Ramakian Tales: Totsagan - ทศกันฑ์ (Ravana)

Totsagan
Pic Left - Sand sculpture of Totsagan
Totsagan* is the reincarnation of the Yank Nontuk*, who was overpowered by Phra Naarayn on the orders of Phra Isworn, after Nontuk lost his temper with the devas (Taewada) and proceeded to run amok with the diamond finger weapon which Phra Isworn (Shiva) had bestowed upon him for faithful service, akilling the Taewada.
Phra Naaraayn predicted to Nontuk * that both would be incarnated on earth , Nontuk* as Totsagan, wiel;ding ten heads and twenty arms holding weapons, and Phra Naaraayn would be reborn as a simple human with only 2 arms. Phra Naaraayn added to the prediciton that he would still conquer and slay Nontuk* as Totsagan, despite the unfair advantage of 20 arms and 10 heads!
Totsagan was born the son of Taaw ladtsadtian and Naang Ratchada. He has 6 brothers and sisters with the same mother;
Gumpagan (กุมภกรรณ์) Pipek (พิเภก), Khaara/Khorn (ขร), Tust (ทูษฐ์), Dyrii Siarn (ตรีเศียร), and Naang Samanagkhaa (นาง สำมนักขา). Totsagan is the Royal Ruler of Langka City, posessing an extremely vengeful and Malefic disposition, as well as an extreme tendency to womanizing. In fact, Totsagan had a great number of wives and concubines, such as;
Naang Gal-Akkii, Naang Montoe (wives) and a harem of over 1000 mistresses! He even had some affairs with part animal beings, such as elephants and fish were had, where Totsagan changed his shape into an animal. He also desired the daughters and wives of others, as was the case with Naang Siidaa (who was in fact also Totsagan's daughter, although he was unaware of this).This of course is the main cause of the development of the initial plot of the Ramakian story, where Phra Ram goes on the quest to recover Naang Sidaa, and kill Totsagan and the Yak Family tree.
Traditionally depicted as green in color.He wears the "Mongkut Chay" - Mongkut means "crown", and "Chay"" means "Victory"; therefore he is wearing the "Crown of Victory". Thai depiction of Mythological beings uses "Mongkut" to display various aspects and "Giriyaa" (activity).

There are a great number of different Mongkut with different tops on each crown, to suggest what the character is currently in the process of doing.Some of the most common Mongkut are; Chay (victory) Nam Thao (Gourd shaped), Jiiib (frolicking), Dern Hon (travel on walkabout), and Saam Gliib (three petalled).
Totsagan's true form has 10 heads, 10 faces and twenty arms. His full name is "Totsgan Gumara". Totsagan can change his shape at will in any time he wishes to. He prefers to appear with a single head, face and 2 arms, for example in the scene where he bathes before going to woo Naang Siidaa in the garden;
"ห้อยพวงสุวรรณบุปผา พระหัตถ์ขวานั้นจับพระแสงศร" ("He held a garland of flowers, with his arrows in his right hand" quote from the Thai literary epic poem version of Ramakian written by Phra Bat Somdej Praputta Yord Fa Julaa Loke - King Rama 1) - the quote shows that Totsagan only had 2 arms in this scene.
But when Totsagan is Angry, he reverts to his normal aspect and form of twenty heads and ten arms, as in the case when he returned from a wander ion the forest and did not find his brother in law Chiwahaa (who had been ordered to watch guard over the city of Langka) to greet him.Totsagan was extremely angry thinking that Chiwaha had been conquered (due to the big red sheet that appeared to be covering the city, which was actually chiwaha's tongue, but Totsagan thought it was some strange phenomena befalling the city), and changed into his fearsome aspect and threw deadly chakra weapons, cutting off poor old Chiwahaa's tongue and killing him instantly on the spot.

ทศกันฑ์

ชื่อทศกัณฐกุมารา สิบเศียรสิบหน้าสิบกร แม้ยามนอนหลับ ก็มีสิบหัวยี่สิบมือ
* Nontuk is also sometimes called "Nontok", or Nontokyak
*Totsagan is known as "Ravana" in the Indian Ramayana, but for some reason has been changed to Totsagan in the Thai Ramakien. I find this strange because the other characters all have relatively similar names to the Indian Ramayana.Only Totsagan has been changed radically.