homeland. In a negative response he demonstrated his faith and started the construction of the masayid in 1578. His sister then put a curse on the mosque, saying it would never be completed. After a final failed attempt to persuade her brother she eventually hanged herself from a nearby cashew nut tree and from grief her brother was unable to finish mosque which to this day remains uncompleted. In April 2004 over a hundred alleged Muslim separatist rebels were killed here by Thai Army troops after they had attacked local police and fled inside the mosque, resisting arrest.
See traditional massage. masyid (มัสยิด) See masayid. See Madchanu. math (मठ) A Hindu and Jain monastery, usually more hierarchical, formal and rule-based than an ashram. Also transcribed matha and sometimes mutt. Thai for high school. See education. 1. One of the most sacred cities of Hinduism, situated on the west bank of the Yamuna river and dating back to 600 BC. The town is associated with the birth of Krishna and his exploits, and with several dynasties including the Gupta dynasty. In the 7th century AD it was an important Buddhist centre, as well as a commercial and cultural meeting place, but the city was sacked in 1017 and the Buddhist temples were destroyed. 2. An art style from Mathura. matmi (มัดหมี่) Thai. A term from the textile industry in Laos and Thailand indicating a weaving process in which a typical pattern is obtained by tying off small bundles ('mat') of yarn prior to dyeing thus preventing the dye from penetrating. Also known by the name ikat. Matris (मातृ) Sanskrit. 'Mothers'. The divine mothers. The term originally refers to a class of goddesses who originated in the remote past and are connected to the forces of nature. Later they appear as the female energies (shaktis) of the great gods and are especially worshiped in Tantrism. Also called Mataras and Matrikas. Matsya (मत्स्य) Sanskrit. 'Fish'. Refers to Vishnu's first important avatara in the form of a fish, represented either as a great fish or as half-man half-fish. It symbolizes the existence that emerges from the waters of non-existence. Thai name for the bale (bel) tree of the genus aegle marmelos, which yields a fruit called golden apple, bengal quince, or bale (bel) fruit. Dried slices of this fruit are soaked in water to make an amber coloured health-enhancing beverage rich in vitamins and called nahm matuhm in Thai.
Burmese. 'Brother'. A Burmese title of courtesy equivalent to 'mister', sometimes used in Thailand. 1. Dynasty from 324 to 187 BC, founded by the Chandragupta in Patna, India. 2. Art form from the period of the Indian Maurya dynasty. maya (माया) Sanskrit. 'Illusion, magic, phenomenal reality'. Creative power, personified as a female who is made for the purpose to beguile. Individuals have the illusion to be in control, but in fact everything is determined by maya. See also Maha Maya. Thai name for the star gooseberry tree, an evergreen tree growing up to nine meters with the scientific name phyllanthus acidus. It has nearly spherical, yellowish light green berries that are quite smooth and hard on appearance, with vertical furrows, more or less in the form of a star. The tree is suitable for several medicinal purposes, including the treatment of fevers accompanied by a skin disease, e.g. the measles. In Sanskrit the fruit is called amla, a word related to amalaka, a term used for a star gooseberry-like circular decorative ribbed ornament at the top of a northern style Hindu temple (fig.). Other designations include wild plum, Malay gooseberry, country gooseberry, Indian gooseberry, etc.
mayura (मायूर) Sanskrit. 'Peacock'. The mount of Skanda, Karttikeya and Sarasvati for one.
The most important place of pilgrimage of Islam situated in western Saudi-Arabia and the place of birth of the prophet Muhammad. It is the direction to which all Muslims turn to pray. Architectural term for a framed circular, oval or half circular centre part with decorative figures and motifs. Often seen on façades. See samahti. Thai. The goddess of lightning and, especially in Khmer mythology, also the goddess of the waters and sea. She is the opponent of Ramasoon, the thunder god (fig.). She is a beautiful nymph who was born from the frothing white foam of the sea. She can fly at her will and she often amuses herself playing about in the air and in the clouds carrying a crystal ball, her weapon of protection. If she turns this crystal ball, she can by her willpower cause it to shoot out fearful flashes of blinding light. The beauty and crystal ball of Mekala attracted Ramasoon, so he persuaded his friend Rahu, the god of darkness (fig.), to create a murkiness of black and ominous clouds to help conceal himself, in order to capture the lovely nymph and carry her away to his den. Ramasoon who always carries an axe, threw his deadly weapon to entrap Mekala, thus causing a deafening sound and a thunderous crash of clouds. Mekala however, who could see through his cover with her celestial eyes, brought out her crystal ball and made it send out blinding flashes. The blinding light made Ramasoon miss his mark, making him try over and over again, nevertheless missing his mark time and again. Occasionally Ramasoon tries again to capture Mekala by throwing his axe, whilst she keeps on protecting herself by sending flashes of blinding rays into Ramasoon’s eyes. This celestial spectacle is the violent thunder and lightning that is witnessed on earth, followed by heavy rainfall, being Ramasoon’s withdrawal under his cloak of rain. Sometimes transcribed Mekhala.
