Mae Phra Thoranee
The Goddess of the Earth. Mae means Mother, and Phra is used to refer to holy beings. The word Thoranee, is derived from the Pali word “Dhāraṇī”, referring to the Earth (ground). In the Pali scriptures, she is known as Vasundharā.
On the night of the Buddha’s enlightenment, Mara, the great tempter, arrived with his beautiful daughters and armies in tow, in a bid to prevent the Buddha from gaining enlightenment. The Buddha touched the Earth, calling for Mae Phra Thoranee to be his witness.
She rose from beneath where he seat Buddha, and wringing her hair, huge torrents and waves of waters flowed forth, symbolizing the perfection and magnitude of virtue that the Buddha had cultivated over the aeons. The water washed away Mara and his entourage and allowed the Buddha to ascend to Enlightenment.
« Back to Glossary Index