Page 38 - TheCoronationKingRamaX_e3

Anantanagaraj (King Ananta of the Nagas)

Anantanagaraj Royal Barge is a combination of three Sanskrit words - ananta
(infinite), naga (serpent) and raja (king). Thus, Anantanagaraj means Ananta,
king of the serpents. In Hindu mythology, Vishnu, one of the great three deities
rests in the waters on Ananta between the cycles of creation. Ananta has one
thousand heads illuminated with one thousand gems. He dwells below
the netherworlds and bears the whole world on his head. When Ananta yawns,
the world trembles.

In Thai belief, the monarch is regarded as a partial incarnation of Vishnu so it is
customary to include a naga figurehead barge in the flotilla.

The original barge was built in the reign of His Majesty King Nangklao and
was launched and named Banlang Anantanagaraj (Throne of Ananta, king of
the serpents) by His Majesty King Mongkut (1851 – 1868). The current one
was commissioned in the reign of His Majesty King Vajiravudh and launched
on 14 April 1914.

The prow is carved into a seven-headed naga, using the gilded lacquer technique
and decorated with mirrored glass. The hull was painted green outside and
red inside. In the middle of the barge is a busabok or tiered-roof pavilion for
housing a Buddha image or the Kathina robes. The length of the barge is 44.85
metres and the width at the beam is 2.58 metres. The depth of the hull is 87
centimetres and the draught is 31 centimetres. It is manned by 54 oarsmen with
two steersmen, two officers fore and aft, one signalman, seven royal chatra
(white umbrella) bearers, three royal fans bearers and one chanter.

34
34