Phra Mae Thorani

Vasundharā or Dharaṇī is a

She is known by various names throughout Southeast Asia. In

Iconography and symbology

Various depictions across the Suvarnabhumi

at Bangkok National Museum Lao art in Art of Myanmar "Preah Thorani" in Cambodia.

Images of Phra Mae Thorani are common in shrines and Buddhist temples of

The Bodhisattva was sitting in meditation on his throne under the Bodhi Tree, Mara, the Evil One, was jealous and wanted to stop him from reaching enlightenment. Accompanied by his warriors, wild animals and his daughters, the personifications of desire, he tried to drive the Bodhisattva from his throne. All the gods were terrified and ran away, leaving the Bodhisattva alone to face Mara's challenge. The Bodhisattva stretched down his right hand and touched the earth, summoning her to be his witness. The earth deity in the form of a beautiful woman rose up from underneath the throne, and affirmed the Bodhisattva's right to occupy the vajrisana. She twisted her long hair, and torrents of water collected there from the innumerable donative libations of the Buddha over the ages created a flood. The flood washed away Mara and his army, and the Bodhisattva was freed to reach enlightenment.

— A Study of the History and Cult of the Buddhist Earth Deity in Mainland Southeast Asia^[4]

In temple murals, Phra Mae Thorani is often depicted with the

In the

In

Phra Mae Thorani is featured in the logo of:

• The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority and Provincial Waterworks Authority of Thailand.
• The Democrat Party (Thailand) to emphasise the importance of earth and water for Thailand, together with the Pali proverb sachamwe amatta wacha (สจฺจํเว อมตา วาจา) "truth is indeed the undying word," to symbolise the values of the Party.^[8]

Gallery

• 
  Buddha during the battle with Mara, pointing towards the earth, summoning Phra Mae Thorani to come to his assistance from Sanchi. She is on the left hand and holding Kalasha.
• 
  Buddha during the battle with Mara pointing towards the earth, summoning Phra Mae Thorani to come to his assistance from Borobudur. She is on the left hand and holding Kalasha.
• 
  Buddha during the battle with Mara pointing towards the earth, summoning Phra Mae Thorani to come to his assistance in Wat Traimit
• 
  Painting in a Laotian wat. Buddha during the battle with Mara pointing towards the earth, summoning Phra Mae Thorani to come to his assistance
• 
  Phra Mae Thorani fountain, Bangkok
• 
  Calling the earth to witness
• 
  Gautama Buddha
• 
  Wooden statue of Phra Mae Thorani in Wat Chetawan, Malaysia

See also

• Mother goddess
• Prithvi
• Vasudhara
• Phosop
• Bhūmi

Notes

References

Bibliography

• Cate, Sandra (2003). Making Merit, Making Art: A Thai Temple in Wimbledon. University of Hawaii Press.
  ISBN 978-0-8248-2357-3
  .
• Cooler, Dr. Richard M. (2009). "The Enlightened Buddha" (Illustrated study guide). The art and culture of Burma, Chapter III The Pagan period : Burma's classic age - 11th To 14th centuries, Part 4 D. Sculpture, 2. A thematic discussion of iconography and meaning. SEAsite, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
• Guthrie, Elizabeth (2004), "A Study of the History and Cult of the Buddhist Earth Deity in Mainland Southeast Asia", Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of PhD in Religious Studies at the University of Canterbury, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, p. 2,
  hdl:10092/4350
• Holt, John (2009). Spirits of the Place: Buddhism and Lao Religious Culture. University of Hawaii Press.
  ISBN 978-0-8248-3327-5
  .
• Marshall (2005). Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology. Marshall Cavendish.
  ISBN 978-0-7614-7563-7
  .
• Mishra, P. K. (1 January 1999). Studies in Hindu and Buddhist Art. Abhinav Publications.
  ISBN 978-81-7017-368-7
  .
• Roveda, Vittorio (2005). Images of the Gods: Khmer Mythology in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. River Books.
  ISBN 978-974-9863-03-9
  .
• Stratton, Carol (2004). Buddhist Sculpture of Northern Thailand. Serindia Publications, Inc.
  ISBN 978-1-932476-09-5
  .
• Swearer, Donald K. (1 January 1995). The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia. SUNY Press.
  ISBN 978-1-4384-2165-0
  .
• Terwiel, B. J. (1994). Monks and magic: an analysis of religious ceremonies in central Thailand. White Lotus.
• Turner, Sir Ralph Lilley; Dorothy Rivers Turner (2006) [1962]. A comparative dictionary of the Indo-Aryan languages (Accompanied by three supplementary volumes: indexes, compiled by Dorothy Rivers Turner: 1969. – Phonetic analysis: 1971. – Addenda et corrigenda: 1985. ed.). London: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phra Mae Thorani.

• Mae Phra Thorani Monument
• Maï Thorani, Déesse de la Terre