abacus (άβακας, אבקוס)

1. Latin-Greek-Hebrew. Architectural term referring to a flat slab on top of a capital, i.e. the uppermost part of a column. 回

2. Latin-Greek-Hebrew. A device for making mathematical calculations. READ ON. 回

abat (อาบัติ)

Thai-Rajasap. Transgression of a minor precept by a Buddhist monk. See also sa-mee and Buddhist precepts. 回

abayamuk (อบายมุข)

Thai. The way to hell and ruin. A term used for temptations and vices, generally understood to be getting drunk, going out late at night, watching games, gambling, befriend bad people and indolence or laziness. 回

Abhakara Kiartivongse (อาภากร เกียรติวงศ์)

See Aphakon Kiatiwong. 回

abhava (अभाव)

Sanskrit. ‘Non-existence’ or ‘non-entity’. A term used for ‘one who is never born’ and as such a title given to some Hindu gods. This could refer to those not born of any human being or material creature, such as Rudra, who was born from between the eyes of Brahma, and Brahma himself, who is born directly from the lotus flower that grows from the navel of Vishnu. The term is related to the Sanskrit words bhava (भव) and bhaava (भाव), meaning ‘being’ and ‘spirit’, respectively. Also transcribed abhaava. 回

abhaya (अभय)

Sanskrit. ‘Fearless’. A mudra symbolizing ‘calm’, ‘reassurance’ and ‘no fear’. READ ON. 回

Abhaya (अभय)

1. Sanskrit. ‘Unafraid, fearless’. A god that is also the patron saint of the Sakya clan, and to whom the newborn Siddhartha was presented in the temple of the same name according to ancient tradition. See also abhaya. 回

2. Sanskrit. ‘Unafraid, fearless’. Name of a son of King Bimbisara of Rajagaha, who raised Jivaka as his adopted son. 回

Abhidhamma

Pali. Buddhist philosophy, which consists of higher teachings about the dhamma and which has been described as an abstract and highly technical systemization of the Buddhist doctrine, which is simultaneously a philosophy, a psychology and an ethics, all integrated into one framework. 回

Abhimanyu (अभिमन्यु)

Sanskrit. ‘Excessive anger’. Son of Arjuna and Subhadra. He was a brilliant warrior who whilst still in his mother's womb had learned the knowledge of penetrating into the Chakravyuha, a seven-tier defensive spiral formation, by overhearing Arjuna talking about it with his mother. However, his mother fell asleep while she was being explained about it and so he could not learn how to escape from it, hence he later died in battle trying to break free from the Chakravyuha. Shortly after his death his wife Uttara had a miscarriage but the child named Parikshit was brought back to life by Krishna and eventually succeeded Yudhishthira as king of Hastianpura. 回

Abhinavagupta (अभिनवगुप्त)

Sanskrit. Philosopher from the 10th century AD and writer on aesthetics. One of the most influential philosophers from the Kashmir school of Shivaism. 回

abhisheka (अभिषेक)

1. Sanskrit. ‘Unction’ or ‘blessing’ by sprinkling water, also the ceremonial sprinkling of images with water, milk, saffron, flower petals or other objects, to honour or worship. The Thai word aphisek (อภิเศก), which means  ‘coronation’, derives from it. Compare also with the Thai term rod mon nahm. 回

2. Sanskrit. Ritual unction or anointment, as in Abhisheka of Sri. 回

Abhisheka of Sri

Representation of the goddess Sri (Lakshmi) seated on a lotus base (fig.) and holding a lotus (fig.), one of her attributes, in each hand (fig.), whilst being doused with water by two elephants. READ ON. 回

Acacia (อาเคเชีย)

English-Thai. Generic name for a genus of pod-bearing trees and shrubs in the subfamily Mimosoideae. READ ON. 回

Acalanatha (अचलनाथ)  

Sanskrit. ‘Immovable protector’. Name of a Hindu deity that in the late 7th century was incorporated into esoteric Buddhism as a servant of the Buddha. READ ON. 回

achara (अचर)

Sanskrit. ‘Behaviour’ or ‘conduct’. The rules for ritual practice of religions, orders and castes; ceremonial rites. Also transcribed acara. 回

acharya (आचार्य)

Sanskrit. ‘Teacher’ or ‘guru’, especially of brahman, the Universal, absolute, eternal and pervading spirit in Hindu philosophy. The term is often used for a group of Vaishnava teachers who base their teachings on Sanskrit as well as on Tamil scriptures. They worship the alvars which it is believed are incarnations of the attributes of Vishnu. Acharya is the root word for the Thai word ajaan, meaning ‘teacher’. See also Brahmacharya. 回

acupressure

Therapy by using pressure and massage on precisely determined points of the body, used in traditional Thai massage. See also acupuncture and fire cupping. 回

acupuncture

An old form of treatment that originated in China in which long needles of steel, silver or gold are placed in the subcutaneous connective tissue in precisely determined spots of the body. READ ON. 回

adi (आदि)

Sanskrit. ‘First, beginning’ or ‘chief’, as in Adi-Buddha. 回

Adi-Buddha (आदिबुद्ध)

Sanskrit. ‘The original Buddha’. The supreme primordial Buddha in the Vajrayana sect of Mahayana Buddhism, who created himself from the original void. In true essence, this Buddha is abstract, illusionary and inconceivable. Therefore he cannot be represented in art, unless in his revealed and more earthly forms such as Vajradhara (fig.) and Vajrasattva (fig.), as found in Tibetan as well as in Khmer art, and the various bodhisatvas. Vairochana is considered the Javan Adi-Buddha. Usually depicted in royal attire or in hermaphrodite union with a consort, a principle in Vajrayana Buddhism known as yabyum. The emanations and representations of his five qualities are referred to as the Five Great Buddhas or the Five Jinas, i.e. the five dhyani buddhas. 回

Adi-Granth (आदिग्रंथ)

Sanskrit. Holy book with more than five hundred hymns composed by five gurus and holy men and written by Arjan Dev (1581-1606) in 1604. They are kept in the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Later, hymns of the Guru Tegh Bahadur were added to the Adi Granth and the text was affirmed its successor.  This second rendition is sometimes referred to as Guru Granth Sahib. The text is so sacred that it has its own bed and bedroom within the gurudwara, i.e. a Sihk temple,  and is each morning carried to the sanctum transported in a special palanquin and carried on the head, a ritual that is repeated in reverse each evening, when the scripture is tucked back into its bed. 回

Adinatha (आदिनाथ)

Sanskrit. ‘Original lord’. Designation of the first Tirthankara of Jainism, who is also known by the name Rishabh or Rishabh Dev. He was a prince of the Ikshvaku clan, born to King Nabhi Raja and Queen Maru Devi in Ayodhya. He became a Siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of its karma. Adinatha had one hundred sons, the firstborn being Bharat, the second one known as Gomateshwara or Bahubali, of which the latter name means ‘strong-armed’. Also pronounced Adinath. 回

Aditi (अदिति)

Sanskrit. ‘Unbounded, free’. The Vedic goddess of space and mother of all creatures and gods. Her first offspring were the Adityas. One of them, Daksha, is considered both her daughter and mother. In later mythology she appears as the wife of the seer Kasyapa, by whom she became the mother of Vishnu in his avatar as Vamana (fig.), and of Indra. Besides this she is the goddess of the sky, consciousness, the past, the future and fertility. The Thai word for ‘the past’ (adit) derives from Aditi. 回

Aditya (आदित्य)

1. Sanskrit. ‘Sun’. The Thai word ‘ahtit’ (sun) is derived from it. See also Phra Ahtit. 回

2. Sanskrit. Sons of Aditi. Each of them represent a certain aspect of natural phenomena. In scriptures they first appear as just six then later seven, of whom Varuna was the first. They then became eight in number and eventually twelve, personifying the sun in the twelve months of the year. They have different names, many epithets of the sun. They represent aspects of light and are jointly identified with Aditya, the sun. See also Phra Ahtit. 回

adorned Buddha

A style of Buddha image popular in the Rattanakosin period, in which the Buddha image is decorated or ‘adorned’ with jewels or royal attire, and a headdress. In Myanmar, this jewel may be a salwe (fig.), i.e. a set of chains that is worn over the shoulders and is fastened at the chest with several ornamental plaques, in order to indicate the Buddha's royal rank (map - fig.). In Thai, adorned Buddha images are known as phra song kreuang. See also crowned Buddha and Jambupati Buddha image. 回

adrishti (अदृष्टि)

Sanskrit. Literally ‘no view’ or ‘no eye’. A term for ‘Evil Eye’, a look that is superstitiously believed to have the power to inflict harm. In this common conviction from antiquity it is understood that the envy brought forth by the good luck of fortunate people, may result in their misfortune and can be caused simply by an envious person casting a malevolent gaze, intentionally or not. This so-called Evil Eye can be countered by wearing amulets in the form of -usually blue- eyes, that ward off the curse and turn the malicious look back to the envious person. In Hinduism, children, who are traditionally regarded as perfect and thus prone to attracting Evil Eye, are sometimes made less perfect by applying a spot or tilaka on their face or by putting black eyeliner around the child's eyes (fig.). With adults, Evil Eye can be removed by a ritual in which a brahman priest will move a holy flame in a circular motion around a person's head, thus absorbing the evil effects. Many boats have a pair of forward looking, vigilant eyes painted on the prow, one on each side of the stem (fig.). They are believed to be a kind of amulet to protect them from misfortune or Evil Eye. See also Hamsa and Wisdom Eyes. 回

Adsadongkot (อัสดงคต)

Thai. Another name for Prajim. 回

Adulyadejvikrom (อดุลยเดชวิกรม)

Thai. ‘Adulyadej The Brave’ or ‘Courageous Adulyadej’. A title given to Mahidol Adulyadej (fig.), the father of both Ananda Mahidol (King Rama VIII) and Bhumipol Adulyadej (King Rama IX). The title is pronounced Adunyadetwikrom. 回

Advaita Vedanta (अद्वैत वेदान्त)

Sanskrit-Thai. School of thought in Hinduism that is often attributed to the Indian Vedic scholar Adi Shankara, but the ideas existed before him and he only propagated them. It means the ‘non-dualist (or single) end of the Vedas’, and means that everyone and everything is connected by their soul, the self, known as atman, and in which moksha is attained through disconnecting from one own entity by acquiring knowledge of one's true identity and oneness with all other beings. In this one monistic concept, the physical equals the spiritual. There is only one universal spiritual and physical substance, an all encompassing matter, to which everyone and everything belongs, and which can be seen and understood through the elimination of maya. Since brahman is the ultimate of everything, this idea also implies that atman merges into brahman, the one eternal being, and hence everyone and everything is god, as is clearly manifested in the Hindu greeting namaste, which is said when meeting others and that can be translated as ‘I salute the divine within you’ or ‘I bow to the divine in you’, meaning ‘the sacred in me recognizes the sacred in you’. See also Vedanta. 回

aeb (แอบ)

