Asura Wayuphak and Asura Paksi Barges

The Asura Wayuphak and Asura Paksi are animal-shaped barges in the Saen Yakorn category. First built during the reigns of King Rama I and King Rama IV, their names derive from Sanskrit. Asura Wayuphak means “wind-eating demon,” while Asura Paksi means “bird demon.” Both are mythical creatures in Thai mythology. Both barges feature similar figureheads depicting creatures that are half-demon and half-bird, with a demon’s upper body and a bird’s lower body. They are gilded and decorated with glass inlays.

The Asura Wayuphak figurehead wears a long-sleeved purple garment, with indigo hands and feet. The Asura Paksi wears a dark blue-purple garment with a green back. Its hands and feet are green, and it has wings on its arms.

The crown features a carved Yod Doen Hon finial. The figure wears royal attire with a neck ornament and Kinnari wings on its sides. A belt with a decorative buckle encircles the waist, with a golden ornament or cloth hanging between the thighs. An opening beneath the figure accommodates a cannon. The hull features gold Phuttan floral patterns created using traditional Thai lacquer decoration. The Fine Arts Department and the Royal Thai Navy undertook major restoration work on the Asura Paksi in 1965 and the Asura Wayuphak in 1971.
Each barge measures 31 meters in length, 2.03 meters in width, and 0.62 meters in depth. Each has a crew of 57, consisting of one shipmaster, two helmsmen, 40 oarsmen, one stern flag bearer, one signalman, two rowing-rhythm coordinators, and ten victory drum players.

Credit: พระลาน / NBT World