Mrenh kongveal
Mrenh kongveal (Khmer: ម្រេញគង្វាល, Khmer pronunciation: [mrɨɲ kŏəŋʋiel]) are beings in Cambodian folk mythology resembling elves of western folklore. By anecdotal accounts the roots of Mrenh kongveal appear to be uniquely Khmer. According to belief, mrenh kongveal are small in stature; appearing to have bodies comparable in size to human children. However, they are thought to have a fondness for mischief and offerings are often left to mrenh kongveal when seeking their active help.
The etymology of the name given these spirits is not entirely evident in the component meanings. The Khmer word mrenh by itself is fishermen's slang for "one who catches fish" or, as a derivation from Sanskrit, "cancer". Kongveal means "herdsman", "guardian" or "keeper".[1]
Originally they were perceived to be nomadic beings in the jungle, where they were the guardian herdsmen of wild animals, especially social animals that travel in herds, such as elephants. Hunters, farmers and mahouts (elephant trappers), would make baskets to leave offerings for mrenh kongveal, to bring luck in the hunt, to help them capture young elephants and buffalo, or to ward wild animals away from their crops. Today mrenh kongveal are thought of as akin to supernatural guardians, associated with a person, place, or institution. They protect or offer guidance to their benefactors, usually through telepathy (heard as whispers) or influencing dreams. They can't be seen by adults but belief holds that they can make themselves appear to children between the ages of 6 and 14 who are "pure of heart", and many Cambodians claim to have seen mrenh kongveal as children.[2]
Romanization
There is no single accepted system of transliterating the Khmer alphabet. The spelling used is that most commonly found in Western scholarly work. Variants include m'ring kung veal, mereng kung veal, merang keng veal, mreñ ganval[3] and mrén kongvial.
Notes
References
- Buddhasāsanapandity (1967), Dictionnaire cambodgien, Tome 1, K.M. (Cinquieme), Dictionnaire cambodgien, Buddhasāsanapandity (Institute: Phnom Penh, Cambodia), Edition 4, Éditions de l’Institut bouddhique
- Thompson, Ashley (2005), Calling the souls: a Cambodian ritual text (illustrated), Reyum, University of Michigan, Digitized 23 Jun 2009, ISBN 1588860744, ISBN 9781588860743
- Jacq-Hergoualc’h, Michel (1982), Le roman source d’inspiration de la peinture khmère à la fin du XIXe et au début du XXe siècle: l’Histoire de Preah Chinavong et son illustration dans la (sālā) de Vat Kieng Svay Krau, Volume 1, École française d’Extrême-Orient, University of Michigan, Digitized 25 Jan 2008, ISBN 2855397340, ISBN 9782855397344
- Jūlān, Qāmn (1986) Les êtres surnaturels dans la religion populaire khmère, Volume 1 of Bibliothèque khmère: Série B, Volume 1 of Bibliothèque khmère: Travaux et recherches, Cedorek, ISBN 2867310288, ISBN 9782867310287
- Piper, Jacqueline M. (1992), Bamboo and rattan: traditional uses and beliefs Images of Asia (illustrated), Oxford University Press, Indiana University, Digitized 19 Aug 2009, ISBN 0195889983, ISBN 9780195889987