See Mae Khong. See malako. Founder and king of Chiang Rai (fig.) and Chiang Mai, with the title of Poh Khun. In 1281 he conquered the northern empire of Haripunchai on the Mon and placed it under his rule as part of the northern empire of Lan Na. A kingdom that flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries AD with Chiang Mai at its centre. He consolidated his power by making a pact with the neighboring kings Ramkamhaeng and Ngam Meuang (fig.) from the kingdoms of Sukhothai and Phayao. MORE ON THIS.
Meru (मेरु, เมรุ) 1. Sanskrit-Thai. Mythological and sacred golden mountain, the centre of the universe in both Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. At its pinnacle is Tavatimsa heaven, the abode of the god Indra and the 33 gods. It is located in the Himalayas and from its summit the Ganga river flows to earth, divided into four streams each directed towards the four cardinal points. In architecture generally represented as a quincunx. During the churning of the Ocean of Milk by the gods and demons Mt. Meru was placed upside-down in the ocean, whilst Vishnu incarnated as a tortoise -his second avatar- to support the mountain with its shell, thus preventing it from sinking in the soft mud of the sea floor (fig.). Usually Mt. Meru. Compare with Krailaat. 2. Thai. A crematorium (pronounced mehn). Thai name for Maitreya. Also transcribed Metraiy. Metraiy (เมตไตรย) See Metrai. See Maitreya. 1. Thai. A free state, principality, land or city state. Also spelt muang. 2. Thai popular name for rural and urban districts or the capital city of a province. Also spelt muang. 3. Thai popular name for a country, as in Meuang Thai, Thailand. Also spelt muang. Thai. 'Ancient City'. Name of an open-air museum in Samut Prakan, covering an area of 320 acres, which shape correspondents to that of (a map of) Thailand. It consists of a contrived domain or land (meuang) with statues from history and mythology, traditional houses and historical (boraan) monuments from all over Thailand and has over one hundred attractions.
Thai. Name of a savory wrapped in leaves, somewhat like an hors d' oeuvre.
Thai. 'A bite or mouthful of
Thai. 'Sweet miang'. Name of a sweet wrapped in leaves. Other spelling for Maew. In Buddhism, the path of no extremes and an acceptance of things as they are. Also called 'middle way' and 'middle course'. Yao. 'People'. A Yao-Thai name for Iu Mien. MORE ON THIS. Arabic. A prayer niche or arched recess in one of the inner walls of a mosque, indicating the direction of Mecca and to which worshipers turn to pray, or an image of it on a prayer rug (fig.).
Chinese. 'Full rein in buddha'. Another name for Budai or Huan Xi Fo, the god of happiness and wealth, who is also known as the Happy Buddha, Smiling Buddha, the Loving One and the Friendly One.
See kong thap. Military Parade of the Royal Guards Annual Military Parade of the Royal Guards at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok on December 4th. In English usually referred to as Trooping the Colour (which in Thai is Phittih Sabaan Tong), but by the Thais rather called Phittih Suansanam Thahaan Rachawanlop. See millipede. Name for a small crawling invertebrate arthropod with a long segmented wormlike body with two pairs of legs on each segment. It belongs to the genus diplodata and its name is derived from Latin, meaning thousand (mille) foot (pes ped). Thailand has two main kinds: one being brownish rust-coloured, the other being black. When they feel threatened they will curl up and stay still. Whilst most species are harmless, some have a poisonous sting or bite. Also milliped, millepede and milleped. In Thai named king keuh. See also centipede.