1. A northern Thai term used alongside the word kong khao to describe a kratib (fig.), a small basket used to offer or serve sticky rice and to keep it warm, and made from either bamboo or rattan, or from the leaves of a plant from the genus Calathea, named klah (คล้า) in Thai. 回

2. Thai word meaning ‘to tuck away’, ‘to conceal’ or ‘to hide’. 回

aerial root

Name for certain kinds of roots that grow above the ground and of which there exist several types. These roots are either growing down, such as supportive buttress roots (fig.), or —as with certain ficus trees— just hanging down from the main branches or stems to take in moisture from the surrounding air which in the tropics is often high in humidity, whilst other varieties grow up from the soil, such as mangrove pneumatophores (fig.), and so on. See also TRAVEL PICTURE (1), (2) and (3). 回

agarwood

Name of a fragrant residue that forms in the heartwood of Aquilaria malaccensis, a tree in the family Thymelaeaceae, as a result of an infection by a type of mold known as Phialophora parasitica. READ ON. 回

Agastya (अगस्त्य)

Sanskrit. An Indian hermit or rishi who it is believed brought Hinduism to South India. He appears in the Ramayana and is a scholar in literature and science. In Java he appears as the Bhattara-Guru and is associated with the worship of Shiva. 回

Agni (अग्नि)

Sanskrit. ‘Fire’. One of three great Vedic gods with Indra and Surya. He presides over the earth and is known as the god of fire, whilst Indra presides over the air and Surya over the sun and sky. He is the mediator between man and the gods and thus the originator of sacrificial rites. Agni is coloured red and is one of the eight lokapalas protecting the main wind directions, presiding over the Southeast. He is often depicted with a ram, though he may also be seen riding a rhinoceros. In Hinduism, fire is believed to purify, rather than to consume and for this reason Hindus burn their dead, or alternatively throw them in the purifying Ganges. In art, he is at times represented seated on a throne with flames (fig.) or having three heads sprouting red flames. In Thai, known as Ahkney or Phra Phleung. In some stories he is mentioned as the father of Nilanon. See also Mae Phra Phloeng. 回

ahimsa (अहिंसा)

Sanskrit. The principle of non-violence in thought, action, word and speech according to Buddhist scriptures, and a teaching from Jainism which is often translated as ‘respect for and non-harming towards all living creatures’. Sometimes also avihimsa. 回

Ahkaan Benjamaraat Waranuson (อาคารเบญจมราชวรานุสรณ์)

Thai name for the Benjamaraat Waranuson Building, an edifice at Wat Mahathat Yuwaraja Rangsarit (fig.) on Rattanakosin Island in Bangkok and whose name may also be transliterated Benchamarat Waranusorn. It was constructed in 2011, and houses the temple's Center for International Vipassana Meditation Study and Practice. The building is painted in the royal yellowish colour in order to match the then colour of the adjacent Thawornwatthu Building (fig.), which was later painted over in a reddish rusty brown colour (fig.). In front of it there is a bronze statue of Prince Wajirunhit (fig.), the first actual Rattanakosin Crown Prince and successor to the throne of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), but who after his premature death in 1895 at the age of sixteen was succeeded by his thirteen year old half-brother Wajirunhit. The location of the Crown Prince's statue is related to the fact that the adjacent Thawornwatthu Building was initially erected to serve as the royal crematorium for this prince. 回

Ahkaan Rattasapha (อาคารรัฐสภา)

Thai for ‘Parliament Building’, the edifice that houses the National Assembly, i.e. the bicameral legislative branch of the government of Thailand, and which is located along the Chao Phraya River (fig.) in Bangkok's Dusit District. READ ON. 回

Ahkaht Dam Keung Raphiphat (อากาศดำเกิง รพีพัฒน์)

Thai. Name of an early 20th century novelist of royal descend, who held the title of momchao. READ ON. 回

Ahkahttalai (อากาศตะไล)

Thai. Name of a giant or yak from the Ramakien. He has a red complexion, tah phlohng (fig.), and wears a chadah-style crown with five bulbous peaks, i.e. a large globular point surrounded by four smaller ones. He is an ally of Longka which he helps protect from his station in the air. 回

Ahkney (อาคเนย์, อัคนี)

1. Thai. ‘Southeast’ or ‘southeastern’. The wind direction guarded by the lokapala Phra Ahkney, also called Phra Phleung and in Sanskrit known as Agni. See also Udon, Isaan, Burapah, Taksin, Horadih, Prajim and Phayap. Also Aknih. 回

2. Thai name for Agni. Also Aknih. 回

ahm (อ๊าม)

Thai. Another name for sahn chao, i.e. a Chinese shrine. 回

Ahporn Phimohk Prasat (อาภรณ์ภิโมกข์ปราสาท)

Thai. Name of an open-sided, sala-style royal pavilion, which is located within the compound of Phra Rachawang. READ ON. 回

Ahraya (อารย)

Thai. Another name for Maitreya, i.e. the Smiling Buddha. Often referred to as Phra Sri Ahraya. See also TRAVEL PICTURE. 回

ahwaat (อาวาส)

Thai-Pali. Term that means ‘dwelling’ or ‘abode’ and that derives from the Pali word avasa. In a Buddhist context it may also mean ‘monastery’ or ‘temple’. Etymologically, it stands at the origin of the Thai word wat. 回

Ahw Krung Thep (อ่าวกรุงเทพ)

Thai name for the Bay of Bangkok. 回

Ahw Phang Nga (อ่าวพังงา)

A National Marine Park in Phang Nga Province, covering an area of about 400 km², and which includes the islands Koh Panyi (fig.) and Koh Tah Puh (fig.), also known as James Bond Island, after a scene of the 007-movie ‘Man with the Golden Gun’ was filmed here. 回

Ahw Thai (อ่าวไทย)

Thai. ‘Gulf of Thailand’. Name for the section of the South China Sea that is situated to the East of peninsular Thailand, and to the Southwest of mainland Southeast Asia, i.e. from Kota Baru a border town with Thailand on the Malaysian coast, to Mui (or Cape) Bai Bung, also known as Mui Ca Mau, near the city of Ca Mau in southern Vietnam, which lies just South of the mouth of the Mekhong River Delta near Can Tho. The northern tip of the gulf, at the estuary of the Chao Phraya River (fig.), is known as the Bay of Bangkok and in Thai referred to as Ahw Krung Thep. Also transcribed Ao Thai. 回

Ai Khai (ไอ้ไข่)

Thai. ‘Damn Egg’. Name of a young boy, who in iconography is often depicted similar to and thus reminiscent of Kumaanthong. READ ON. 回

Ailanthus Silkmoth

Common name for a large moth found in southeastern Asia and China. READ ON. 回

Ai-ma (ไอม่า)

Mother goddess of the earth with the Lahu people. MORE ON THIS. 回

Airavata (ऐरावात)

Sanskrit. ‘Arisen from the ocean’, sometimes translated as ‘child of the water’. Name of the multi-headed white elephant divinity of Hindu-Buddhist religion, in Thailand known as Erawan, and produced during the churning of the Ocean of Milk, hence his name. He is the symbol of the clouds and the vahana of the deity Indra, the Vedic god of the heavens, weather, and war, as well as one of the elephants that support the four directions of the world. He generally appears with three heads though sometimes may have 33 heads, representing the various heavenly states. One text even mentions Erawan as a 100 headed white elephant serving as a mount to Narai. In Hinduism he is portrayed as a four-tusked elephant. The 2nd version of the Ramakien, written by Rama II, fully describes Erawan when Indrachit, one of the demon characters disguised as Indra succeeds in fooling the monkey general Hanuman. Sometimes depicted with Ganesha as its rider (fig.). 回

Air Diamond Café

Name of a decommissioned Airbus A330 in Chiang Mai's Mae Taeng (แม่แตง) District, that has been given a new life as a café and hotel. Besides the plane's interior, visitors can also view the airplane from elevated platforms and the venue also features some other attractions and oddities, such as antique aircraft and old-timer cars, and even an inverted house that ─according to its facade─ accommodates a hotel. Known officially and in full as Air Diamond Café & Hotel. See TRAVEL PICTURE, PANORAMA PICTURE, and WATCH VIDEO. 回

Airplane Graveyard

A former dumping field for derelict aircraft at Ramkhamhaeng Road in Hua Mahk district of Bangkok's khet Bangkapi, which despite its rather small number of aircraft and the limited size of the area where they were been disposed off, it over time became increasingly more mentioned as a highlight attraction for urban explorers of the Big Mango. The field was home to the remnants of an eye-catching Boeing 747, as well as those of two McDonnell Douglas MD-82s. Surely, these large aircraft that were lying around in tatters in a field amidst some skyscrapers (fig.) and which are clearly visible from the road must be have been a rather weird and unexpected sight for anyone accidentally passing by. In 2022, however, the field was cleared of all aircraft to make place for the construction of a condominium. See MAP. 回

Airport Link

Elevated train system, that connects Suwannaphum (fig.), i.e. Bangkok's International Airport, with Phaya Thai, in Bangkok's city center. READ ON. 回

Aisawan Thipphaya Asana (ไอศวรรย์ทิพยอาสน์)

Thai. ‘Devine throne of personal freedom’. Pavilion in Thai style at the Bang Pa-in summer palace in Ayutthaya. It was built in 1876 by order of King Rama V and modeled after the Ahporn Phimohk Prasat pavilion (fig.) in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, built by King Mongkut and used to exchange the kakuttapan, i.e. the Thai royal regalia, before boarding his palanquin. The pavilion houses a statue of Rama V in the uniform of Field Marshal, which was erected by his son Rama VI. It is similar to Sala Klahng Nahm (fig.) in Ramkamhaeng University in Bangkok. See also asana and MAP. 回

aitim (ไอติม)

Thai for ‘ice-cream’. READ ON. 回

ajaan (อาจารย์)

