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You can’t claim heaven as your own if you are just going to sit under it.

Khmer Proverb

 

Let's Raise Another Cup

If you are a warrior, why refuse the battle? If you are a drinker, don’t push away the cup.

Khmer Proverb

Ravana’s Past Life: The Yaksha with the Magic Finger

There was once a yaksha called Nandaka, who was a doorman at Lord Shiva’s palace on Mount Kailāsa. Nandaka was a simple and humble yaksha with no particular power or skill. Nandaka was also an ugly yaksha. Even worse, he was nearly bald but for a few tufts of hair at the sides of his head. Everyday, Nandaka found himself the butt of jokes from angels, nagas and yakshas, who were seeking audience with Lord Shiva. These various beings would bully him, tap his bald head and mock his appearance.

'That was how it was every single time!' Nandaka thought in anger after another bully scuttled into the palace after she mocked his look. He had enough of these bullies. Nandaka thought they bullied him because he had no power to retaliate. He then decided to seek his Lord for help.

Nandaka prostrated himself in front of Lord Shiva, bemoaning all the bullies he had to endure to his Lord. Lord Shiva took pity on Nandaka and granted him a boon. Nandaka left Lord Shiva with a powerful magic index finger on his right hand. Nandaka took to his power right away. With his magic finger, Nandaka terrorized every angel, naga and yaksha. Not a single one escaped his punishment. He would point his magic finger and repel them all into far-flung chakravala (domain/realm). Before long, Lord Shiva’s palace became deserted. No visitor would dare grace its hall.

Eventually the matter reached Lord Shiva. The Lord, quite understandably, became very anxious.

'Suppose Nandaka went beyond expelling those approaching, suppose he harmed them? Suppose he turned his finger toward me.' thought Lord Shiva. He gave Nandaka too great a power. Lord Shiva then sought counsel with Lord Narayana.

“You cannot take it back. The matter has already gone too far.” Lord Narayana scolded Shiva “the only thing to do now is to kill him off.”

“Leave the matter to me.” Narayana told Shiva.

Lord Narayana transformed himself into a beautiful young woman as he walked toward Nandaka’s home. When Nandaka saw the beautiful woman, he thought she was one of the apsaras (celestial dancers) from the visiting dance troupe. He was so enchanted by her beauty. He walked to her and broke into a song.

Nandaka:

Come, O dearest treasure! Approach beloved.

I would like a talk with you.

Where are you going? And where have you come from?

I look at you and I want us to be friends.

Female Narayana:

You have asked me a question;

I must reply - with warmth, with eagerness, with desire.

I am here to look for a husband. If one pleases me, I will take him on.

Nandaka:

Dear lady, blessed with beauty, you are here looking for a husband, to live together in harmony.

What kind of a man are you looking for, precious love?

Does a man like me please you?

Female Narayana:

O handsome young man, I am searching for a husband who can dance.

If you can dance well, I can like you, love you and take you as my husband.

Nandaka:

My treasure, your beauty excels that of all others.

As for dancing the Rae dance, whatever the measure, I can perform it.

What’s the difficulty? Dance on my lady.

I shall then follow you and so dance correctly.

Being a man of intelligence, I shall learn all the rules from you, my dear teacher.

Please dance, beautiful lady!

After hearing Nandaka’s willingness to follow the dance, the female Narayana swayed her body, performing the steps and she twisted her right index finger around so that it pointed down toward her tight. Nandaka imitated the movement and pointed his right index finger the same way and promptly fell down on the spot.

The female Narayana turned herself back into the splendid and all powerful four-armed Narayana, holding the disc. Narayana grabbed Nandaka’s head, pressed him down, ready to behead him.

Nandaka was full of gloom and dismay. 'I am beaten by Narayana’s trickery. I lost my senses' he thought.

In anger, Nandaka spoke "So I have slipped up and let you get the better of me! What can I do, my Lord, with my two arms? How can I fight you, with your four arms? If we both had two, I would not accept defeat by you!”

Lord Narayana said “You lose because you have only two arms. Then off you go and be born with many faces and many arms. I shall then descend and be born as a man. We shall fight each other again.”

And with those words Lord Narayana killed Nandaka.

In one of his later reincarnations, Nandaka was born as Ravana, the ten-headed and twenty-armed king of rakshasas (demons), and the lord of Lanka. Ravana would later abduct Sita, consort of Rama, the seventh incarnation (avatar) of Lord Narayana. The two would have their rematch in the Battle of Lanka which you can read in the Sanskrit epic Ramayana or the Khmer versions, Ramakerti I and II, or view it on the bas-reliefs at Angkor Wat, one of Cambodia’s temples.

O Nandaka, you have your Lord dip your finger so that it became a weapon. With the power thus achieved, you pointed your finger at the heavenly throngs and dispersed them.

You confidently used your finger, without forethought, until all the heavenly body felt angry with your Lord. Through him, you were consumed with lusty power. And you lost your life due to that power.

