Draft:Nam Man Prai

• Comment: what nonsense! " Prakrit was believed to have summoned a spirit linked to a white wax container of this oil, attracting negative energies." Theroadislong (talk) 11:25, 14 November 2024 (UTC)

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Rak Yom in Nam Man Prai (รักยมที่อยู่ในน้ำมันพราย)

Nam Man Prai (Thai:น้ำมันพราย, Thai pronunciation: [nam˦˥.man˧.pʰraːj˧], Phonemic: n ạ ˆ m – m ạ n – b ̥ r ā y) is a type of magical oil created using Necromancy in Southeast Asian culture. There exists multiple types of Nam Man Prai, the difference being their creation process and usage. Some are created from dead plants, some are extracted from the dead.

The origin can be traced back to ancient times as it is deeply rooted in Thai culture. For decades, even centuries ago, the belief in the power that spirits can influence lives have been rooted in their custom. From Thai folklore to legends and myths that have been passed through people from generation to generation. It was said that the essence of the deceased, known as Prai, can be collected to bring in good fortune and grant protection from danger to the owner.

Descriptions

In ancient times Nam Man Prai is said to be composed of wax, powder , and sandalwood oil. It is known to the Siamese people as the spirit oil, this oil is described as a multi properties potion as it can make the person the oil was applied to fall in love, or cause a stomach ache or other illness to a person.

The oil can be used on a target by mixing it with food or water, rubbed, flick in whichever way was the most convenient for the user at the time of usage. However there is a specific incantation that is required for said process.

Origin

The legend of the “Nam Man Prai” is said to originate from “Koh Lak” or known as Prachuab Kirikanta province, where prince Muak (Thai: หมวก,pronounce mùak) got a revelation about a potent love potion recipe from his ancestor spirit who acquired it from the Chinese prince who received it from his grandfather who resides in the realm of god.

Nam Man Prai, a sacred oil in Thai tradition, has origins rooted in ancient beliefs about supernatural beings inhabiting nature sacred spaces such as forests, rivers, and mountains. Thai people sought to connect with these powerful spirits, believing they could bestow blessings upon them or for other sinister purposes such as seeking their power to cause harm to others. This led to the evolution of rituals and ceremonies centered around the use of Nam Man Prai to invoke these spirits and seek their assistance.

The oil is believed to contain spiritual power hence the method of acquiring them involving Necromancy. One such way is through the process of burning the chin of a corpse with a candle. According to a journal by a British Officer who lived in Thailand during 1900, Francis H. Giles wrote that it cannot just be any corpse, the body must be one that died from a violent or unnatural cause, such as suicide, this kind of ghost are called Phi Tai Hong (ผีตายโหง).  A woman that died while having a baby also fall under this category, having a name for them being Phi Tai Thang Klom (ผีตายทั้งกลม). Making oil from the latter is believed to be more effective.

Ingredients

When attempting to create Nam Man Prai there are multiple tools and ingredients required.

There is only one main ingredient in making this spirit oil which is a Corpse, a freshly deceased corpse that is not of naturally occurring death. Both male and female can be used, but the highest quality ones are believed to be made from a woman corpse that died while having a baby.

Tools:

• Blessed Cotton thread
• Enchanted shaman knife
• Enchanted cane
• 8 piece of cloth
• Holy Water
• Rice grains
• 15 Grams of Beeswax
• Chai Candle
• Digging tools (e.g.; shovel, pickaxe)

The procedure also suggested bringing along 2 additional assistants to help.

Procedure

Firstly, when the person arrives at the cemetery, they must place down the blessed cotton thread around the area of the designated grave. Each of the spots will also be accompanied by the blessed pieces of clothes, creating a compass shape. Then the person performs a chant to summon the dead while sitting inside the spot. The person will have to bring the spirit into a kneeling position by throwing blessed rice grains or using more incantation. Afterward, the person may extract the oil by putting the lit candle slightly beneath the forehead or the chin of the spirit, the flame will then render the oil. The pot will be placed beneath to contain them. If the spirit is not compliant, the person will have to beat them with the cane.

In Literature

There has been numerous mention of Nam Man Prai in different Thai & international literature with some example being:

In the famous literature Khun Chang Khun Phaen by Sunthorn Phu, there was a mention of a usage of Nam Man Prai in chapter 34  (๓๕ ขุนช้างถวายฎีกา) the poem read

"ขุนแผนเรียกวันทองเข้าห้องใน                      ไม่ไว้ใจจึงเสกด้วยเวทมนตร์

สีขี้ผึ้งสีปากกินหมากเวทย์                            ซึ่งวิเศษสารพัดแก้ขัดสน

น้ำมันพรายน้ำมันจันทน์สรรเสกปน                  เคยคุ้มขังบังตนแต่ไรมา

แล้วทำผงอิทธิเจเข้าเจิมพักตร์                       คนเห็นคนทักรักทุกหน้า"

Nam Man Prai have been mentioned in the poem in Thai, where the character Khun Phane is planning to use the oil on Wanthong to make her fall in love with him and kidnap her.

Another mentioning of Nam Man Prai in internal literature “Journal of the Siam Society”

Journal of the Siam Society: Volume 30

The details of Nam Man Prai have been written extensively from its origin to its usage by Author Francis H. Giles. He was at the time a cadet serving in the British Royal Navy.

Modern cultural reference

Spell or its original Title "น้ำมันพราย" is a 2014 Full-length horror film directed by Dulyasit Niyomgul staring Wanida Termthanaporn and Matthew Deane Chanthavanij as the main protagonist. The movie is about a young woman, who becomes possessed by the spirit of a pregnant woman after her childhood friend "Lek" uses a love potion made from burning a dead pregnant woman's chin. It is inspired by the story of Mam Man Prai and the Thai culture surrounding it.

There are also other mentions of the Nam Man Prai in other media than a movie such as in games, podcasts, comics, and others, which depict how the current generations view and belief towards black magic, old culture, occult and ghosts are in today's modern society.

Recent events

Incidence involving Nam Man Prai

On the 28th April 2015, The Deputy Commander of the 5th Police Region confirmed the existence of a sorcery gang in Chiang Mai, a group of individuals found purchasing body parts to make "Kuman thong" (spirit child) and "Nam Man Prai" (sacred spirit oil). Authorities have seized 16 bags of body parts from a cemetery, and ceased their online activities including advertisements for their sale, particularly using genitalia to produce Nam Man Prai.

On March 1, 2024, the funeral of 81-year-old Mr. Prakrit was held at Wat Nong Gran Kaeo in Rayong, marking the fifth death in his family, which is suspected to be connected to the hauntings of "Nam Man Prai," a mystical spirit oil. Mr. Prakrit was believed to have summoned a spirit linked to a white wax container of this oil, attracting negative energies. The family previously experienced multiple tragic losses, including the suicides of Mr. Niyom and Mr. Prakarn, as well as the mysterious death of Mrs. Krittana, whose body showed signs of decomposition shortly after her passing, and the similar fate of her younger brother, Mr. Hattapol. They attribute these tragedies to the vengeful presence of the Nam Man Prai.