Thai word meaning ‘teacher’ or ‘master’ and often used in association with the Buddha. Sometimes spelled ‘achan’, ‘achaan’ or ‘ajarn’, its etymology refers to the Sanskrit term ‘acharya’, a respectful title for teacher or spiritual leader. The word ajaan is reminiscent of the Sanskrit word ajaani which means ‘having no wife’, whereas the word acharya can be traced back to the term Brahmacharya, meaning ‘celibacy’, a possible reference to the fact that the first teachers were usually monks. Common Thai for teacher is kru or gru and is derived from the word guru. 回

ajaani (अजानि)

Sanskrit. ‘Having no wife’. 回

Ajanta (अजंठा)

Hindi. Name of a World Heritage site of Buddhist caves found in West India and dating from around 200 BC to 650 AD. The 29 man-made caves are cut into volcanic rock and contain sculptures and murals depicting the life of the Buddha. 回

ajirogasa (網代笠, あじろがさ)

Japanese. Name for a kind of traditional hat made from bamboo, often used to refer to the large woven bamboo hats worn by monks on pilgrimage and mendicancy. Although in English sometimes described as a ‘conical wicker hat’, most types are rounded at the top. The large and rounded version of bamboo hat worn by Buddhist monks or pilgrims, is also referred to as takuhatsugasa. To make these bamboo hats waterproof in a traditional manner, they are treated with persimmon tree sap. 回

Ajita (अजित, อชิตะ)

Sanskrit-Thai. Name of one of the Eighteen Arahats, who in art is depicted riding or in companion of a deer. READ ON. 回

Ajnata Kaundinya (अज्ञात कौण्डिन्य)

Sanskrit. Name of the head of the five ascetics, known as the panjawakkih (fig.), to whom the Buddha gave his first sermon (fig.) and who eventually became his disciples. Ajnata Kaundinya was ordained a bhikku or bhiksu by the Buddha and hence became the first ever monk in Buddhism and the seniormost member of the Sangha. In Thai, he is referred to as Phra Anyah Kohnthanya. 回

Akasagarbha (आकाशगर्भ)

Sanskrit. ‘Boundless Space Treasury’. Name of the bodhisattva of space, who is also one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas. READ ON. 回

Akha

Hill tribe in Northern Thailand. The Akha belong to the poorest of hill tribe people and are called Igor by the Thai (fig.), a word also known in Laos and probably derived from a word meaning ‘outcast slave’. Akha people usually live high in the mountains where they previously cultivated opium. Typical to their culture is the construction of so-called spirit gates, i.e. consecrated village gates (fig.) erected at each end of their villages (fig.). Typically, these gates are fitted with human items, in order to ward off evil spirits (fig.), as forest spirits are said to be afraid of anything human. The items usually include talaew (fig.) and wooden effigies of naked or copulating humans (fig.). Other unique features of the Akha are their houses, which are built directly on the ground (fig.), with a floor of trampled earth, as well as a harvest swing (fig.), and the helmet-like headdresses of the women (fig.), of which some say it is Akha custom that the male buys it for his future wife and that once she puts it on, she has to wear it for the rest of her life. This tribe has several subgroups, including the Loimi (fig.), the U Lo (fig.), and the Pahmi (fig.). The subgroups can best be differentiated by the women's headdress, which is unique for each group. In Doi Mae Salong there is an OTOP project (map - fig.) aimed at the conservation of Akha culture. WATCH VIDEO and MORE ON THIS. 回

Akha swing

Swing in Akha villages, used during the harvest festival (fig.). There are two commonly found types. The most frequently seen is a swing made of four small tree trunks stripped bare and tied together at the top with a crossbeam from which a rope is hung. At the bottom of the rope a horizontal stick is attached on which the swinging participants will stand upright. It is swung by one or more people on the ground, who pull a long cord attached to the swing rope. The other type consists of a revolving vertical swing made from wooden beams and planks, somewhat like a Ferris wheel (fig.). It usually has four seats and can only be rotated properly when all of them are occupied, in order to have the right balance. This makes it a bit difficult to get on once a first person has taken a seat and is best used with people of comparatively weight. Habitually, every Akha village has its own swing for the occasion of the harvest festival which is also known as the swinging festival, making it an unmistakable feature to distinguish an Akha village from other hill tribe villages. Remarkably, a very similar swing is used by the Hindu population of Nepal during their festival of Navaratri (fig.). 回

Akhu

Name of a hill tribe minority found near Kengtung in Myanmar's Shan State, and who are not to be confused with the Akha, of whom they are generally considered a sub-group. Since they have evolved in small communities in an isolated valley for generations they have developed their own unique language. Their traditional dress is overall black while on the head they wear a black piece of cloth that is put on somewhat like a turban. This clearly sets them apart from the Akha, who wear much more elaborate costumes. Since many, including the women, are famous for chain-smoking tobacco in bamboo pipes they are nicknamed the Bamboo Pipe People. 回

Akhuratha (आखुरथ)

Sanskrit. Literally ‘mouse-chariot’ or ‘rat-chariot’, but usually translated as ‘one who has a mouse as his charioteer’. The term is often used as an epithet for Ganesha when riding his vehicle or vahana, i.e. the rat, or when seated in a chariot pulled by rats (fig.). See also ratha. 回

Akkarajaya (อัครชายา)

Thai. One of the principal consorts of a king, sometimes translated as queen consort. 回

akshamala (अक्षमाला)

Sanskrit. ‘Garland of beads’. A string with dried seeds, pearls, wooden beads or other objects, which is an attribute of many Hindu gods. Though the number of beads may vary, it generally comprises of fifty beads, corresponding to the number of characters of the Sanskrit alphabet. In Thai known as prakam. 回

Akshobhya (अक्षोभ्य, อักโษภยะ)

Sanskrit-Thai. ‘Immovable One’. Name of one of the five dhyani buddhas. He is the buddha of the East and he is portrayed with a blue complexion. READ ON. 回

Alaungmintaya (အလောင်းမင်းတရား)

Another name for the Burmese King Alaungpaya. 回

Alaungpaya (အလောင်းဘုရား)

Name of a historically important Burmese King, who is considered one of the three greatest kings of Burma, along with Bayinnaung (fig.) and Anawrahta (fig.). He was born as Aung Zeya on 24 August 1714 AD in Moksobo, a small village in the Mu River Valley, northwest of Ava, and died from illness on 11 May 1760 during his campaign in Siam. He was the founder of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885) and in 1755 also founded Yangon. He is accredited for unifying Burma for the third time in its history. He is also referred to as Alaungmintaya, and in Thai, he is known as Phra Chao Olong Phaya (พระเจ้าอลองพญา). 回

Alaungsithu (အလောင်းစည်သူ)

Burmese. Name of the 12th Century King Sithu I of Pagan, the last of the three most renowned rulers of Pagan, after King Anawrahta (fig.) and King Kyansittha (fig.), to whom he was a great grandson and a grandson, respectively. Alaungsithu is remembered as a wandering monarch, who traveled extensively throughout his realm, built monuments, and nurtured Theravada Buddhism with acts of piety. He was born on 17 January 1090 AD and reigned from ca. 1113 until 1167 AD, when he was assassinated by his son Narathu. After falling ill, his son could not wait to become king and quickly moved his father the king away from the palace to the nearby Shwegugyi Phaya (fig.). However, the king regained consciousness and when he latched on what his son was up to, he became furious for having been set aside, prompting Narathu to smother the father with his own bedclothes. After his violent death, Alaungsithu became the nat Min Sithu, who belongs to the official pantheon of 37 spirits that are worshipped in Myanmar. 回

Alavaka (आलवक, อาฬาวก, အာဠာဝက)

Sanskrit-Thai-Burmese. Name of a man-eating ogre who was subdued by the Buddha. Hatthaka, the son of the king who ruled over the kingdom of Alavi, liked to hunt. One day, he got lost and wandered into the land of the yak Alavaka, who lived in a banyan tree. When the giant was about to eat him, the king begged for his life and vowed that he would send someone to serve the giant every day for the rest of his life. The Buddha, who also happened to be travelling in the land of this man-eating ogre, wanted to lower the giant's ego and subdued him by preaching him the dhamma (fig.), thus saving the prince from being eaten. The prince consequently became a disciple of the Buddha and is later described as one of his foremost lay male adherents. See also pahng proht Alavaka yak. 回

Alexander the Great

Macedonian king and conqueror who invaded India in 326 BC bringing with him Greek artisans whom it is assumed influenced the first known humanoid images of the Buddha that later developed into the Gandhara style of Buddhist art. 回

Alexandrine Parakeet

Name of a species of large parrot named after Alexander the Great, who is credited with exporting this bird from the Indian Punjab into Europe and the Mediterranean. READ ON. 回

alidha (आलीढ)

Sanskrit. ‘Licked’ or ‘lapped’. A kind of asana (posture), used in Buddhist iconography, especially in art of the Vajrayana sect, to depict wrathful deities and in which the figure lunges or thrusts diagonally, with one leg extended, while placing the body's weight mainly on the other leg, which is bent at the knee. Also called the lunging warrior stance, and in Sanskrit also known as pratyalidha asana (fig.). 回

Allah (الله)

The Arabic word for ‘God’, central to the Islamic faith. Allah is the singular, omnipotent, and omniscient creator of the universe and the ultimate authority in Islam. Belief in Allah is the foundation of the Muslim faith, and His attributes, such as mercy, justice, and omnipresence, are frequently mentioned in the Koran. Muslims express their devotion to Allah through acts of worship, including Salah, and strive to live in accordance with His will and commandments. 回

alms bowl

Contaiber used by Buddhist monks to collect alms, rounded in shape and usually made of metal. READ ON. 回

Alodawpyi Phaya (အလိုတော်ပြည့်ဘုရား)

Burmese. ‘Fulfilling of Wishes Pagoda’. Name of a Buddhist temple in Bagan. READ ON. 回

Aloe vera

See haang jorakae. 回

alvar (ஆழ்வார்கள்)

Tamil. ‘Immersed’ or ‘those immersed in god’. Vaishnava poet saints, who lived from the 6th to 9th century. There are believed to be ten or twelve, and are regarded as incarnations of the attributes of the god Vishnu. They are worshipped as minor gods. 回

Amadaw Mya Nan Nwe (အမတော် မြနန်းနွယ်)

Burmese. Full name of Mya Nan Nwe (fig.). 回

amalaka (आमलक)

1. Sanskrit. A circular decorative ribbed, almost pumpkin or star gooseberry-like ornament at the top of a northern style Hindu temple, usually above a flat circular stone called a beki. Both its name and shape are related to the mayom. See also THEMATIC STREET LIGHT (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5). 回