Note:

There are two versions of Khmer Ramayana. The first one, known as Ramakerti, was composed in the 15th and 16th centuries. This early version included the story of Hanuman and Sovann Macha, which is a purely Khmer creation. You won’t find it in the Valmiki’s epic. Ramakerti II, better known as Reamker, was composed between the late 17th and 18th centuries. This second version included the above story, The Yaksha with the Magic Finger.
Here's my attempt of reading out the duet

Tug-of-War and the Khmer New Year

This year, Khmer New Year falls on April 14, 15 and 16. All over Cambodia, people play various traditional games in the days leading up to and on New Year days. A few are ritual games to be played only on those New Year days. Teanh prot (pulling the rope) is one such game. It is a game most people would understand as tug-of-war.

Teanh prot is to be played on the last day of New Year in the village square or on temple ground. According to old Khmer tales, the origin of this game can be traced back to samudra manthana, the Hindu myth of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. The myth tells of a time long long ago when gods and demons came together to churn the Cosmic Ocean in order to obtain amrita, the elixir of immortality. The Churning was an elaborate process. Mount Mandara was used as a churning rod and the serpent Vasuki (Lord Shiva’s naga) offered himself as a churning rope. Out of the Ocean, many treasures arose, including the apsaras (celestial dancers), one of whom would later become the progenitor of the Khmer race. Khmers view the Churning as chaos. We view ourselves as creation born of chaos. We also view New Year days as one chaotic period, betwixt the old and the new year.

The game of teanh prot requires a 30-foot rope as thick as a small wrist. The rope is usually made of water buffalo hide or braided vines and palm leaves. A drums is needed to signal the start and to accompany the game. The players are divided into two teams, males vs. females, of at least 10 people per team, though the female team usually has at least two more people than the male team. The rope is marked at the center by a color knot. When one team is pulled over where the color knot passes the marked line, the other team wins the game. The winners bump their buttocks against the losers’ bodies. In the past, a brahmin would cut off the rope at the end of the game, which symbolized the end of the old year and the start of the new. Also, the last day of New Year is known as pdach prot “cutting off the rope.”

If you ever find yourself in Cambodia around New Year, join in a game or two.

Happy New Year!

The King's Lament

O my love, I miss you and am sleepless.

My distress overwhelms me.

Surly I am on the point of death?

I endure your absence but tears flow, glisteing

May the Gods take pity and help me to live.

What can I do? You have been stolen, my darling,

You who were close to me, united with me.

Even if they killed me, cast me away, dead,

I would rather have you.

I would risk my life, cut off my life with no regret.

Sri Hariraksha Surya Adipati (Ang Duong) of Cambodia (1840-1860)

Composed in Pad Baky Prampuon (Nine-syllable Metre)

That’s Cynicism

When the flood rises, the sovereign garners merits.

Khmer Proverb

(Khmer) Kampot Noodles

Khmer Noodles

Did you know that noodles originated in Cambodia? Well, according to the Khmer legend of Dhmen Jay, noodles were introduced to China around the start of the Common Era. Along with noodles, Dhmen Jay (also spelled Thoun Chey) introduced kites to China as well. But I want to talk about Khmer noodles today. If you followed that link about and read the article, you’d know that num banh chok is a fermented rice noodles. Making num banh chok is a very laboring work, as you can tell from that article.

I’m not certain of the age and provenance of num banh chok, but my third grade teacher’s family claimed to have been making Khmer noodles for more than a thousand years. And there are many villages all over Cambodia that have claimed the same. I’ve heard that there are a few areas in Kampong Thom and Kratié provinces that have been making num banh chok for more than two millennia.

Whatever the claim, Khmers love num banh chok, which is also the name of the dishes made with these noodles. Today, I am introducing you to one of the dishes. Num banh chok kampot is a dish of noodles served with crushed dried shrimp tossed with pineapple fish-sauce dressing and topped with roasted peanuts and coconut cream. 

Kampot is a coastal province, which explains the use of dried shrimp. Kampot fish sauce is considered to be the best in the nation. The same goes for agricultural products grown in the province, such as peppers, durians, rambutans and pineapples.

Without further ado:

Num Banh Chok Kampot

1 lb. fresh num banh chok, or 1-8 oz package of rice vermicelli

1 ½ cups dried shrimp

½ cup coconut cream

½ cup roasted peanuts, roughly crushed

½ small head of lettuce, torn to bite-sized pieces

2 cucumbers, julienne  

2 cups bean sprouts, trimmed

A handful of herbs (mints, basils, etc.)

A handful of young mango leaves (optional)

Pineapple Fish-Sauce Dressing

¼ ripe pineapple, julienne

½ cup fish sauce

½ cup lemon juice

½ cup sugar

5 garlic cloves

1 bird's eye chili (optional)

Preparing the dressing: pound the garlic and chili in a mortar. Spoon out and place the garlic/chili mixture in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, mix well. Taste and adjust accordingly. You can either add in the pineapple at this time or you can wait until you assemble the dish.

If using dried rice vermicelli, prepare it according to the direction on the package.

Soak the shrimp in warm water for 20 minutes. Rinse them several times and drain. Pound the shrimp in a mortar with pestle until they become crumbly. Conversely, you can use a food processor.

Dried Shrimp

To assemble the dish: in a bowl, add all the trimmings, noodles, some pineapple slices, and shrimp. Add some fish-sauce dressing and coconut cream. And top everything with crushed peanuts. Enjoy!

Kampot Noodles