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Narai Songsuban H.M. King Rama IX

The term Narai Songsuban literally means Narai mounting a garuda. Narai is
an epithet of Hindu god Vishnu and “suban” is another term for garuda, the vehicle
of Vishnu. The term H.M. King Rama IX was added to indicate that the royal
barge was built in this reign.

The prow is a figure of Vishhu in dark blue riding a garuda holding two nagas.
His disc, conch shell, sceptre and trident are held in his four hands. This reflects
the influence of Hindu beliefs in Thai tradition and art. Vishnu is respected
as the god who preserves the world. Thus he is born in this world in different
incarnations or avatars. Such concept, that the monarch is one of the incarnations of
Vishnu, was adopted by Thai royal courts since mid 14th century.

According to Hindu mythology, garuda and naga are enemies, but both serve
Vishnu. Since garuda, the king of birds, represents power in the sky and naga
represents power of water, the presence of Vishnu over them denotes his power of
protection of the whole world.

Narai Songsuban H.M. King Rama IX Royal Barge was built by the Royal Thai
Navy and the Fine Arts Department in honour of the Golden Jubilee of the
Accession to the Throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great in
1996.

The length of the barge is 44.30 metres and the width at the beam is 3.20 metres.
The depth of the hull is 1.10 metres and the draught is 40 centimetres. Its
displacement is 20 tons. It is manned by two officers fore and aft, two steersmen,
50 oarsmen, one signalman, seven royal chatra (white umbrella) bearers and
one chanter.

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