2. Sanskrit. Name of the Indian gooseberry or emblic myrobalan, a tree and fruit associated with the Thai mayom. 回

amara (अमर)

Sanskrit word for ‘eternal’ or ‘immortal’. The first -a makes it the antonym of mara, which in turn derives from the Sanskrit root mri of the word mriti, meaning ‘death’, and is related to amrita, i.e. [the elixir of] ‘immortality’. At the Eternal Flame of the Unknown Soldier underneath the arch of India Gate in Delhi (fig.) is a black marble cenotaph inscribed in gold with the words Amara Jawan, which translates as ‘Immortal Warrior’. In Thai known as amon. 回

Amaravati (अमरावती)

1. Sanskrit. The capital of Indra's Tavatimsa heaven situated near the mythical Mt. Meru and renowned for its splendor. 回

2. Sanskrit. A place in South India where a Buddhist school of art developed from the second to the fourth centuries AD. 回

Amareswara (अमरेश्वर)

Sanskrit. A title given to both Vishnu, Indra and Shiva, meaning ‘lord of the immortals’. 回

Amarin (อัมรินทร์)

Thai. ‘Immortal King’ or ‘Eternal Patriarch’. A title sometimes given to Indra, the Vedic god of the heavens, weather and war, as well as the king of the gods and supreme ruler of the Tavatimsa Heaven. It is a compound formed of the words amara, meaning ‘immortal’, and In, i.e. ‘Indra’, ‘Patriarch’ or ‘King’. The title is sometimes used in combination with the suffix Jom Thep (จอมเทพ), which means ‘Supreme Angel’ or ‘Highest Deity’. Whereas Indra is usually depicted with a green complexion (fig.), as Amarin Jom Thep, he may in fact be depicted with a red complexion, akin to his twin brother Agni, the Vedic god of fire. See also amara, Amaravati, and Amareswara. See also TRAVEL PICTURES. 回

Amarinthra (อมรินทรา)

Thai. Name of the queen consort of King Rama I, founder of the Chakri dynasty and later held the title of Queen Mother under King Rama II. Born Naag, she was the daughter of Thong and San, a prosperous Mon family from Bang Chang, Samut Songkhram Province. She married Thong Duang, the future Rama I, in the 1760s and bore ten children—three sons and seven daughters. Although estranged from her husband later in life, she was elevated in 1809 by her son to Krom Somdet Phra Amarinthramaht (กรมสมเด็จพระอมรินทรามาตย์), and posthumously honoured as Somdet Phra Boromma Amarinthra Raja Channanie by King Vajiravudh. Her life spanned the fall of Ayutthaya, the Thonburi period, and the formative years of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. 回

amarit (อมฤต)

Thai for amrita. Also nahm amarit. 回

amataya (အမှတ်တရ)

Burmese. ‘Remembrance’ or ‘proof’. A term that may be related to the name Phaya Amat, a Buddhist temple in Bagan. 回

Amaterasu (天照)

Japanese. ‘Heaven illuminated’ or ‘shining in heaven’. The goddess of the sun and the universe in Shinto, the traditional religion in Japan, from who the emperors of Japan, are considered to be direct descendants and derive their right to rule. Japan's monarchy exists since 11 February 660 BC and is the world's oldest continuous hereditary monarchy. During the inauguration rituals when an emperor ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne, the new emperor is united to his Imperial Ancestress, in this way emphasizing his unique share in her divinity. See also Kiku. 回

ambulatory

Architectural term for a walkway, especially an aisle or vaulted corridor around the inner sanctum, i.e. the core of a temple or monastery, as at Dhammayangyi Phaya in Bagan (fig.), which interior includes two  ambulatories, that form a continuous passage way around the inner sanctum. 回

amdaeng (อำแดง)

Thai. General title for a woman equivalent to nang. Formerly used in formal documents but now only used facetiously or derogatorily. 回

Amida (अमिता)

1. Name of a Buddhist mudra, in which the Buddha image is seated with the hand palms held forward, the fingers upward and the index fingers pointing slightly towards each other. However, there are nine grades of Amida and thus also nine hand positions. Hence, in iconography, this mudra may also be depicted alternatively. Also transcribed Amita. 回

2. Another name for Amithaba. 回

Amitabha (अमिताभ)

1. Pali-Sanskrit.  One of the five transcendental or dhyani buddhas of Mahayana Buddhism who reigns over western paradise and is the personification of Eternal Light. It is believed that by calling on this buddha it is possible to be reborn in paradise and consequently gain enlightenment and become a buddha in the next life, thus making him one of the most popular jinas. His mount is a peacock. In China and Japan, he even replaced the Sakyamuni Buddha in importance. In art, he is usually depicted seated in meditation and a celebrated Japanese Amitabha statue is Daibutsu, i.e. the ‘Great Buddha’ of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, a monumental outdoor bronze statue of which a gilded copy stands in Myanmar's Sagaing region (fig.), and which in turn is reminiscent of the giant Tian Tan Buddha near Hong Kong (fig.), though the later is depicted with a varada mudra, i.e. with the right hand raised, representing the removal of affliction, and the left resting open on his lap in a gesture of generosity. In Tibetan-Nepalese tradition, he is portrayed with a red complexion and performing a dhyana mudra (fig.). In art and iconography, it can be difficult to differentiate the Amitabha buddha from other buddhas or the Sakyamuni Buddha, as he possesses all the attributes of any buddha, as well as of the Sakyamuni Buddha, but has no distinguishing marks. It is by some claimed that in iconography the bhumisparsa mudra is a pose reserved for the Sakyamuni Buddha only, though it seems that this claim can be challenged (fig.). The male deity Avalokitesvara always wears a figure of Amithaba in his headdress, of whom he is an emanation. Also Amida. In Thai called Phra Amitahp Phuttachao. 回

2. Pali-Sanskrit. The historical Buddha. 回

Amnat Charoen (อำนาจเจริญ)

Thai. ‘Power of prosperity’. Name of a small city and a 3,161 km² province (map) in Isaan. READ ON. 回

Amoghasiddhi (अमोघसिद्धि, อโมฆสิทธิ)

Sanskrit-Thai. One of the five transcendental buddhas or dhyani buddhas. He is the buddha of the North, has a green complexion (fig.), and is seated in a lotus position whilst performing an abhaya mudra with his right hand. His mount is the Garuda. On mandalas, he is usually portrayed holding a visvavajra, i.e. a double vajra (fig.), but otherwise he may also be depicted with a small bowl and sometimes seated on a multi-headed serpent (fig.), reminiscent of the naagprok pose of the Sakyamuni Buddha (fig.). 回

amon (อมร)

Thai term meaning ‘eternal’ or ‘immortal’, which derives from the Sanskrit amara. 回

amph (อัมพ-)

Thai prefix meaning ‘mango’, as in amphawan or amphawa, i.e. ‘mango orchard’ or ‘mango forest’. Also spelled amp. 回

amphawa (อัมพวา)

1. Thai term for ‘mango orchard’ or ‘mango forest’, next to amphawan. See also amph. 回

2. Thai. Name of a district in Samut Songkhram Province. 回

Amphawa Floating Market

Name of a traditional riverside market located in Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province. Unlike the more commercialised Damnoen Saduak floating market (fig.), Talaat Nahm Amphawa is known for its more relaxed, authentic atmosphere and is especially popular among Thai locals. Set along the banks of the Mae Klong River (fig.), the market comes alive primarily in the afternoons and evenings on weekends. Wooden shop-houses line the canal, selling everything from handmade crafts and souvenirs to clothing. Meanwhile, boats moored along the river serve grilled seafood, boat noodles, desserts, and refreshing drinks directly to customers on the riverbank. A highlight of visiting Amphawa is the chance to take a long-tail boat ride along the canals to view local life, visit nearby temples, or watch fireflies glowing among the mangrove trees after sunset. WATCH VIDEO. 回

amphawan (อัมพวัน)

Thai term for ‘mango orchard’ or ‘mango forest’, next to amphawa. See also wan. 回

ampheu (อำเภอ)

Thai. See amphur. 回

amphur (อำเภอ)  

Thai. ‘District’. An administrative subdivision of a jangwat or province. The capital city of a jangwat is referred to as amphur meuang, e.g. amphur meuang Chiang Mai is the capital city of the province Chiang Mai, etc. All provincial capitals bear the same name as the the province, preceded by the words amphur meuang, except for Bangkok, where the capital city is called Phra Nakhon and is preceded by the word khet, meaning ‘zone’ or ‘domain’. In 2025, records state a total of 878 amphur of which 76 are amphur meuang, i.e. provincial capital cities and thus a number that equals the total number of provinces, exclusive of Bangkok. Pronounced ampheu. See also king amphur. 回

amrit (अमृत)

Sanskrit. The ‘waters of immortality’ surrounding the Golden Temple of the Sikhs at Amritsar, in the Indian Punjab. 回

amrita (अमृता)

Sanskrit. ‘Non-death’. The elixir of immortality produced when the gods and demons churn the Ocean of Milk in the Indian epic of the Ramayana. The legend also appears in the Hindu epic poem Mahabharata. Often identified with soma, a nectar of immortality. In Thai amarit and nahm amarit. See also mriti. 回

Amritsar (अमृतसर)

Hindi-Sanskrit. ‘Lake with amrita’. Place name of the Golden Temple of the Sikh religion located in the Indian Punjab, which derived its name from the sacred waters surrounding the temple called amrit, ‘waters of immortality’. 回

amulet

A charm or protective ornament believed to shield its bearer from misfortune. Often confused with its counterpart the talisman, an object believed to bring good fortune rather than protection. Buddhist devotional plaques or amulets are often worn in Thailand to serve an apotropaic purpose, i.e. to ward off bad luck and evil. They protect the wearer against disaster. This animist dimension of Buddhism is in defiance of Buddhist teaching, which forbids monks to transfer saksit onto amulets as this would be equal to showing off transcendental powers, though in spite of this they are for sale in many a temple throughout the country to enhance its income (fig.). The practice has become a real cult and has taken the form of a well organized  collectors association like that seen in philately, with special literature on the topic, as well as markets, auctions, museums, etc. In many places in Southeast Asia, tigers are associated with protective power and depictions thereof can often be seen tattooed on the chest, or ‒as in some villages in Myanmar‒ erected at doorposts or fences around countryside houses and farm yards (fig.), in order to ward off evil. In Thai known as phisamon. See also miht moh, sak, POSTAGE STAMPS (1) and (2), as well as MORE ON THIS. 回

