Spirits, the tree of ghosts & lucky numbers.

DavidFL

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Wandering around the North & elsewhere around the country, we often see logs adorned with brightly coloured ribbons & offerings for some sort of spirit or good luck. Sometimes there are even wardrobes of clothes for whoever the departed person maybe, some of us may have thought. You can see gaily decorated logs beside the road, at temples, by rivers, in the forest or on hilltops. Many of us "ignorant farang", myself included, took wild guesses what the hell it was all about…

Some trees & locations
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R1148: 18°50'43.1"N 100°25'15.5"E · 1091, Tambon Pa Kha Luang, Amphoe Ban Luang, Chang Wat Nan 55190, Thailand

Well it’s just one tree, the Takhian tree. Yep that’s right it’s only ever the Takhian tree!

More to come about the mystery & ghost of the Takhian tree.....at least I've started.....
 

DavidFL

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The Takhian Tree & Ghosts

The scientific name of the tree is Hopea odorata, and is a species of the Dipterocarpaceae family.

The tree is found throughout S E Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It grows to a height of 45 metres, generally near rivers & forested areas, at an altitude of 0-600 metres. It is valued for its hard word, is sometimes planted for shade & can be hundreds of years old. They have a large trunk and a wide root system.

In Thailand it has a special significance as the home of Nang-Takhian, a female ghost or spirit; and the tree should not be planted next to a house or a home.

The Takhian Ghost.

In Thailand legend has it that the Takhian tree is inhabited by a female spirit or ghost, with the name Nang Takhian, from the family of Nang Mai, spirits who inhabit trees & forests in Thailand.

Nang Takhian sometimes appears as a beautiful young woman wearing traditional Thai attire, usually in reddish or brownish colours, contrasting with Nang Tani who haunts banana trees, & wears a green dress.

Some beliefs
Devotees of Nang Ta-Khian place traditional Thai silk dresses at the foot of the Takhian Tree as an offering. Like the famous Ghost Mae Nak, the spirit can be asked to protect those who are pregnant, provide safe passage to travelers and reveal winning Lottery numbers for material gain. Nang Ta-Khian is also known to heal, and resin from Takian Tree is a popular medicine styptic used to reduce bleeding and as ointment for wounds. Takian growing near the bank of a river with its roots protruding above ground is to be avoided, for the spirit of that tree is fierce one. Whoever relieves himself near the base of such a tree will suffer from ulcers.


More to come once I collate it..
 
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DavidFL

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The Mae Nang Ta-Khian Tree Spirit is also believed by many to predict the winning lottery numbers
There are multiple Takhian tree shrines for predicting lucky lottery numbers around the Kingdom.





See also





 
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DavidFL

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A recent interesting one August 2023

Massive 200 year old Mother Takian tree resurfaces from Chao Phraya River to astonishment of locals

A centuries-old fallen tree trunk, known as “Mother Takian,” last night resurfaced from the depths of the Chao Phraya River. An astonishing sight unravelled as the gigantic timber, reportedly 27.60 metres long and just over 3 metres wide, requiring the strength of three adults to embrace, was unearthed and relocated to Wat Intharam, commonly known as Wat Taluk.

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Hundreds of locals in Suphan Buri province were drawn to the spectacle of lifting and transporting the 200 year old Mother Takian tree, replete with rituals and blessings. The event, which lasted for over four hours, began on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and ended at the serene grounds of Wat Intharam; it involved a series of detailed arrangements including the use of four backhoes to load the colossal lumber onto a trailer for its journey.

Locally referred to as “Goddess Takian Kaew,” the tree received a ceremonial send-off from the community leaders and locals, punctuated by Buddhist rites that involved monks from Wat Intharam and even performances during the ceremony. An unusual incident that highlighted the evening was the occurrence of an exotic solar halo at the moment the heavy trunk was lifted onto the trailer, causing fervour amongst the villagers.

Resident Praphrai Badeethanawat disclosed that the enormous Mother Takian initially had been discovered by a quicksand boat. Despite an earlier post about the find online, it had gained little attention until this year when the 58 year old claimed to have been visited in a dream by the spirit of Mother Takian, requesting to be saved from her watery sojourn and taken to the temple. Following the dream, the monks of Wat Intharam were consulted and the endeavour to rescue the drowned tree took shape, reported Sanook.

The operation posed numerous challenges. A thick twine intended to hoist the tree from the river bottom had snapped no less than twice, adding to the woes. But swift intervention by monks from Wat Intharam and prayers to the spirit residing in the tree seemingly resolved the issues, and the Mother Takian tree was eventually successfully retrieved.

Praphrai reckoned that never before had he come across a tree trunk of such enormity and in perfect state. Having scoured news from different places, he found no match for this. Upon its successful retrieval, the Takian tree was transported to Wat Intharam, a locale filled with historical and cultural significance, where villagers can now pay their respects.


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