Nariphon
{{Short description|Buddhist mythology}}
{{Infobox mythical creature
|name = Nariphon
นารีผล
|AKA =
|image = Nareepol.JPG
|image_size =
|caption = Thai lacquerwork painting of the Naripon tree at Phra Pathom Chedi
|Folklore = Buddhist mythology
Thai folk mythology
|Grouping = Mythical tree
Legendary creatures
|Sub_Grouping = Sylvan
|Country = India, Thailand
|Region = Southeast Asia
|Habitat =
|Similar_entities =
}}
The Nariphon ({{langx|th|นารีผล}}, from Pali nārīphala), also known as Makkaliphon ({{langx|th|มักกะลีผล}}, from Pali makkaliphala), is a tree in Buddhist mythology which bears fruit in the shape of young female creatures. The maidens grow attached by their head from the tree branches.[https://archive.today/20130127090740/http://www.khalong.com/board2/attachments/month_1201/1201092010fd237eb06fdafcc4.jpg Nariphon Tree at a temple in Thailand] This tree grows at the Himaphan, a mythical forest where the female fruits are enjoyed by the Gandharvas who cut the fruits and take them away.[http://palungjit.com/feature/data/504/nareepol.jpg Thai traditional mural painting] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130212324/http://palungjit.com/feature/data/504/nareepol.jpg |date=2015-01-30 }}
The Nariphon is also mentioned in the Vessantara Jātaka in which Indra placed these trees around the grove where the Bodhisattva Vessantara meditated.{{cite book |last1=McDaniel |first1=Justin |title=The lovelorn ghost and the magical monk: practicing Buddhism in modern Thailand |date=2014 |publisher=Columbia Univ. Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=9780231153775 |page=173}}{{cite book |title=Readings of the Vessantara Jātaka |date=2016 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York |isbn=9780231541008 |pages=98-99}}
Myths and folklore
According to Buddhist mythology, the god Indra created a pavilion (Sala) as an abode for Vessantara, his wife, and two children to live. His wife went into the forest to collect fruits: she was, however, in danger of being attacked by hermits or yogis who lived in the forest. Although they had acquired special powers from their meditation, they had not conquered lust.
Therefore, Indra created twelve of these special Nariphon trees. The trees would bear fruit whenever she went out to collect food and distract the men. The fruits were all in the image of Indra's beautiful wife. The men took the fruits to their place of abode and, after making love to them, would sleep for four months and lose their powers.
According to Thai folklore, since Vessantara and his family have died, the trees bear fruit daily, but the forest will disappear when the Buddha's teachings have become lost (predicted to be five thousand years after his death). When the fruits appear on the trees, they last for seven days, after which they will wither and die if they are not picked.[http://malai.tarad.com/product.detail_448844_th_1991946 Nariphon book] They have same internal organs as humans, but no bones. These maidens also have magical powers and possess spirits which can sing and dance.[http://www.oknation.net/blog/surasakc/2010/04/15/entry-1 มักกะลีผลหรือนารีผล น่าจะเป็นเรื่องในชาดกเท่านั้นหรือ]
There are supposedly two Makaliporn pods in a Buddhist temple near Bangkok. It is said that they came from Himaphan, the mythical forest.[http://waynedhamma.blogspot.com/2009/05/amazing-makkaliporn-of-wat-prangmuni.html The Amazing Makkaliporn of Wat Prangmuni] At Wat Pheut Udom temple near Pathum Thani there is a representation of the tree together with ghosts and hell-scenes.[http://www.ohomylife.com/travel/Center_phathomtane_watphutudom2.php พบกับสวรรค์และนรกได้ที่ วัดพืชอุดม จ.ปทุมธานี][http://serithaitour.blogspot.com/2011/02/blog-post_10.html เที่ยวนรก-สวรรค์ที่วัดพืชอุดม ลำลูกกา ปทุมธานี]
Folk stories claim that the tree grows somewhere in the Phetchabun Mountains and hoaxes are common; these include pictures of Nariphon girls growing from trees[http://www.hoax-slayer.com/nareepol-tree.shtml Hoax slayer - Nareepol Tree] as well as dry Nariphon maidens.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqySWUSJV4Y&feature=player_embedded Thailand Naree Pon Flower Pod Elf Women Fairies]
The Nariphon myth inspired the 2006 Thai film Nariphon (นารีผล, "Devil Ivy"), with Chayanan Arjpru, Tassachol Pongpakawat and Paymanee Sangkakorn,[http://userdisk.webry.biglobe.ne.jp/005/457/90/N000/000/001/130243160949916426923_IMG_0004.jpg นารีผล, Devil Ivy] and 2010 movie Nariphon Khon Phrueksa (นารีผล คนพฤกษา, "Nariphon, People from the Tree"), with Phasakon Phomrabut and Thanmon Theklamlong.[https://archive.today/20130121205548/http://www.dvd-indyplaza.com/attach/1275793413.jpg นารีผล คนพฤกษา "Nariphon, People from the Tree"]
Nariphon trees are known as Thuyaung trees in Myanmar and Nari-Lata-Vela in Sri Lanka.{{cite journal |last1=Munier-Gaillard |first1=Cristophe |date=2013 |title=17th To Early 19th Century Burmese Murals in Relation to Murals of Siam and Lan Na |url=https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/fineartsJournal/article/view/77642 |journal=Journal of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=235-304}}{{cite book |last1=Coomaraswamy |first1=Ananda K. |title=Mediaeval Sinhalese Art |date=1908 |publisher=Broad Campden: Essex House Press |pages=92-94 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015013155455?urlappend=%3Bseq=116%3Bownerid=13510798902051283-120 |language=en}} Nariphon also appears in the Lao epic Sang Sinxay.{{cite book |last1=Murray |first1=Lee |last2=Smith |first2=Angela Yuriko |title=Unquiet Spirits: Essays by Asian Women in Horror |date=2023 |publisher=Black Spot Books}}
See also
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170527104453/http://www.vcharkarn.com/vblog/90321 หน้าที่ 1 - สัตว์ในตำนาน จินตนาการ หรือ มีอยู่จริง ?? (On the existence of legendary creatures)]
- [https://archive.today/20130418153510/http://mblog.manager.co.th/habitation/th-26211/ ห้องภาพ : จิตรกรรมบัวหลวงครั้งที่ ๓๐ (Thai Art)]
- [http://waynedhamma.blogspot.com/2008/11/origins-of-makaliporn.html Mystical Thai - The Origins of Makaliporn]
- [https://archive.today/20130203205915/http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7251627086_03319f029d_c.jpg Nariphon Picture]
- [https://magiedubouddha.com/p_thai-makaliporn1.php The Legend of Makaliporn]
Category:Thai legendary creatures
Category:Buddhist legendary creatures