Anagami (อนาคามี)

Pali-Sanskrit-Thai. Name of the third of the four stages of Enlightenment in Buddhism, i.e. the stage before becoming an Arahan, and in which the partially enlightened person has cut off the five chains with which the ordinary mind is bound, namely belief in self (atman); attachment to rites and rituals; skeptical doubt; sensuous craving; and ill will or aversion. The term means ‘non-returner’. The Anagami person is however not yet free from another five higher fetters needed to become an Arahan, namely craving for fine-material existence; craving for immaterial existence; conceit or pride; restlessness; and ignorance. Yet, the Anagami or ‘non-returner’ is not reborn into the human world after death, but into the heaven of the Pure Abodes, where only non-returners reside. There, they will attain full Enlightenment. One stage below Anagami is known as known as Sakadagami, i.e. ‘once-returner’. In that stage the partially enlightened person has cut off only the first three chains with which the ordinary mind is bound. The person in the Sakadagami stage must be reborn into the realm of the senses once more. 回

Ananda (อานันท, आनन्द)

1. Pali-Sanskrit-Thai. ‘Joy’ or ‘Bliss’. Cousin of Siddhartha Gautama and chief disciple of the Buddha, as well as one of the Ten Principal Disciples. In art he is often represented as a young monk accompanied by the elderly Kassapa (fig.). Ananda Phaya (fig.) in Bagan is often wrongly thought to be named after him. In Thai, known as Phra Ahnan (พระอานนท์). 回

2. Pali-Sanskrit-Thai. Name of the Thai king Rama VIII, in full known as Ananda Mahidol, or Anantha Mahidon in Thai pronunciation. He reigned from 1935 to 1946. Sometimes spelt Ananta or Anantha. See also list of Thai kings. 回

ananda-chakra (आनन्द चक्र)

Sanskrit. ‘Wheel of Joy’. READ ON. 回

Ananda Mahidol (อานันทมหิดลฯ)

Name of Rama VIII, the eighth monarch of the Chakri dynasty. His name is pronounced Anantha Mahidon, and may also be transliterated as such. He is the elder brother of Bhumipon Adunyadet (fig.). See also list of Thai kings. 回

Ananda Phaya (အာနန္ဒာဘုရား)

Burmese. ‘Temple of Joy’ or ‘Pagoda of Bliss’. Name of a Buddhist temple in Bagan. READ ON. 回

Ananta (अनन्त, อนันต)

1. Sanskrit. ‘Boundless’, ‘eternal’ and ‘infinite’. Mythical serpent with one thousand heads on which the god Vishnu rests during the nights that separate two cosmic time periods. This theme, known as Anantasayin (fig.), is popular in Southeast Asian architectural decorations. He is king of the serpents and the symbol of the cosmic waters. When the gods and demons churned the Ocean of Milk to retrieve the nectar of immortality, they used him as the churning rope (fig.). Also known as Shesha or Sesha, and Vasuki. However, the latter names are often used interchangeable: whereas Shesha (Shesh-naak, and spelt with the initial S) is usually linked to Shiva, Vasuki (with initial V) is associated with Vishnu, yet it is also said that the latter is the serpent that surrounds the neck of Shiva, and whereas Vasuki (spelt with the initial V of venom) is described to represent snakes with poison, Ananta (spelt with the initial A of atoxic) is said to represent huge snakes without poison. Ananta, who is considered to be the throne of Narai (fig.), is in Thai referred to as Phaya Ananta Nagaraat. Also transliterated Anantha. 回

2. Sanskrit. ‘Boundless’, ‘eternal’ and ‘infinite’. An epithet for the Hindu god Vishnu. 回

3. See Anantha Mahidon. 回

Ananta Samahkom Hall

See Phra Thihnang Anantasamahkom. 回

Anantasayin (अनन्तशायिन्)

Sanskrit. ‘Resting on Ananta’. Epithet used for the Hindu god Vishnu when reclining on the back of the serpent Ananta during his cosmic sleep, when he rests during the nights that separate two cosmic time periods and which are collectively referred to as yuga. It is a popular theme in Southeast Asian architectural decorations. Also known as Vishnu Anantasayin (fig.) and in Thai called Narai banthom sin (fig.). 回

Anantayot (อนันตยศ)

Twin brother of Mahantayot and son of the legendary Chamadevi of Lopburi, queen of the Dvaravati kingdom in the 7th century AD. 回

Anantha Mahidon (อานันทมหิดลฯ)

Thai. Name of King Rama VIII. 回

Anathabinthika Setthi (อนาถบิณฑิกเศรษฐี)

Thai name for Anathapindika, a wealthy merchant (fig.), banker, and philanthropist in Savatti during the era of the Gautama Buddha. He was born with the name Sudatta (fig.) and is hence in Thai also known as Suthatta Setthih  (สุทัตตะเศรษฐี, สุทัตตเศรษฐี). The suffix Setthi/Setthee to his name means ‘wealthy person’ or ‘millionaire’, and he may also be referred to as Maha Anathapindika. A son of the wealthy merchant Sumana, he was acknowledged as the wealthiest trader in the region and earned recognition as the primary male supporter of the Buddha. Sudatta, born into affluence in Savatti, and related to Subhuti, a prominent disciple of the Buddha sometimes described as his younger brother, later became renowned as Anathapindika, signifying ‘One who provides alms to the unprotected’. Anathapindika encountered the Buddha during a business trip to Rajagaha. Impressed by the Buddha's teachings, Anathapindika attained Sotapanna, the first of the four stages of Enlightenment. Deeply committed to his newfound faith, Anathapindika purchased land to build the Jetavana Monastery from the prince of Kosala, by covering the park grounds with coins, establishing it as a pivotal temple during the Buddha's time. After building the monastery, Anathapindika continued to generously support the Buddha and his monastic community throughout his life and became known as the Buddha's greatest patron and lay benefactor along with his female counterpart, Visakha, who founded the Migaramatupasada Temple. In his role as the chief patron, Anathapindika not only sustained the Buddha and the monastic community by providing daily meals for numerous monks, but also regularly maintained and supplied Jetavana Monastery. He is known as the male lay disciple of the Buddha who was foremost in generosity and he played a crucial role as one of the Buddha's primary aides in interactions with the public. See also setthi and WATCH VIDEO. 回

anatman (अनात्मन्)

Sanskrit. ‘Non-ego’ and ‘non-soul’. See also anatta. 回

anatta

Pali. ‘Non-ego’ and ‘non-soul’. One of the three characteristics of existence in Buddhist doctrine along with dukha (suffering) and anicca (the impermanence of all existence). It is one of the most fundamental points in Buddhism which states that all existence and all worldly phenomena eventually have no substantial reality. In Buddhism, it pleads the impermanence of all things, it is logical to conclude that in such a temporarily existence, there cannot exist any lasting substance. In Sanskrit anatman. 回

Anauchen srakeoensis

Binomial name for a species of pupillid micro land snail in the family of Gastrocoptidae, which consists of so-called chrysalis or whorl snails. This tiny snail has a size of just 3.56 mm and has a prominent downward projecting tuba. It was first discovered in a limestone cave in Khoa Chakan (เขาฉกรรจ์), in Sa Kaeo Province. It is known in Thai as hoi taak jiw pahk trae sra kaew (หอยทากจิ๋วปากแตรสระแก้ว), meaning ‘Sa Kaeo's Trumpet Mouth Micro Snail’ or ‘Sa Kaeo's Tuba Micro Snail’. See also POSTAGE STAMPS. 回

Anauk Mibaya (အနောက် မိဘုရား)

Burmese. ‘Western Queen’. One of 37 nats that belong to the official pantheon of spirits worshipped in Myanmar. During her life she was Shin Mi-Nauk, a senior queen consort of King Minkhaung I of Ava at the beginning of  the 13th century AD. She is said to have died of a heart attack after being shocked by seeing the nat Min Kyawzwa on a magic stallion (fig.) in a cotton field. She was the mother of King Thihathu of Ava, who also entered the nat pantheon as Aung Pinle Hsinbyushin, as well as of Ava's Crown Prince Minyekyawswa, who in 1417 died of wounds received on the battlefield and according to some became the nat Min Kyawzwa. If so, then Shin Mi-Nauk died of shock when seeing her own son appear as a nat. However, the nat Maung Minbyu is also described as the nat representation of Crown Prince Minyekyawswa. Anauk Mibaya is usually portrayed nursing a baby, sometimes while sitting on a lotus-pedestal. See also LIST OF BURMESE NATS. 回

Anaut Palei Phaya (အနောက်ပလိပ်ဘုရား)

Burmese. ‘Western Wall Pagoda’. Name of an ancient Buddhist temple in Pagan, located to the opposite of the road of the Phaya Amat temple (fig.), not far from the place where formerly the western city wall, which over time was eroded by —and eventually fell into— the nearby Irrawaddy River (fig.), used to be. This brick monastery consists of two large, one-floor, square halls, each one topped with a bell-shaped zedi, which in either building is damaged. Whereas the easternmost building is surrounded by an outer wall the other edifice is left open. See also TRAVEL PICTURES and MAP. 回

Anavatapta (अनवतप्त)

Sanskrit. ‘Heat-free’. Mythological lake in Buddhist cosmology. It is located in the Himalayas and is regarded as the source of the four rivers that flow through the four territories inhabited by lions, bulls, horses and elephants. When the earth comes to an end it will be last lake to disappear and the first to reappear when the world is recreated. See also POSTAGE STAMP. 回

Anawrahta (အနော်ရထာ)

1. Burmese king who reigned from 1044 to 1077 AD, as the 42nd ruler of the Pagan dynasty, and who unified the country. As a zealous convert to Theravada Buddhism he was responsible for the construction of many of the pagodas of Pagan, his most famous monument being the Shwezigon Phaya (fig.), which is one of four temples entwined in a legend known as Shwe Daw Lay Su, which asserts that the King was given some tooth relics of the Buddha, which were placed on the back of a White Elephant to determine an appropriate spot to built a pagoda to house these relics. As legend has it, the White Elephant halted at four different locations and the King later had stupas built at each of them (fig.), resulting in the construction of three more pagodas, i.e. Tantkyitaung Zedi (fig.), Lawkananda Zedi (fig.), and Tuyintaung Zedi (fig.). He was also responsible for the execution of the Taungbyon brothers Shwe Hpyin Gyi and Shwe Hpyin Nge (fig.), because they hadn't placed bricks near a pagoda, as ordered by the King. They were later admitted in the pantheon of 37 nats. Also transcribed Anawratha. See also Kyaukse Sain Pwe. 回

