A friend of mine has written an essay about the representation of Naga in Thai Buddhism. Part of it is talking about a modern film story with a Naga couple who are reborn in this life as humans (with plenty of good kamma, therefore rich and beautiful) and the male wants to seek ordination as a Buddhist monk. I find it an interesting example of how the old mythology still survives in popular imagination:
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III. Nāga and Buddhism in the context of a novel and film
The belief in Nāga in Thai Buddhism inspires many writers to create their masterpieces;
such as Mae Kong by Paul Adirex (ปองพล อดเรกสาร) and Gasa Naga by Ganonk Valipakorn (กนก วล
ปกรณ). These writers are Western-educated Thai intellectual elites. Their novels suggest their clear
view of old Buddhist cosmology. I will focus on Gasa Naga (กาษา นาคา) here since it contains
elements most relevant to the modern context.
This film sets a significant scene at the Mekong river, where the main characters meet
each other for the first time at the Nāga Bang Fai ceremony. They were Nāgas and lovers in a
past life. The male Nāga in the past life wanted to be ordained in the Buddhist Sangha, but the
female Nāga did not want him to leave their pleasurable realm. However, the male Nāga secretly
went to be initiated, and left the female Nāga alone. In this life, they were reborn to meet again
through the law of Karma. Eventually, the female Nāga, as a human being in this life, allowed the
male Nāga to be ordained to find the way to attain ultimate liberation, Nirvana.
Analysis :
The representation of Nāga in this film obviously has a strong connection with
Buddhism; such as the law of Karma and rebirth, the Nāga that has the intention to be ordained
as monk, the Nāga as a protector of Buddhism, etc. It also contains the Thai social values that has
been strongly influenced by Buddhism; such as that the intention to become a Buddhist monk is
an admirable intention. People who have this kind of intention will be depicted as a respectable
and good person, the best way to repay the kindness of a mother is to be ordained as a Buddhist
monk, the Buddhist Sangha has a high status in Thai community, etc.
However, apart from confirming the belief in Buddhist doctrine, Thai social values and
ethics, the film also confirms the faith in materialism and consumerism in the changing Thai
society through the composition of figures and plot. The main characters who used to be Nāgas
in a past life have been born in a Thai elite family, having non-productive occupations. They
have big luxurious houses, house keepers and maids, posh cars and powerful parents.
Interestingly, they have the habit of using a mobile phone most of the time. Although the
essential message of the film is the representation of Nāga and Buddhist philosophy, the film
strongly conveys new values in life. The material life of big houses, mobile phones and things of
this kind. The film seems to convey the message that, according to the law of Karma, “If you
have done good things in the past last, you will reap good consequences in this life”, which is
then identified with the acquisition of material things in the modern consumerist world.
Second, Nāga in the legendary world could be well presented parallel to the modern
materialistic world, because the law of Karma and rebirth bridges the gap between the two
realms, traditional and modernistic, mystically oriented and technologically oriented. It allows
Nāga figures in a mystical world to be born again in a new life with a new context of the modern
Thai society.
To conclude, the belief in the Nāga has been continuing from pre-modern Siam to modern
Thai society through its integration into Thai Buddhism. In the early period the belief in the Nāga
was integrated in the Buddhist canonical literature and legends, Buddhist temple arts, and Thai
Buddhist traditions. Due to the social change, Buddhism has been demythologised and the belief
in Nāga found no place in the newly reformed Buddhism. However, the belief in Nāga from early
traditional context has succeeded in finding a place for itself in the modern Thai society, such as
in global tourism and films. It fits in with tourism in the process of cultural commodification, but
also faces the rejection of mythical beings by tourists who hold to an empirical scientific mind-
set. The belief in the Nāga has also carried on its old traditional motif into a modern film which,
however, at the same time confirms new cultural values of consumerism in a modern Thai
society. The adaptation of the belief in the Nāga in Thai Buddhism from early Siam to modern
Thai society allows us to have more understanding about Buddhism in Thailand. It also gives us
deeper comprehension of how politics, economy, and culture in Thailand have been changed and
affected by beliefs within Buddhism.
- Naga1.JPG (49.07 KiB) Viewed 1949 times
- Naga2.JPG (26.82 KiB) Viewed 1949 times