In Vedic Scripture, Rāhu is the cut-off head of an Asura who swallows the sun, causing eclipses. According to Ancient Indian Mythology, Rāhu was fabled to be a son of Vipracitti and Siṃhikā, hence often called Saiṃhikeya. Rāhu was a powerful Asura (Daitya). When the gods churned the ocean for the nectar of immortality (Amṛta), Viṣṇu cut off Rāhu’s head from his body by drinking the Amṛta. Thus, the head of Rāhu has become an immortal demon who is supposed to seize the sun and moon and cause eclipses. Rāhu is one of the Navagrahas (Nine Planets) in Indian Mythology. Rāhu is a sign of misery connected to the occurrence of eclipses, and it is evident that Rāhu previously symbolized maleficence or misfortune.
In my research reveals, that narratives of Rāhu published in paperback cover the full extent of Rāhu stories more comprehensively, becoming the original versions for other media. They are based on Brahman-Hindu, Buddhist, and Thai literature. The created narratives reflect the role of Brahman-Hindu mythology in the foundation of Buddhist gods and new narratives supporting animism and spiritualism in Thai Buddhism.
In Thai, Rāhu has been re-signified to symbolize fertility and life transitions towards prosperity and fortune. Creators of Rāhu narratives have also redefined Rāhu as a god.
This study aims to observe the creation and adaptation of narratives on Rāhu, originally a god from legends in Brahmanism-Hinduism. Narratives on Rāhu in modern media tend to be created using three methods: (1) editing, (2) modification with content adaptation and elaboration, and (3) new creation. Editing and modification involve altering the original text addressing its negative aspects and incorporating additional information to enhance Rāhu’s image, making him a deity deserving of Buddhist worship. New creation is an act of developing Rāhu’s godhood through Rāhu’s sculptures enshrined in Buddhist temples and retelling a story about the experience of godhood and luck with Rāhu and his amulets.
These narratives have been widely propagated in modern media, such as magazines, websites, Facebook, and YouTube, to promote the worship of Rāhu in Buddhist temples. Digital media provides limited area of information, normally involving the important parts of Rāhu’s life, such as birth and relatives, cheating to drink the elixir of immortality, encounters with Buddha, Buddha’s prediction, and the co-composition of reverence to Buddha.
The narratives of Rāhu in modern media play a significant role in making the legend of Rāhu from religious and Thai literature that are widely known in Thai society, enhancing a Buddhist’s confidence in Rāhu, supporting Rāhu worship in Buddhist temples and the amulet business, explaining new-style Rāhu images and amulets, presenting Rāhu shaman, and supporting the beliefs and rituals in the Thai Buddhist contexts.
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