Hanuman Statue DISAPPEARS
On my recent return to Pattaya, I was astonished to discover that the monkey god, ‘Hanuman” statue in Jomtien (pictured above) had vanished.
Long a feature of both foreigner and Thai conversations, especially in the giving of directions and as an important landmark in the city, the Hanuman statue has been a feature of Jomtien for many years.
As soon as it had disappeared, it was replaced with an identical statue of Machanu, the son of Hanuman, who is half monkey and half fish, pictured below.
The new Machanu Statue
Eagle eyed readers may be unable to spot the difference, but it is a fundamental one, as Hanuman is a monkey god, and Machanu is a half monkey, half fish god, and it transpires that for many years people have mistakenly been calling the Machanu statue the Hanuman statue.
In a recent informal survey of 50 people, 20 Thais and 30 foreign residents, I discovered that every single person called this statue the Hanuman statue. Not one person knew it was actually a statue of Machanu.
Even City Hall officials routinely refer to it as the Hanuman statue.
The real Hanuman – all monkey, no fish tail
The identity of the statue having now been conclusively established, I earnestly invite residents of the city to adopt Machanu to their hearts, as he is the perfect deity for Jomtien.
In Thai mythology, Machanu is the guardian of a lake which must be crossed to reach the underworld.
Given the flooding around the new Jomtien Second Road, which Machanu’s statue overlooks, his official duties can be continued every time it rains.
Also many Jomtien residents would be grateful for a bit of protection from the city's underworld.
I was going to enlist the help of a serious religious scholar to confirm my identification of the Machanu statue, but luckily I didn’t have to.
It’s clearly written in Thai on the sign next to the statue, for all the world to see.
Machanu, written in Thai, next to the statue
Deadhorse
It all sounds a bit fishy to me.
John Guru
Peter, you are very observant and knowledgeable. Thanks for making the distinction clear, although I've got to still call it the Hanuman statue when giving directions, or else people won't know what I am talking about. Most farangs and Thai's here in Pattaya haven't got a clue!
Peter Lloyd
Well, I certainly have some sympathy with that.
Imagine how easy it is to say ‘I’ll meet you at 2pm at the Hanuman Statue on Thappraya Road, in Jomtien”.
But now with my identification of the statue as Machanu and the numbskulls at City Hall signage department sticking “Second Road” signs all the way along Thappraya Road, the same conversation could go like this:
“I’ll see you at 2pm at the Machanu Statue on Jomtien Second Road’
“The what? The where?’
“You know, the big statue of the monkey fish god, on Second Road in Jomtien”
“Is that near the Hanuman Statue”?
‘It used to be called the Hanuman statue, but that is incorrect. It is in fact called the Machanu statue”.
“That is on Thappraya Road?”
“Well, it used to be called Thappraya Road. Now it’s called Jomtien Second Road”
“Why you make big problem. I meet you at Dolphin instead”.
“Do you mean the dolphin roundabout in Naklua, or the tatty concrete dolphin fountain on Beach Road at the Central Road junction”
“Forget it. I stay home”.