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The Legend of Maha Songkran in the stone inscription of Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram
Ratchaworamahawihan was recorded in the pattern of parable which described the natural phenomena with the symbol
referring to the orbit of sun in the duration of Maha Songkran. Phraya Anuman Rajadhon analysed that Thao
Kabilabrahmaโ€s head was the symbol of the sun because โ€Kabilaโ€ referred to the mixed color of black and red.18
34 The seven daughters of Thao Kabilabrahma were the symbols of all seven days. The head of Thao Kabilabrahma
was paraded clockwise around Phra Sumeru Mountain it was the symbol referring to the orbit of sun around
Phra Sumeru Mountain during the beginning of new year or new season.19
Although the inscription titled โ€Maha Songkranโ€ at Watย Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan
obviously identified that it was brought by the Pali priest of Mon but was without any evidences from Mon, appeared only the
Legend of Songkran in Myanmar. However, the evidences in this legend of Songkran mentioned that Thao Sakka or Indra God
argued with Asibrahma as the following two main substances:
The 1st substance Thao Sakkayamin and Asibrahma argued in the issue of Buddhist problems. Whoever defeated to
reply the religious questions, oneโ€s head would be cut. Thao Sakkayamin assured โ€The precept was the highest of virtue.โ€,
on the other hand, Asibrahma contradicted โ€The alms was the highest of virtue.โ€ and was then judged by the brahma in
humanโ€s world named Kralamai. As a result, Thao Sakkayamin was the winner and Asibrahma cut his head. Nevertheless, Asi-
brahmaโ€s head had the extreme supernatural power; If his head floated in the ocean, the sea water would be dried up. If his
head touched the ground, the land was drought. By this reason, Thao Sakkayamin assigned the seven deities as the guardians.
Importantly, before oneโ€s deity took turns in each year, she had to bathe Thao Sakkayaminโ€s head. By this reason, it was
the origin of sprinkling water on Songkran Day.20ย
The 2nd substance Although this substance was similar to the 1st substance, it was different in the details of
arguement and final events. For instance, Thao Sakkayamin argued with Asibrahma about the number of day in the week,
Thao Sakkayamin guessed to have 7 days and Asibrahma guessed to have 8 days. Therefore, they requested to be judged
by the fortune teller named โ€Kavalamiangโ€. Finally, Thao Sakkayamin was the winner and inspired the thunderbolt cutting
Asibrahmaโ€s head and carried it by himself to protect the extreme supernatural power from his head. However, Thao Sakkayamin
disallowed him to die. He subsequently gave the golden sword to the fortune teller and ordered him travelling to the north to
cut the head of the first animal which he met during the journey. The head of elephant was given to Thao Sakkayamin to be
bound with the body of Asibrahma. Thao Sakkayamin assigned the seven deities to take turns for guarding Asibrahmaโ€s head in
each new year.21It was presumed that the abovementioned legend got an influence from an origin of Ganesha in the Brahmanism.
Furthermore, The legend of Songkran in some groups of Tai people had the differential details from the legend of
Songkran in Thailand. Apilak Kasempholkul noticed that The group of Tai people who had their own legend of Songkran were
mostly faithful to the Buddhist. Moreover, some groups of Tai had principally sacrificed as the beliefs of spirits, without any
legends and festivals of Songkran.22 The following legends of Songkran of Tai groups had been recorded:
