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Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Mythological and legendary creatures in Southeast Asia

 Indonesia


      • Serpent sculptures (Besakih, Bali's Mother Temple located on the slopes of Mount Agung) related they say. 

      • Maybe this is related to Besukih, altho 2-headed. Looks cool. 
    • Warak Ngendhog - from central Java. Similar to a one-horned rhinoceros carrying an egg on its back. 
    • Kuda Sembrani - flying horse
    • Nyi Roro Kidul - a beautiful woman with powerful supernatural abilities... ocean stuff.
    • Ahool - massive bat-like creature
    • Orang Bati - winged humanoid with bat-like claws. 
  • https://godsandmonsters.info/welcome-to-gods-and-monsters/indonesian-mythology/
    • Barong - lion-like. Good guy.
    • Gaurda - again a unique mighty bird-like, mount for a deity. 
    • Naga - we know this one. Serpentine dragons that are often associated with water and fertility. 
  • Less common ones says https://thesmedia.id/posts/indonesian-mythical-creatures-you-might-have-never-heard
    • Ahool - again. Large bat, 3 meters wide. They have giant wings, long snouts, and a thin crest. While the females live in groups, the male ones live alone.
    • Leak - bad guy. Appears as a human during the day. At night... human head with entrails hanging below. 
    • Banaspati - from Java. Two forms, ordinary fire or fire-human (They are said to be walking upside down- hands under to walk and feet above). Dangerous. Feeds off fear from people. 
  • Top 10 says https://www.beastandmyth.com/monsters-and-myths/top-10-indonesian-spirits-and-monsters
    • Kuntilanak - The Kuntilanak is the spirit of a woman who died during childbirth, trapped between life and death. Cloaked in a white dress with long black hair covering her face, she hides in banana groves and abandoned houses, preying on men who wander alone.
    • Leak - again. Flying head with entrails.
    • Nyai Roro Kidul - Again, the Queen of the Southern Sea in Java. 
    • Tuyul - Small, bald, and childlike... spirits that steal. 
    • Genderuwo - a giant, hairy creature with glowing red eyes. A trickster... mimics voices or familiar faces. Kidnaps. 
    • Wewe Gombel - a spirit with wild hair and a grotesque appearance. Female humanoid(?). 
    • Barong - again. "The Barong is the guardian spirit of protection in Balinese mythology, often depicted as a lion-like figure. He is the eternal rival of Rangda, the demon queen, and their clash is reenacted in sacred dances. Villages call upon the Barong for spiritual cleansing and protection against negative forces. His presence is celebrated as a symbol of harmony, driving away evil and restoring balance in the community."
    • Organg Bunian - again. Beautiful and kind spirits... help ppl. 
    • Jenglot - a tiny mummified figure with long hair and sharp nails. Dark powers. Found in rituals and collections, the Jenglot’s role in Indonesian black magic reflects humanity’s fear of the unknown and the lengths some will go to for protection or power.
    • Palasik - from darkness it emerges... head detaches and flies with guts hanging from it. 

Thailand 


Phaya Nak

https://thailandfoundation.or.th/thai-mythical-creatures-where-to-find-them/ , I will quote a ton of stuff here:
    • The elephant clan
      • Karinta Paksa (Thai: กรินทปักษา) is black in color. He has red ears and a bird’s tail.
      • Chattan Hudtee (Thai: ฉัททันต์หัตถี) has a white torso. His tail, feet, and back ridge are red. He has six tusks, the ability to fly, and moves swiftly on his feet.
      • Hem Hudtee (Thai: เหมหัตถี) is golden in color and has super strength.
      • Kunchon Waree (Thai: กุญชรวารี) has an elephant torso and the tail of a fish.
    • The lion clan
      • Kraisorn Rajasri (Thai: ไกรสรราชสีห์) is pure white in color with spirals across his torso. He has large eyes. His lips, tail tip, and claws are red.
      • Kala Sriha (Thai: กาฬสีหะ) is jet black and has a cow-like torso. He consumes grass.
      • Tinna Sriha (Thai: ติณสีหะ) has a cow-like body. He consumes grass.
      • Buntu Rajasri (Thai: บัณฑุราชสีห์) is yellow with black stripes and a white underbelly. His body resembles a tiger. He is a carnivore.
    • The horse clan
      • Durong Kraisorn (Thai: ดุรงค์ไกรสร) is red in color. His head is that of a lion and he is regal. He is a carnivore.
      • Hemara Ussadorn (Thai: เหมราอัศดร) has a horse torso and the head of a bird.
      • Durong Paksin (Thai: ดุรงค์ปักษิณ) is a winged horse that is pure white in color. He has a bird-like tail. His neck, hooves, and tail are jet black.
      • Mah Nin Mungkorn (Thai: ม้านิลมังกร) is half-horse and half-dragon, a form influenced by the Chinese qilin (Thai: กิเลน).
    • The bovine clan
      • Ko U-Suparaj (Thai: โคอุสุภราช) is a noble cow. He is black with seven white spots on his body, front legs, chest, tail, and hump.
      • Ko Prueksa Kawain (Thai:โคพฤกษกวาริน) has the torso of a cow and the tail of a fish. He is white and has a brown ridge.
      • Ko A-Supa Paksin (Thai:โคอศุภปักษิณ) is blue with white legs. He has wings and a bird-like blue tail.
      • Paksa Kawi (Thai: ปักษาคาวี) is cream colored with a bird-like tail and has horns.
    • The bird clan
      • Garuda, or Krut (Thai: ครุฑ), is a half-man and half-bird. He is powerful and is the vehicle Lord Vishnu, one of the three supreme deities of Hinduism.
      • Nok Hussadiling (Thai: นกหัสดีลิงค์) is a large bird that has a trunk and tusks like an elephant.
      • Kinnaree/Kinnanorn (Thai: กินรี /กินนร) is half-man and half-bird (the females are called Kinnaree and the males Kinnanorn). Their abode is on the Himmapan mountaintop known as Chanta Bunpot (Thai: จันทบรรพต).
      • Nok Tantima (Thai: นกทัณฑิมา) has a torso of a Garuda and the head of a bird. He carries a staff at all times. Tanta (Thai: ทัณฑ) means staff.
    • The marine clan
      • Hae Ra (Thai: เหรา) has the torso of naga. He has legs, horns, and a kanok plaew (Thai:กนกเปลว, flame-like patterns) comb. He has an elongated face, pointed nose, and big eyes. His lips are red. He has fangs, and two rows of sharp teeth.
      • Naga, or Phaya Nak (Thai: พญานาค) is a serpent with scales and a golden comb. It is a very powerful being with the ability to shapeshift. There are four naga families.
        • Virupak (Thai: วิรูปักษ์) the golden naga.
        • A-Ra Pata (Thai: เอราปถ) the green naga
        • Chubpaya Putta (Thai: ฉัพพยาปุตตะ) the rainbow naga
        • Kanha Kotama (Thai: กัณหาโคตมะ) the black nagaMermaid, or nguek (Thai: เงือก) has an upper torso of a human and lower torso of a fish. This depiction is most likely influenced by western mythologies, as traditional Thai descriptions of ngueks are more serpentine in features.
        • Nak Paksa (Thai: นาคปักษา) is a bird with a head that resembles a naga. Each layer of his feathers alternate in color
      • Others
        • Makalipon tree (Thai:มักกะลีผล ) bears young women as fruits. They are mentioned in the Vessantara Jataka (Thai: เวสสันดรชาดก).

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