2. Burmese. The governor of Arakan and son in law of King Minkhaung I of Ava, as he was married to the latter's daughter Saw Pye Chantha. Appointed governor only in 1406 AD, the newlywed couple in November 1407 fell captive to the troops of King Razadarit of Hongsawadih, i.e. Pegu, when they captured Arakan's then capital Launggyet. They took the couple as prisoners to Pathein, where Anawrahta was executed upon arrival and Saw Pye Chantha passed into Razadarit's harem as a full queen. To distinguish him from King Anawrahta, the governor is usually referred to as Anawrahta of Ava. 回

anchern jut (อัญเชิญจุติ)

Thai. ‘Invite’ (anchern) ‘to be born and die (jut)’, in rajasap or royal language. A scene often depicted in Buddhist murals in Thailand referring to the invitation of the bodhisattva who would later become the Buddha, incarnated as a buddha on earth. This scene occurred in Dusit heaven, the place where all bodhisattvas dwell in anticipation of their last incarnation, and following up the sawankot of King Wetsandorn, the tenth Totsachat and last Jataka of the Buddha. 回

Andaman Sea

Name of a marginal sea of the northeastern Indian Ocean. It is bounded by the coastlines of Myanmar to the north, Thailand to the east, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the west. The sea is known for its clear waters, rich marine biodiversity, and vibrant coral reefs, making it a popular destination for diving and snorkeling. It also plays a crucial role in regional trade and fishing industries. The Andaman Sea is part of the larger Bay of Bengal and is connected to the Indian Ocean by the Andaman and Nicobar archipelagos. WATCH VIDEO (1), (2), (3) and (4), and VIDEO (E). 回

Anderson's Grass Yellow

Common name for a species of butterfly in the family Pieridae, with the Latin designation Eurema andersonii. It has a wingspan of between 3.6 and 4 centimeters, and has yellow wings, with one large brown spot on the underside of the forewing and several smaller, mostly ring-like brown patches. In Thai, it is named phi seua naen andersan (ผีเสื้อเณรแอนเดอร์สัน). 回

Anek Kuson Sala (อเนกกุศลศาลา)  

Thai name for a Chinese-Thai museum at the compound of Wat Yahn Sangwarahrahm Woramahawihaan in Huay Yai district of Chonburi province. READ ON. 回

Angada (अंगद)

Sanskrit name for Ongkhot, a monkey warrior of Rama, son of Vali. 回

Angaja (อังคชะ)

Sanskrit-Thai. Name of one of the Eighteen Arahats, who according to one legend, was a snake-catcher. READ ON. 回

angkaab (อังกาบ)

Name for a shrub with the botanical name Barleria Cristata, commonly known as Bluebell Barleria, Philippine Violet or Crested Philippine Violet. It ranges from Southern China westward to India, and southward to Myanmar and Thailand. The plant has funnel-shaped flowers, about 5 centimeters long, with petals either in white to pinkish-white and violet colour, or in pink to dark pink colour. The plant is portrayed on a Thai postage stamp issued in 2002 AD with near red flowers (fig.). 回

angkalung (อังกะลุง)

Thai name for a bamboo percussion instrument of Sundanese-Indonesian origin with an onomatopoeic name, and known in English, Malay and Indonesian as angklung (fig.). The instrument comes in various types but there are two main varieties: one kind, typically played by a single musician, consists of a number of cylindrical sections of bamboo in variable lengths that are attached to a fixed wooden frame and the tubes with a clapper rattle in different pitches when struck, corresponding to their length; the other kind consists of one or more bamboo tubes of a certain length that produce a single tone. The tube or tubes are attached to a handheld wooden frame around a stick or clapper that is made to rattle by shaking the frame. The latter type is usually played by a group of musicians, each of whom holds one or two angkalung in different sizes, typically one in each hand, and since each single angkalung has a different size, tone and pitch, performers in such an ensemble have to work together and sound their individual angkalung at the appropriate time to produce a melody. WATCH VIDEO. 回

angklung

See angkalung. 回

Angkor (អង្គរ)

Khmer. ‘City’ or ‘capital’. The ancient capital of Cambodia. It was the centre of the Khmer empire from 802 to 1431 AD. 回

Angkorian Period

Period in Cambodia from the 9th to the 15th century AD in which the unification of ancient Funan and Chenla took place, marking the beginning of the Angkor civilization. During this period 28 kings ruled and a shift took place from maritime commerce towards a rural economy, to the disadvantage of Funan. Art from this period shows a decline in Indian influence. The period is preceded by the pre-Angkorian period, that existed from the 1st to the 8th century AD. 回

Angkor Thom (អង្គរធំ)

Khmer. ‘Big Angkor’. Name of a three square kilometer walled and moated royal Khmer city in Cambodia, built in the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. READ ON. 回

Angkor Vat (អង្គរវត្ត)

Khmer name for Angkor Wat. 回

Angkor Wat

The largest of the Khmer temples and one of the seven Wonders of the World. READ ON. 回

angle luffa

A species of luffa, known in Thai as buab liam (fig.), and commercially grown as a vegetable (fig.). 回

Anglo-Siamese Treaty

Treaty between Great Britain and the Kingdom of Siam, which was signed on 10 March 1909, in Bangkok, and which is hence also referred to as the Bangkok Treaty of 1909. The treaty established the borders between the Kindgdom of Siam and the then British colony of Malaya, which after its independence of Singapore became known as Malaysia, which 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. To indicate the political union between Malaya and Singapore, the first to letters of Singapore were inserted into the name Malaya to form Malaysia. The borders of the 1909 treaty still define the border between modern Thailand and Malaysia today. However, the area around modern Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, Satun, and Yala, which have a largely Muslim population, with many of whom are united through both a common religion and the language of Yawi, i.e. a Malay dialect, remained under Thai control, which decades later led to a Muslim, an ethnic, and religious separatist insurgency, that is still ongoing today. 回

angsa (อังสะ)

Thai. A shoulder piece worn by Buddhist monks and novices. It is worn either under the jiewon or as a replacement for the saffron robe when working or resting within the temple compound. 回

Angthong (อ่างทอง)

1. Name of both a town and a province (map) in Central Thailand. READ ON. 回

2. Name of a National Marine Park in Surat Thani province. See Moo Koh Angthong. 回

Angulimala (अङ्गुलिमाला, องคุลิมาล)

Sanskrit-Thai. ‘Garland of fingers’. The delinquent son of a brahmin who entered into the service of an evil master. He was a bandit who wore a necklace of cut-off fingers but was converted by the Buddha in Parileyyaka forest, in the eleventh year after the Buddha's Enlightenment. In Thai, the pronunciation is Angulimaan. WATCH VIDEO. 回

a-ngun (องุ่น)

Thai for ‘grape’. 回

a-ngun khai pla (องุ่นไข่ปลา)

Thai. ‘Fish egg grapes’. Name for a kind of small round, red grape, which due to its dark colour is reminiscent of sturgeon roe. 回

angusa (अंकुश)

Sanskrit. ‘Elephant hook’ or ‘elephant goad’. An attribute of Ganesha (fig.) and Indra, that symbolizes control or the ability to steer someone in the right direction. In Thai kho and kho chang. Also transcribed ankusha and ankusa. Sometimes called ankus or angus. 回

Ang Wa (อังวะ)

Thai name for the Burmese former Kingdom of  Ava, in Burmese known as Inwa. 回

anicca (अनिच्चा)

Pali. ‘Worldliness’, ‘temporariness’ or  ‘impermanence of all existence’. One of the three characteristics of existence in Buddhist doctrine, along with dukha (suffering) and anatta (non-ego). It claims that all existence and all phenomena in this world continuously change and don't stay the same, not even for one moment. All is perish to die at sometime in the future and such outlook is the main cause of suffering. This concept should however not just be understood from a pessimistic or nihilistic view, because also progression as well as reproduction are manifestations of this constant change. 回

aniconic

Not shaped in human or animal form. For several years after the Buddha's death only aniconic symbols were used to remind his followers of his teachings, such as a footprint or buddhapada, a wheel or dhammachakka, a bodhi tree, a stupa, etc. 回

animism

Belief that all living or animate things as well as lifeless or inanimate objects, have a soul. Usually found amongst primitive people. 回

anitya (अनित्य)

Sanskrit. ‘Worldliness’, ‘temporariness’ or ‘impermanence of all existence’. See also anicca. 回

Angkhirot (อังคีรส)

Thai. Name of a Buddha statue, housed at the ubosot of Wat Ratchabophit in Bangkok. READ ON. 回

Anna Leonowens

An English woman hired as a nanny by King Mongkut to teach the princely court, between 1862 and 1868. She wrote her story in the book ‘Anna and the King of Siam’, which was first made into a musical and later into a film called ‘The King and I’. Her son, Louis Thomas Gunnis Leonowens, grew up and worked in Siam, where he from 1881 to 1884 served as an officer with the Siamese Royal Cavalry (fig.), and in 1905, after entering the teak trade, founded a Thai trading company with the name Louis T. Leonowens Company, Ltd. (fig. - map), which up to present remains a leading exporter of Malayan hardwoods and an importer of building materials and general merchandise. Around Anna Leonowens' time, it was common for royal courts in the Far East to attract western instructors, as was also the case in China, where between 1919 and 1924 the Scottish academic Sir Reginald Fleming Johnston was tutor to the Dragon-Emperor Aisin Gioro Pu Yi (fig.) of the Qing Dynasty, the Last Emperor of Imperial China, whilst the Beijing-born American Isabel Ingram in 1922 was appointed tutor to his wife, the Empress Wan Rong. 回

An Nam

See Annam. 回

Annam

Buddhist state in northern Vietnam conquered by the Chinese in approximately 214 BC and made into a Chinese Protectorate. It had a flourishing Bronze Age civilization and the Chinese called it An Nam, ‘Peaceful South’. It was been briefly threatened by the coastal state of Champa, which in the early 9th century was on the defensive against the encroachments of its powerful neighbours, and between 846 and 866 AD it sustained repeated invasions from Nan Chao, a then major power in the affairs of northern Southeast Asia and southern China. It became independent in 1428 AD and became a French protectorate in 1883. In 1887, it was a part of French Indochina, bordering Tonkin in the north and Cochinchina in the south, and in 1946 it was incorporated into Vietnam as central Vietnam. Also spelt An Nam. In Vietnamese known as Trung Ky (Trung Kỳ), i.e. ‘Central State’. 回

