Phra Mahachai Phraisop
Phra Mahachai Phraisop พระมหาไชไพรสภ | |
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Thai God of rice | |
![]() Image of Phra Mahachai Phraisop in RattanakosinArt period at Chao Sam Phraya Museum , Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province.[1] | |
Affiliation | Tutelary |
Abode | Paddy field |
Symbol | Mature rice sheaves dagger |
Mount | clown featherback |
Consort | Phosop |
Phra Mahachai Phraisop (Thai: พระมหาไชไพรสภ), also known as Phra Mahachai (Thai: พระมหาไชย) or Phra Phraiprasop (Thai: พระไพรประสบ), is the god of rice or the deity who protects rice according to Thai beliefs[2] and has the same characteristics and duties as Mae Phosop, the goddess of rice.[3]
Characteristics
Phra Mahachai Phraisop appears in the textbook of images of idols (ตำราภาพเทวรูป). It is a Thai book written during the reign of King Mongkut and appears in Narai Narai Yisip Pang (นารายณ์ยี่สิบปาง). The deity resembles a male holding a mature rice sheaf in one hand and holding a dagger.It is believed that Phra Mahachai Phraisop developed from Mae Phosop, who was originally a female. Due to the social dynamics at the time that believed that males were greater than females, it was transformed into a male.[3] Like the Tai Khong (ใต้คง) people in Yunnan, there was a male deity of rice called Pu Khwan Khao (ปู่ขวัญข้าว), which Siraphon Na Thalang assumed that this belief may have been influenced by Chinese patriarchal culture.[3]
There is a painting of Phra Mahachai Phraisop in front of the Chai Chumphon Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.[3]
References
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