Nang Songkraan (นางสงกรานต์)

Thai. ‘Miss Songkraan’ or ‘Songkraan Ladies’. (One of) the seven daughters of Tao Kabin Maha Phrom, a deity who had his head cut off after losing a bet. Each also has her own name, but  they are mainly referred to as one, by the name Nang Songkraan. Separately, they each correspond with a day of the week, have their own attributes, mount, and characteristics, and the one representing Miss Songkraan during the festival depends on what day of the week the festival falls, and is hence different each year. Separately, they are known by the following names and distinctiveness: 1. Nang Thungsa Thewi (นางทุงษะเทวี) or Nang Phaeng Sri (นางแพงศรี) in Lan Na culture, if Songkraan is on a Sunday. Her attributes consist of a Sankha (held in the left hand) and a chakra (held in the right hand), her mount is a Garuda, and her jewel a ruby; 2. Nang Koraka Thewi (นางโคราคะเทวี) or Nang Manorah (นางมโนรา) in Lan Na culture (not to be confused with Manohra), if Songkraan is on a Monday. Her attributes are a khan (held in the right hand) and a staff (held in the left hand), her mount is a tiger, and her jewel a pearl; 3. Nang Rakasot Thewi (fig.)mwith the same name in Lan Na culture, if Songkraan is on a Tuesday. Her attributes are a trisula (held in the right hand) and a bow (held in the left hand), her mount is a varaha, and her jewel a moonstone; 4. Nang Montha Thewi (นางมณฑาเทวี) or Nang Mantha (นางมันทะ) in Lan Na culture, if Songkraan is on a Wednesday. Her attributes are a needle (held in the right hand) and a staff (held in the left hand), her mount is a donkey, and her jewel a chrysoberyl; 5. Nang Kirini Thewi (นางกิริณีเทวี) or Nang Kanyathep (นางกัญญาเทพ) in Lan Na culture, if Songkraan is on a Thursday. Her attributes are a kho chang (held in the right hand) and a firearm (held in the left hand), her mount is a elephant, and her jewel an emerald; 6. Nang Kimitha Thewi (นางกิมิทาเทวี) or Nang Rintho (นางริญโท) in Lan Na culture, if Songkraan is on a Friday. Her attributes are a khan (held in the right hand) and an Indian lute (held in the left hand), her mount is a buffalo, and her jewel a topaz; and 7. Nang Mahoton Thewi (นางมโหธรเทวี) or Nang Sama Thewi (นางสามาเทวี) in Lan Na culture, if Songkraan is on a Saturday. Her attributes are a chakra (held in the right hand) and a trident (held in the left hand), her mount is a mayura, and her jewel a nintakoh. The colour of their dresses are more or less in compliance with the colour of their jewels, i.e. ruby red for Nang Thungsa Thewi; pearl yellow for Nang Koraka Thewi; moonstone red for Nang Rakasot Thewi; chrysoberyl green for Nang Montha Thewi; emerald green for Nang Kirini Thewi; topaz white for Nang Kimitha Thewi; and onyx or spinel black for Nang Mahoton Thewi. Additionally, each goddess has four gestures to indicate when during the day the Sun moves from the constellation of Pisces into Aries, i.e. standing gesture for morning, sitting for afternoon, lying down with the eyes open for evening, whilst lying down with the eyes close refers to the time after midnight. See also POSTAGE STAMPS. 回