Thursday, May 10, 2012

Guardian Giants of Thailand Part 8: Maiyarab


Description on Maiyarab: He is a demon with a pale purple body, grounded mouth, and crocodile eyes. His crown is divided into two types as Kranok Crown and Cocktail Crown. His right hand holds medicines or herbs as his weapon.

Maiyarab was ruler of the Underworld City of Badan after his father Sakayawong died. Maiyarab learnt dark magic from a hermit from Himapan forest named Sumet, and used his talents to change his form, render himself invisibale, and put anyone to sleep by means of a flute. His soul lived independently within a green bee on Mount Treekoot, granting him near immortality similar to Tosakanth. In spite of his iron fist rule, he displayed a rare moment of compassion by looking after Hanuman's sea-monkey offspirng Matchanu, allowing him to swim in a lotus pond at the front gate of his kingdom, on the condition that he guard Maiyarab against any intruder.
 

One day, Ravana asked Maiyarab to assist him in eliminating Rama. That same night he had various nightmares, which the astrologers predicted that in the near future, one of his cloe relatives would rule Badan in his stead. Maiyarab thought that his nephew Waiyawik (son of his older sister Piraguan) harbored sinisted ambitions to overthrow him, and so ordered him to be thrown into prison. Maiyarab used his witchery to hypnotize Rama's army to sleep and then kidnapped Rama, bringing him into Underworld City. Maiyarab put Rama and Waiyawik in a cage to be scheduled for boiling. Fortunately, Hanuman came to save both Waiyawik and Rama, and reuniting with his own son Matchanu. Hanuman managed to find the green bee containing Maiyarab's soul with help from Piraguan, and crushed it in front of a terrified Maiyarab, before decapitating him. Hanuman then appointed Waiyawik the new ruler of Badan (hence fulfulling the prophecy of the dream that Maiyarab had) and made his son Matchanu the viceroy of Badan. He flew back to Laskhman's fortress at Morakot Hill with the still sleeping Rama and Maiyarab's head. On learning of the details behind his kidnapping and Maiyarab's death, Rama appreciated that he owed Hanuman a great deal.