Annapurna (अन्नपूर्णा)

Sanskrit. ‘Provider of good deeds’ or ‘full of food’. Goddess of the harvest. One of the forms of Devi, the shakti or consort of Shiva, and a goddess with many forms, both good and evil. 回

Anohdaad (อโนดาด)

Thai-Sanskrit. One of the seven lakes in the Hindu paradise. 回

antarala

1. A corridor that connects the garbhagrha, the inner chamber of a Khmer temple, with the mandapa, the pavilion in front of the main sanctuary. 回

2. A small entrance hall or chamber in front of a Hindu shrine. 回

antechamber

Front room or waiting room. 回

antefix

1. An upright ornament at the lower edge of a roof, projecting upwards, often from the top of a cornice and usually as a extension of a bai raka. On Thai temples it usually has the shape of a naga head (fig.), or an ornamented tail or a flame like ornament (fig.) called a swan's tail. In Thai the antefix is called klieb kanun and on traditional houses it is sometimes referred to as ngao (hook). See also naakbeuang (fig.) and hang hongse (fig.). 回

2. An upright ornament with some prangs (fig.) and gopuras (fig.) in Khmer style. In Thai called klieb kanun prang (fig.). It is usually pointing forwards and decorated with bas-relief. 回

antelope

Mount of the god Vayu. 回

Anthem

See Phleng Chaht Thai. 回

anticrepuscular rays

Term for an atmospheric meteorological phenomenon also known as antisolar rays, that can be observed in the sky around sunrise or sunset, opposite the sun, when it is low on the horizon and the contrast between light and shadow is more pronounced. These rays appear to converge towards a point opposite the sun, creating the illusion of sunlight emanating from that direction. The phenomenon occurs when sunlight is scattered by particles in the atmosphere, such as dust, haze, or water droplets, producing dim linear rays that spread out in a fan-shaped form, reminiscent of the spokes of a half cart-wheel. The rays, often a mixture of blue, white, orangey, to pinkish-purple colors, are much dimmer than crepuscular rays seen at the solar point when the sun is just below the horizon. The convergence of these rays is an optical illusion, as they are actually parallel, with perspective making them appear to meet at a point. Antisolar rays are a beautiful example of how light interacts with the atmosphere, creating unique patterns and illusions in the sky. See TRAVEL PICTURE. 回

antisolar rays

See anticrepuscular rays. 回

anubahn (อนุบาล)

Thai for kindergarten. See education. 回

Anuman Ratchathon (อนุมานราชธน)

Thai. Court name of Yong Sathiankoset. READ ON. 回

Anurak Thewet (อนุรักษ์เทเวศร์)

Thai. A nephew of King Rama I, who held the position of Wang Lang, i.e. ‘Rear Palace’, officially known as Krom Phra Rachawang Bowon Sathaan Phimuk. It was the last ever Rear Palace, who ruled from 1785 to his death in 1806, after which the office went vacant and in 1885 was abolished altogether, as was that of Wang Nah i.e. the ‘Front Palace’ or Krom Phra Rachawang Bowon Sathaan Mongkon. Also transcribed Anurak Devet. 回

Anuruddha Thera (อนุรุทธเถระ)

Thai name for Anuruddha, the son of Sukkhodana, i.e. the brother of King Suddhodana, and hence a cousin to Prince Siddhartha. Anuruddha frequently appears in the Jataka, such as in the Canda Jataka (fig.), and is in the Pali Canon depicted as an affectionate and loyal disciple of the Buddha, as well as a master of clairvoyance. He is one of the Ten Principal Disciples (fig.). 回

Anusawarih Chai Samora Phum (อนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ)

Thai name for the Victory Monument. 回

Anusawarih Kreuang Bin Rob (อนุสาวรีย์เครื่องบินรบ)

Thai name for the Jet Fighters Monument. 回

Anusawarih Phu Phitak Rab Chai Prachachon (อนุสาวรีย์ผู้พิทักษ์รับใช้ประชาชน)

Thai. ‘Statue of the Guardian Servant of the People’ or ‘Statue of the Defender of the Public’. Official name for a monument that is colloquially referred to as Anusawarih Tamruat, i.e. ‘Police Statue’. It was designed by Professor Silpa Bhirasri (fig.), a sculptor of the Fine Arts Department (fig.). The heroic statue depicts a police officers carrying an unconscious man in his arms whilst a naked toddler clasps to his trousers. Originally located in front of the Headquarters of the Royal Thai Police (fig.) in Bangkok's Pathumwan District, replicas can now be found in front of many police posts and stations throughout Thailand. The base of the original statue is hollow and is used to store the ashes of police officers killed while on official duty. The original statue was inaugurated on 13 October 1953, i.e. on National Police Day, known in Thai as Wan Tamruat Haeng Chaht. In 2010, the original statue was relocated to the Royal Police Cadet Academy (fig.) in Nakhon Pathom. 回

Anusawarih Prachathipatai (อนุสาวรีย์ประชาธิปไตย)

Thai name for the Democracy Monument. 回

Anusawarih Prahb Kabot (อนุสาวรีย์ปราบกบฏ)

Thai. ‘Monument of the Suppression of the Rebellion’. Name of an obelisk-like memorial located on the Laksi Roundabout in Bang Khen District, Bangkok. READ ON. 回

Anusawarih Tamruat (อนุสาวรีย์ตำรวจ)

Thai. ‘Police Statue’. Colloquial name for a monument that is formally known as Anusawarih Phu Phitak Rab Chai Prachachon. 回

Anuson Phuh Sia Sa-la Jangwat Tak (อนุสรณ์ผู้เสียสละจังหวัดตาก)

Thai. ‘Tak Provincial Martyr Memorial’. Name of a monument in Mae Sot, in the northeastern province of Tak, that commemorates the heroic deeds of those who sacrificed their lives in defense of the nation, in particular the brave fighters and martyrs who in the sixties carried out operations to suppress communist terrorism in the area and in which 93 civilians, police and soldiers were killed. In English, it is usually referred to as the Tak Provincial Sacrifice Memorial. 回

Anuson Sathaan Chong Khao Khahd (อนุสรณ์สถานช่องเขาขาด)

Thai for Hellfire Pass Memorial. 回

Anuson Sathaan Haeng Chaht (อนุสรณ์สถานแห่งชาติ)

See National Memorial. 回

Anuson Sathaan Racha Sakun Mahidon (อนุสรณ์สถานราชสกุลมหิดล)

Thai. ‘Mahidon Family Memorial Hall’. Name of a memorial within the compound of Wat Pathum Wanaraam Ratchaworawihaan (fig.), dedicated to members of the Royal Family of Mahidon Adunyadet (fig.), the Prince Father of Thailand. See MAP. 回

Anuson Sathaan 14 Tulah (อนุสรณ์สถาน ๑๔ ตุลาฯ)

Thai. ‘October 14th Memorial’. Monument near Democracy Monument (fig.) in Bangkok dedicated to the 77 people that lost their lives at the hands of the security forces during the October '73 uprising near the Thammasat University (fig.), in which students and other citizens alike demanded democracy. The uprising brought about the end of the then ruling military dictatorship and altered the Thai political system. The memorial consists of a tapered cube base with a cone-shaped peak, similar to the plong shanai (fig.) of most chedi. Also transliterated Anuson Satahn. See POSTAGE STAMP and MAP. 回

ao dai (áo dài)

Vietnamese. ‘Long robe’. Vietnamese national dress, nowadays most commonly worn by girls and women. In its modern form, it consists of a log-sleeved, tight-fitting tunic, that is ankle-long and split open on both sides from the waist down, and with a slant row of buttons or hooks, that run from the right side of the neck to the armpit and further down the side. The tunic is usually made from silk, and worn over a pair of loose trousers. The ao dai is very feminine and flattering, and the Vietnamese say that ‘it covers everything but hides nothing’. Outdoors, the ao dai is often worn with a non la (fig.), i.e. a traditional conical hat made from bamboo and dried palm leaves (fig.). On special occasions, men may wear a somewhat looser version of the ao dai, usually made of thicker fabric and sometimes a bit shorter (fig.). The style of the ao dai is purportedly influenced by the longs robes that were once worn by court officials (fig.) and aristocrats at the imperial courts in Vietnam and China. See also ao gam. 回

ao gam (áo gấm)

Vietnamese. ‘Brocade robe’. Name of dress similar to the ao dai (fig.), but shorter and made of a thicker fabric. It is commonly worn by men on special occasions, usually with a Vietnamese turban (fig.), which is locally known as khan dong (fig.). See also ao quan. 回

Ao Krung Thep (อ่าวกรุงเทพ)

Another spelling for Ahw Krung Thep, i.e. the Bay of Bangkok. See also Krung Thep. 回

ao ngu than (áo ngũ thân)

Vietnamese. ‘Whole body robe’. Name of a former aristocratic gown worn in Vietnam between the 19th and early 20th centuries, and that inspired the later design of the ao dai (fig.). 回

ao quan (áo quan)

Vietnamese. ‘Chest robe’. Name for the academic dress or ceremonial gown as worn in the past by civil mandarins upon passing the Imperial Examinations (fig.). It was worn together with the mu tien si, i.e. a ‘doctoral hat’, fashioned after the mu canh chuan, i.e. the Vietnamese equivalent of the Chinese wu sha mao, the black hat with two wing-like flaps of thin, oval shaped boards, worn by feudal officials during the Ming Dynasty. See also ao gam. 回

Ao Thai (อ่าวไทย)

See Ahw Thai. 回

Apasmara (अपस्मार)

Sanskrit. Name of a demon-dwarf, that is crushed by Shiva in his appearance as Nataraja, i.e. the ‘Lord of Dance’ (fig.). The midget's name means ‘confusion of mind’, as well as ‘memory loss’ and ‘epilepsy’, and he represents ignorance, i.e. the ignorance that makes one lose ones balance and which is countered by Nataraja, making a gajahasta with one of his arms. Thus, by subduing him, Shiva allows the birth of knowledge and reminds the people that he is their true source of wisdom. He is depicted with the face of a demon and the body of an infant (fig.), and is also referred to as Apasmara Purusha, with purusha meaning ‘man’, ‘person’ or ‘human’, as well as ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’. 回

apaya

Pali. The four lower worlds as described in Buddhism, which are part of the kamaloka, and consist of the animal kingdom, the realm of the ghosts, the world of the demons or asura, and the hells (niraya/naraka). 回

