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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 18, 2006 A charming Thai legend Jeff Cheek Archives Wednesday August 30th Wednesday September 6th Wednesday September 13th Wednesday September 20th Wednesday September 27th Wednesday October 4th Wednesday October 11th Wednesday October 18th By Jeff Cheek Tidings Correspondent If you ever vacation in Thailand, try to be there when there is a lunar or solar eclipse. You will learn a charming legend from their distant past. As the darkness begins, children swarm into the streets, beating on drums while chanting. "Phra Athit! Mai dee! (Phra Athit. That's not good.)" They are warning the Sun God, Phra Athit, to remember his promise. Once upon a time the king of Thailand had a beautiful daughter, Vela Khon or Beautiful Dawn. So great was her beauty that suitors came from around the world to court her, but she rejected all of them. Instead, she fled the palace for a hidden valley, where she could be alone. Phra Athit kept the sun in a golden chariot. Every day he drove his flaming carriage across the sky, east to west, then slept beneath the earth. There was no moon. Instead, the night sky was ruled by thousands of Dowastras, or stars. One day, while driving his chariot above Thailand, the Sun God saw Vela Khon in her secret valley. Like thousands of mortals, Phra Athit fell in love with the beautiful princess. He parked the sun on a lofty mountain peak and rushed to her side. She instantly fell in love with him, and the lovers spent many happy hours together. Meanwhile, the jealous Dowastras were furious. It was their time to rule the skies, but the sun had not moved. They sneaked out, stole the golden chariot, and drove it away Seeing his precious carriage dashing away, Phra Athit ran after it,crying tears of rage and humiliation.His tears sank into the earth and became veins of solid gold. Vela Khon ran after him, weeping because she was losing her lover. Her tears became veins of silver, which is why both gold and silver are found in the Kingdom of Thailand. When the rebellious Dowastras saw Princess Beautiful Dawn, they too were smitten by her charm. They told Phra Athit they would return his golden chariot only if he changed her into a goddess to rule over them at night. This is why we have the sun by day and the moon at night. But Phra Athit could not bear never seeing his lovely bride again. He agreed to make her into the Moon Goddess, as they demanded, but she must spend one night per month with him, beneath the earth. That's why we have the so-called "dark of the moon." every lunar cycle. The lovers are spending the night together. But sometimes the lonely Sun God will try to steal his bride, and sneaks out to take her home with him. Then we have a lunar eclipse. Likewise, Vela Knon is so desperate to see her husband that she tries to capture the sun and take him back to their home beneath the earth. That's a solar eclipse. The children beat on drums and chant their warning, reminding the lovers of their promise. And, as soon as the sound reaches them, they remember and the eclipse ends. Another charming bit of Thai culture is the "Buddha Showers" that come in April, the hottest month of the year.Meteorologists tell us these showers are caused when heat rising from the surface steams the rain from passing clouds. The Thais say the Lord Buddha sends the rain to help ripen the mangos. Mangos are a delicious tropical fruit that can be turned into a gourmet dessert, Spirited Mangos. INGREDIENTS: 3 or 4 ripe mangos 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 2 tablespoons brandy 1 dollop whipped cream PREPARATION: Peel and slice mangos. Arrange on serving plate. Sprinkle with sugar then drizzle with brandy. Chill until ready to serve, then decorate with dollop of whipped cream. Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.