Arabic. Tall, usually round spire belonging to a mosque, frequently adorned with an ornament in the form of one or more, often onion-shaped, spheres with on top a crescent, the symbol of Islam. The minaret is either a free standing structure or attached to the mosque, but always much taller than the rest of the building. It is used five times a day for the azaan, the calling to prayer. The root of the word minaret is manara which translates as 'lighthouse' and refers to some of the older mosques whose minarets originally served as watchtowers illuminated by torches. In Thai called ho asaan (azaan tower).
Chinese. 'Obscure currency' or 'hell money'. Name for a special form of joss paper called jin zhi and takes the form of hell banknotes, a currency for afterlife usage. There are banknotes with real money value (fig.), whilst others are of a very large denomination. All show a portrait of Yu Huang, the Jade Emperor and the seal of the Bank of Hell (fig.). There are banknotes of both foreign and Thai (fig.) allusion. They are sold in stacks of around 30 bank notes and the backside of one -the last- bank note in each stack will be of a different colour, indicating it is the last banknote of the stack. They are offered by the relatives of the deceased by burning (fig.) them in specially built joss ovens (fig.) during certain traditional Chinese ceremonies, such as funerals, to escape punishment or as as a tribute to Yama, the god of hell. They are often burned together with other paper items, such as replicas of material goods, in order to ensure that their spirits have all things necessary. Hell banknotes are taken seriously and are for ceremonial burning only. They should never be kept around in the house as that is considered bad luck and one should never give a hell banknote to a living person, not even as a joke, as it is considered as wishing that person's death, a grave insult. Before burning hell money the person offering it will first make a vow called athitahn, in which the hands are brought together above the head, making a wai. In Thai transcribed as meng pih. Sometimes called ghost money and in Thai known as baenk gong de.
Mogallana (โมคคัลลานะ) Pali-Thai. One of the main disciples of the Buddha, and more often than not represented in a pair with Sariputta (fig.). In Burma usually found as a seated wooden sculpture, decorated with lacquer and sometimes with eyes made of glass. In Thailand more likely seen in a phranommeua standing pose, in front of Buddha images.
European name for the ancient mogul emperors of the Mughal dynasty in Hindustan. Also great mogul. Thai. 'Fire pot'. An earthen or more often an aluminium pot with a chimney in the middle for serving soup-like foods whilst being kept hot. Below is an opening where a fire is kept burning whilst the soup is contained in a basin around the funnel. The popular dish 'tom yam' is usually served in this manner.
See seua mo hom. moksha (मोक्ष) Sanskrit. 'Liberation, perfection'. In both Hinduism and Buddhism the term refers to the liberation from karma and freedom from the endless chain of time, death and rebirth. Thai. 'Tuft of hair', as in tat molih. Also juk, pomjuk and kle. See also kwan.
Northern Thai term for a makara (fig.). Thai title for the grandson of a king. For a granddaughter the title momchaoying is used. Thai title for the granddaughter of a king. For a grandson the title momchao is used. Thai title for the son of a momratchawong. For a daughter of a momratchawong the title momluangying is used. Thai title for the daughter of a momratchawong. For a son of a momratchawong the title momluang is used. Thai title for the son of a momchao. For a daughter of a momchao the title momratchawongying is used. momratchawongying (หม่อมราชวงศ์หญิง) Thai title for the daughter of a momchao. For a son of a momchao the title momratchawong is used. Thai for mantra. Mon (มอญ) Descendants of the Mon-Khmer race, now an ethnic group in southern Burma with limited numbers in Thailand, mainly refugees. They were part of the Dvaravati empire in Central Thailand between the 6th and 11th centuries AD.
See mandapa. Thai. A generally open, square building with four arches and a pyramidal roof, used to house revered religious objects or manuscripts, or as an open hall in front of the entrance of a sanctuary. Derived from the Sanskrit word mandapa. Small tree or branch without leaves used at Buddhist ceremonies as an original way to collect money. This 'tree' is carried through the local community and anyone who wants to make a donation (tamboon) can attach a banknote to a branch of the tree. When the tree is full or on a specified date, the tree is taken to the temple and offered to the monks. Initially used during the kathin or thod kathin ceremony, but nowadays also with other events. The tree may also be placed at a business or in the temple.