Aphakon Kiatiwong (อาภากร เกียรติวงศ์)

Thai. Name of the 28th child of King Rama V. READ ON. 回

Aphidhamma

See Aphitam. 回

Aphinetsakrom (อภิเนษกรมณ์)

Thai term for the Great Renunciation of the Buddha. 回

Aphinya (อภิญญา)

Thai-Pali term meaning ‘great knowledge’ and used especially in Buddhism for those who posses prowess, are good listeners, have empathy, have the ability to remember ones previous lives or chaht, have good insight and wisdom in making ills disappear. Also known as Aphiyaan. 回

Aphiyaan (อภิญญาณ)

See Aphinya. 回

Aphisek Dusit Throne Hall

Name of a former palace in Dusit district, which nowadays has been turned into a museum, housing an impressive collection of silver jewellery, silk, and other Thai artifacts, under the auspices of the queen. It was built in 1904, in a Moorish Gingerbread-style and adjacent to the Vimanmek Teak Mansion. Aphisek Dusit Throne Hall consists of a small one-storey, wooden edifice and was used exclusively for state occasions during the Rattanakosin period, and underwent restoration in 1993. In Thai it is named Phra Tihnang Aphisek (อภิเศก) Dusit. The word aphisek means  ‘coronation’ and is derived from the Sanskrit term abhisheka, meaning  ‘unction’ or ‘blessing’, usually ceremonial and often including the ritual sprinkling of water. See MAP. 回

Aphitam (อภิธรรม)

Pali-Thai. One of the three books of the Tripitaka. Also Aphidhamma. See also Buddhist precepts. 回

aphiwaht (อภิวาท)

Pali-Thai. ‘To prostrate (kraab) ánd wai’. In Buddhism, when paying respect to a Buddha image or to a senior monk, it is common practice to perform a wai with the hands high, intending to show high respect, as the more respect is given the higher the hands are held (fig.), and prostrate three times in repetition, in order to show respect to each aspect of the Triratana, i.e. the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. With prostration in which five parts of the body, i.e. the head, hands and feet, touch the ground, it is known as benjahngkhapradit (fig.). 回

Apple Snail

A species of snail with the binomial name Pomacea canaliculata. It is a commonly seen species of snail in Thailand and lays pink eggs, clung together in clusters (fig.). These pink, caviar-like, clusters of eggs are typically found near freshwater, often on poles or the stalks of plants that stand in the water, such as rice (fig.). It therefore is an natural enemy of rice plants and has several names in Thai, including hoy cherih (หอยเชอรี่), meaning ‘cherry snail’. See also taak. WATCH VIDEO (1) and (2). 回

Apsara (अपसरा, អប្សរ)

Sanskrit-Khmer. The female divinities or nymphs and celestial dancers of the Tavatimsa Heaven. READ ON. 回

Apsara Dance

The Khmer equivalent of Khon, i.e. Thai Classical Dance (fig.), in Cambodia. READ ON. 回

Apsarasingh (อัปสรสิงห์)

See Apsonsi. 回

Apsarasingha

See Apsonsi. 回

Apson (อัปสร)

Thai-Sanskrit. Female nymphs and celestial dancers of Tavatimsa heaven. Also transcribed Apsorn. See also Apsara and THEMATIC STREET LIGHT. 回

Apsonsi (อัปสรสีห์)

Thai. Creature from Thai mythology with a body that is half woman and half lion. Also called Apsonsingh, Apsonsingha, Apsarasingha or Apsarasingh, being the compound of an Apsara (Apson) and a singha (singh), that is a female nymph and a lion (fig.). The combination of a male angel and a lion is called Thepnorasi (fig.). 回

Apsonsingh (อัปสรสิงห์)

See Apsonsi. 回

Apsonsingha

See Apsonsi. 回

Apsorn (อัปสร)

Thai-Sanskrit. Female nymphs and celestial dancers of Tavatimsa heaven. Also transcribed Apson. See also Apsara. 回

araam (อาราม)

Thai. Another name for wat, a temple or monastery. Although it derives from the Sanskrit word ashram, which translates as ‘place to stay or halt’ and of which the root shram means ‘to make efforts’, it is in Thai a synonym for ‘pleasure’, ‘delight’ and ‘happiness’, which is seemingly related to arom (อารมณ์), a word that means ‘mood’. 回

Arabian Camel

One of the only two remaining species within the genus Camelus still existing today. READ ON. 回

Arada Kalapa

Sanskrit. Brahman master whose principles thought of the essential non-existence of all things, and to whom Siddhartha was at first apprenticed after the Great Departure in his search for the redemption of suffering, caused by the cycle of endless rebirths. In Pali called Alara Kalama. 回

arahan (อรหันต์)

Thai-Sanskrit. An Arahat or Buddhist saint. 回

Arahang (อรหัง)

Thai. A title of the Buddha, used as an invocation by one who is at the bedside of a dying person. 回

Arahat (อรหัต)

Pali-Thai. ‘The worthy one’, a title given to Buddhist saints. A term derived from the Sanskrit word Arihan, meaning ‘foe-slaying’. READ ON. 回

arahatamak (อรหัตมรรค)

Thai-Sanskrit. The way that leads to Enlightenment. See also Arahat. 回

arahatapon (อรหัตผล)

Thai-Sanskrit. The dhamma that causes the Enlightenment of a Buddhist saint or Arahat. 回

arahitogami (現人神)

Japanese. ‘A deity who appears as a man’. Term for the Shinto concept of a human who is at the same time a god, an idea which also allowed for the Japanese Emperor to be viewed as a god. Compare with avatar. 回

arahtanah (อาราธนา)

Thai. The invitation to a Buddhist monk to give a sermon or to begin a religious service. 回

aran (อรันย์)

A Pali word, also used in Thai, and meaning ‘forest’. It equates with a certain ‘seclusion’ and in that way words such as arahan (saint), aranyawahsih (forest monastery), araam (temple), etc. may be derived from it or linguistically relate. 回

aranyawasi (อรัญวาสี)

Thai-Sanskrit. A forest temple or forest monastery. A sect of monks living in the jungle. A more popular term is wat pah. Also transcribed aranyawahsih. See also Kanchana Aranyawasi. 回

Aravan (அரவான்)

Tamil. Name of the son of Arjuna, the legendary hero of the Indian epic Mahabharata, with the naga princess Uluppi (உலுப்பி). He is a village deity of Southern India venerated as part of the Dravidian folk tradition who is believed to cure disease and induce pregnancy in childless women. According to tradition Krishna (fig.) allowed Aravan to witness the entire duration of the Mahabharata War through the eyes of his severed head, hence Aravan is worshipped in the form of his severed head, which sometimes even has its own shrine within temples, or is placed on the corners of temple roofs as a guardian against evil. He is also worshipped as a patron god of transgender people throughout South Asia. Also transliterated Airavan and Iravan, and also known as Sri Aravan, Iravat and Iravant. WATCH VIDEO. 回

archery

See kaan ying thanoo. 回

Ardhanari (अर्धनारी)

Sanskrit. Hermaphrodite depiction of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort Uma or Parvati reflecting a composition of male and female energy. One side represents the god Shiva with a jata, his typical plaited hairstyle, the other side represents his consort wearing a crown. In iconography, he is sometimes depicted accompanied with their respective mounts (fig.), i.e. the buffalo or bull Nondi, vahana of Shiva (fig.), and the lion, the personal vehicle of Uma (fig.). In Vajrayana Buddhism, this unity of feminine and masculine principle is known as yabyum. There is an Ardhanari Shrine on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok (map - fig.), near Asohk Intersection. See also phi seua kathoey. 回

areca palm

Ornamental palm tree that produces green to yellow and orange colored fruits. Areca nuts, its acidulous seeds, are used as an ingredient for betel nut chewing (fig.) and by association, are sometimes inaccurately called betel nuts. Also called betel palm and in Thai ton mahk. WATCH VIDEO. 回

arhat (अर्हत्)

Sanskrit-Pali. See Arahat. 回

Aria (อริยะ, आर्य)

Thai-Sanskrit. ‘Arian’ and ‘civilized’, as in Sri Aria Metrai, another name for Maitreya. Also Ariaka. See also TRAVEL PICTURE. 回

Ariaka (อริยกะ)

Thai-Sanskrit. ‘Arian’ and ‘civilized’. Also Aria. 回

Arian

A prehistoric group of white people, who migrated from Central Asia and Europe to Persia and India during the second millennium BC, bringing their own language, culture and religion. The name Arian means ‘noble’ and is related to the place-name Iran, a region whose ancient civilization closely resembled that of Vedic India. The Arians were a nomadic people, often cattle herders, that traveled along the historic trade routes and first appeared in the area of the Indus Valley in about 1500 BC, following the disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization, whose inhabitants had lived in the area between 2500 BC and 1800 BC. Unlike the city-dwellers of the Indus Valley, the Arians left no permanent structures or artifacts behind, though their religious rituals and ideas, on which their culture was based, are recorded in the Vedas. Also spelled Aryan and in Thai Ariyaka. 回

Ariasat (อริยสัจ)

Thai-Pali-Sanskrit. The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. 回

arihan (अरिहन्)

Sanskrit. ‘Foe-slaying’. A compound in which ari means ‘enemy’ or ‘foe’ and han means ‘to kill’ or ‘to slay’. It is the name given to Buddhist saints, those who have reached the highest goal in Theravada Buddhism, as they have slain their greed, anger and delusions, and destroyed their karmic residue from previous lives. They are no longer reborn into the world of suffering, no longer trapped in the cycle of rebirth known as samsara. In Mahayana Buddhism, however, the arihan ranks below the bodhisattva on the chain of Enlightenment. See also Arahat. 回

Arishta (อริษฏ)

Thai-Sanskrit. Demon in the appearance of an ox, sent out by Kansa to kill his nephew Krishna (fig.). See also Kuvalayapida. 回

Arjuna (अर्जुन)

Sanskrit. ‘White’, ‘bright’ or ‘silver’. Dhammaracha and King of the Haihayas of the Pandava tribe, and the legendary hero of the Indian epic Mahabharata, the great battle of the Bharatas. Pandu, his natural father, chose Indra as his divine and spiritual father. Arjuna was an excellent archer and an unrivaled warrior, and Krishna (fig.) was his charioteer, and together they are considered the main heroes of Mahabharata. Arjuna riding a chariot is depicted on a Thai postage stamp issued in 2004, from a drawing of Hem Wetchakon (fig.). 回