THE LEGEND OF PRINCESS MANORAH

A story told and passed on through generations since the Ayutthaya period
and which inspired a poem by King Rama V of Thailand.
Kinnaree Manorah was a princess of Thai legend and was the youngest of the
seven Kinnaree daughters of King Prathum and Queen Jantakinnaree. She
lived in the mythical Mount Grairat kingdom. The Seven Kinnaree appeared
as half woman half swan. They could fly or shed their wings to assume
human form as they pleased.
Within the Krairat (Grairat) kingdom was the great Himmapan Forest in which
lived strange creatures, unknown to human realms. In the middle of the
forest was a beautiful lake which the seven Kinnaree loved to visit regularly
on the auspicious day of Panarasi (Full moon day). Nearby, the lake, an old
hermit practiced his meditations.
One day, a young man named Prahnbun, was strolling in the Himmapan
forest, saw the seven princesses at play at the great pond. Prahnbun,
stunned by the beauty of Manorah, thought, "If I can catch her and present
her to Prince Suton, son of King Artityawong and Queen Jantaivee of Udon
Panjah the Prince would surely fall in love with her. But how will I be able to
catch her?"
He knew of the old hermit who meditated nearby in the forest and he
decided to seek advice from the wise old man about his plans. The hermit
told the young man that to catch the Kinnaree would be very difficult, as
they would fly away if anyone frightened them, but that there was a great
dragon living deep in the forest that might be able to help him. Prahbun
thanked him for his advice and raced off to see the dragon.
The great dragon was not happy to hear Prahnbun's plan but was, eventually
persuaded by Prahnbun to give him a magical rope with which he would be
able to catch Manorah. Prahnbun thanked the dragon, hurried away to the
pond with the magical dragon rope, and crept up to the pond's edge where
the Kinnaree were playing. While the Kinnaree were all happily distracted
with their play at the water's edge, he struck; throwing the magic rope
around the neck of Manorah and caught her so tight, she could not escape.
Her sisters fearful of being caught themselves; all took flight and flew away
to safety.
Prahnbun then secured Manorah's wings to stop her from flying away and
lead her away through the forest heading back to Udon Panjah to present her
to the Prince Suton. The Prince happened to be riding through the forest
when he came across Prahnbun with his prize. The beauty of Manorah
instantly charmed the Prince and when Prahnbun told him that he had
captured Manorah for him, the Prince was delighted with Prahnbun's good
intentions and rewarded him handsomely.
The Prince returned to his Summer Palace in the forest with Manorah where
their love for each other blossomed. When the Prince told his mother and
father the whole story, they were very happy and immediately arranged the
wedding between the Prince and Princess Manorah who returned to the Udon
Panjah palace where they were married and lived happy ever after.