1. Thai. 'Auspicious' or 'garland'. A festoon of white yarn used during wedding ceremonies. Two are made connected by a sai sin and are placed on the heads of the bride and groom, and held by a witnesses. It symbolizes the pact of marriage. Also called mongkonfaed and mongkonchak. Sometimes transcribed mongkol.
2. Thai. 'Auspicious' or 'garland'. Name for a loop-shaped headband that muay thai boxers wear on their head during the ram muay (fig.) just before a fight, to keep them free from danger. In the past boxers had to wear this circlet at all times during the fight, but at present that is no longer required. The tradition of wearing a mongkon comes from the past when soldiers used to wear a kind of headband on their forehead when going to battle. Sometimes transcribed mongkol. Thai. White string or sai sin leading to a bowl of holy water which is held by monks chanting mantras, or which is linked with the important Buddha images in a bot. Also called mongkonsut.
Mongkut (มองคุท) Thai-Western name of the fourth monarch from the Chakri dynasty with the crown title Rama IV. In Thai known as Chom Klao. MORE ON THIS.
Thai. Name of the son of Rama and Sita who was born in a forest. He later fought with Rama not realizing it was his father until he learned that their weapons couldn't harm one another. When at some point it was thought that Mongkut had disappeared, a hermit created a look-alike who was named Phra Lob. 1. Thai for 'crown'. Also makut. 2. Thai. 'Crown'. Ornamental finial or spire on the top of a stupa, tower or dome. Thai name for Rama VI, the sixth monarch from the Chakri dynasty.
mongkut rachakumaan (มงกุฎราชกุมาร) Thai. The heir to the throne. Also radjataayaat. See Phra, Phra pikku, bhikku, bhiksu, Phrasong and Phrasong Ong Chao. Thai. 'Lean-on-cushion'. Another name for mon khwahn. Name
of an over two meters long, semi-aquatic, tropical reptile with a rough hide, a
forked tongue and curved claws (fig.), belonging to the
family varanus, of which there are many different species. They use
their snake-like tongue to detect taste by smelling scent particles
in the air, i.e. evaporated molecules, and for navigation in the
dark. To interpret the scent particles they posses a sensitive organ
on the roof of their mouth, called the vomeronasal organ or
Jacobson's organ, and which allows them to determine which direction
a scent is coming from and which can pick up scents for over a
kilometer away. By sticking out its tongue, scent particles will
stick to it and when retracting it, the tongue will brush against
the cavity with the Jacobson's organ. By regularly sticking its
tongue in and out the scent particles are taken in time after time
again and after analyses by the brain recall a certain memory,
whether of carrion, food or prey, or of the breath of an enemy,
enabling the animal to react more alert. Their nostrils are for
breathing only, not for smelling, and towards the back of their head
are two large holes for hearing (fig.). They are
carnivores to the full, feeding mainly on carrion
but also on fish (fig.), crabs, insects, mollusks, eggs, snakes and even other lizards and garbage. Since they are cold
blooded creatures they make more efficient use of food allowing them
to
get by with less. Because, unlike warm blooded animals, they don't
need to burn fuel all the time to keep their body temperature
constant. They are
commonly seen all over Southeast Asia especially in habitats near
fresh as well as brackish and salt water (fig.)
where they proof to be excellent swimmers,
driving themselves through an undulating motion of the tail that also
acts as a rudder whilst
keeping the limbs to the side of their body (fig.). A
good place to observe them is
near canals and more
conveniently in the ponds of Bangkok's
Lumphini Park
and the park of Dusit Zoo
(fig.).
Also called water lizard and in Thai
takuad and
hia
or
tua
Thai for Mon-Khmer. Race that existed in Southeast Asia before the Thai arrived from South China. The modern Mon are descendants of this race. See also Khmer. In Thai Mon-Khmen. Thai. 'Axe cushion'. A stuffed floor cushion, triangular in shape (like an axe), used as a backrest. Also mon ing.
Sanskrit name meaning 'frog'. It is the name of the principal wife of Totsakan who a reusi created from a frog. She used to live near the ashram of four hermits who fed her with milk. One day, she saw a naga secrete her poison into the milk pail, intending to kill the four hermits. Since she couldn't speak and thus couldn't warn anyone, Montho sacrificed her own life by jumping into the milk and drinking it until she died, thus saving the lives of the others. However, curious on what had happened the hermits revived Montho and questioned her. After learning the facts they changed her into a beautiful woman and took her up to heaven to worship the goddess Uma. Later on the god Idsuan gave her to Totsakan as a gift for bringing Mount Krailaat back to its original position. Consequently, she had to leave her husband Bali who was a monkey and soldier in the army of Rama, and of whom she was pregnant. Her foetus was thus cut from her womb and placed in that of a goat before she returned to stay with Totsakan. The child born was named Ongkhot. MORE ON THIS. Name of Thailand's second largest river, after the Mae Kohng. It is situated in northeastern Thailand and is around 750 kilometers long. It originates in the amphur Pak Thongchai in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima (map), where it is called Hub Pla Kang for the first ten kilometers. It flows further eastwards through the provinces of Buriram, Surin, Roi Et and Sri Saket and eventually ends in the Mae Khong river, in the amphur Kohng Chiam, in Ubon Ratchathani province (map). 1. Architectural term for a hemispherical ornamented stone or carving at the foot of staircases or entrances to important buildings. Often decorated with animals, flowers and birds.
2. Semiprecious stone, a gem. Thai. 'Emerald'. Oriental gemstone varying in colour from light to dark green. See also Phra Kaew Morakot. Muslim temple or house of worship. Thailand has around 2,900 mosques. Also called masayid.
Motaka (मोदक) Sanskrit. A sweet desert made of flour mixed with sugar and coconut and rolled into small balls. It is the favorite food of the Hindu god Ganesha, and he is often portrayed with it. Motaka also symbolizes great wisdom, the wisdom of Ganesha. Also Modaka. Inlay made of the inner shell of mussels, oysters and other shells. When light is shed on it it will give a beautiful optical reflection, as seen in pearls. In Thailand this art developed in Ayutthaya in the middle of the 14th century AD and was initially inlayed against a background of black lacquer. It is applied to both small and large objects, such as the doors of the bot of Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok for one, and with furniture in oriental style (fig.). In Thai hoi muk, and objects inlaid with mother-of-pearl are called kreuang muk.
See Meru. Mrigadava (मृगदाव) Sanskrit. 'Deer park' Former name of Sarnath where the Buddha gave his first sermon, thus setting in motion the Wheel of Law. In Thai mareukathaiwan, after a male deer called a mareuk. mriti (मृति) Sanskrit for 'death'. The name of Mara, the god of death and desire, is derived from its root mri. See also amrita. See Meru. Thai boxing style in which it is allowed to used hands, elbows, knees and feet. There are five rounds of three minutes with two minutes between rounds. Before a bout the nak muay performs a ram muay (fig.), wearing a mongkon on his head and a pah prachiad on his biceps. An official match is usually accompanied with the loud crescendo of a traditional orchestra. The colours of the boxing shorts should be either predominantly red or predominantly blue to represent the boxer’s side. It originated from an earlier form of boxing called muay boraan. Also called kickboxing or Thai boxing.
Thai. 'Group of houses'. Name for a village. Several mu ban make a tambon, a rural administrative sub-district of an amphur. Thailand has a total of 69,866 villages. Pronunciation 'moo bahn'. 1. The naga king who protected the meditating Buddha against heavy rainfall by making a shelter with his multi-headed hood while coiling his body around him for protection. Other versions however say that he coiled his body under the Buddha thus lifting him above the flood waters. This scene happened during the sixth week after Siddhartha's Enlightenment and is sometimes depicted with a Buddha making a bhumisparsa-mudra (fig.).
2. A tree in Buddhist mythology that grows near a lake of the same name. 3. A lake in Buddhist mythology. Latin. Scientific name for a most spectacular climbing twine that produces a brilliant pendent flower composed of numerous corollas in the shape of sickles. The fine hairs from the calyx cause itching. It usually suspends from the high branches of a tree. Also known as red jade vine and New Guinea creeper. mudra (मुद्रा) Sanskrit. Literally 'seal' and 'print', but usually translated as 'hand position'. Used in both iconography and khon (fig.), where by means of a complex combination of mudra's and other movements of the body represent different situations, thoughts and feelings in the story. Each hand position in combination with the position of the body has an exact specified meaning, whereas in Buddhist iconography this meaning is rather symbolic, used to represent certain legendary scenes or situations in the Buddha's life.
Name of a semi-amphibious animal that can survive for short periods out of the water and yet spends most of its lifetime on land where it skips across inter-tidal mud flats using its fins. This bizarre living fossil can best be described as a walking fish. It is distinct from other fish in that way that it is able to breathe when it is out of the water. Once on land its gill (the respiratory organ in a fish) begins to dry out and stick together. However, in a special cavity behind its ears it can store seawater; as it rotates its bulging eyes pressure is applied to this cavity which re-oxygenates the stored water and restores the gill to its normal function. Mudskippers live in shore-mud areas and are omnipresent mangrove dwellers. In Thai called pla tihn.
Islamic dynasty founded in North India by Babur, who came originally from Central Asia. The dynasty ruled from 1525 AD until its final overthrow by the British in 1857. Their rulers, also called great moguls, were illustrious patrons of the arts. Arabic. 'Praised one'. Founder and prophet of Islam, born in Mecca in 570 AD and died in 632 AD. He brought the Koran to the Muslims, established the monotheistic faith in Arabia and unified the many ancient tribes into a single polity. See Sri Sunthon. Thai. 'Divided pearl'. The capital of Mukdahan province (map), a jangwat in Isaan. The town is located at 642 kms Northeast of Bangkok, on the Mae Khong river and the border with Laos, and has a population of around 25,000. Due to the closeness of the Laotian city Suwannakhet, on the other bank of the river, there is a lively trade with Laos. This is particularly noticeable at the local markets, including the famous Talaat Indojien, the Indochinese Market. Its places of interest include Phu Pha Thup National Park and the many panoramic views over the Mae Kohng river. The city with the beauty of a 'pearl' (mukda) was first an amphur of Nakhon Phanom but split (han) in 1982 and became a provincial capital itself. The province has seven amphur. Pronunciation Mukdahaan.
mukhalinga (मुखलिङ्ग) Sanskrit. 'Linga with a face'. A linga with a face added to its surface. See also ekamukhalinga.
mukuta (मुकुट) Sanskrit. 'Tiara' or 'diadem'. Term that refers to the decorative headdress in Southeast Asian art, worn like a diadem.
Museum of Sciences and Planetarium A museum and centre for demonstrating and disseminating knowledge in sciences and astrology. It has regular periodic events, including exhibitions, movies, lectures and discussions in subject matters related to sciences. The museum also has a planetarium for solar system studies. It is situated on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, near Ekkamai. In Thai called Phiphithaphan Witthayahsaht Lae Thong Fah Jamlong. Arabic word related to Islam. Follower of the Islamic religion. Also Moslem. Latin. Scientific name for an evergreen shrub that originates from the Philippines and of which two varieties exist, the Queen Sirikit mussaenda and the Dona aurora. They may grow up to 4 meters and may have corymbs of either pink-rose-peach or white sepals, each enclosing a corolla of five small, yellow petals.
Mussur (มูเซอ) Thai-Burmese. 'Hunter'. Another name for Lahu. MORE ON THIS. Mussur Dam (มูเซอดำ) Thai-Burmese. Another name for Black Lahu. MORE ON THIS.
Chinese. 'Wooden fish'. Name of a wooden bell-like percussion instrument used by monks in Mahayana Buddhism, who strike it on certain moments, e.g. when chanting sutras. It is bulbous in shape with a wide opening in front and usually has scales or fish-like motifs carved on its back (fig.). It comes in many sizes. Fish, which never sleep, symbolize vigilance and the muyu is therefore used to remind the chanting monks to be attentive and concentrate on their prayer. Muyu are usually kept on hassock-like cushions. See also singing bowls.
Myanmar (เมียนมาร) Since 1989 the name for Burma, its full official name being the Union of Myanmar. This name was promoted by the military authorities, but this decision was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the rest of the world did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw. Sacred Hindu city in Vietnam's Da Nang province, built between the 7th and 13th centuries by the kings of Champa. |
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