Saen Pom

Transmission and literary adaptations

Thao Saen Pom appears in the folk traditions of Kamphaeng Phet Province and subsequently spread throughout the upper central region of Thailand. The narrative is recorded in several historical chronicles, including the Dan Beach Bradley recension of the Royal Chronicle of Ayutthaya [th],^[1] the Yonok Chronicle [th], the Legend of Singhanavati, and the Cūlayuddhakāravaṃśa [th].^{[2]: 26 [3]}

King Rama VI composed a dramatic adaptation of the story of Thao Saen Pom in 1913 in the form of a dance-drama. In 1925, the final year of his reign, he produced another version in the style of a Lakhon Dukdamban (ละครดึกดำบรรพ์; lit. 'classical operatic drama'). In these adaptations, episodes originally framed in terms of supernatural intervention and divine agency were revised to accord with rational interpretation and historical consideration. According to the legend, Thao Saen Pom was previously identified as the father of King Uthong, the founder of Ayutthaya.^[4]

Narrative

Saen Pom is described as a man of unattractive appearance, his body covered with numerous bumps and swellings, which gave rise to the name “Saen Pom,” meaning “a thousand bumps.” He lived near the city ruled by King of Tri Trueng [th] and worked as a vegetable farmer. King Tri Trueng [th] had a daughter renowned for her beauty. Through divine influence, the princess developed a craving for eggplant. A lady-in-waiting obtained eggplants from the garden of Thao Saen Pom. After consuming them, the princess became pregnant. When questioned by the king regarding the identity of the child’s father, she refused to disclose it.^[1]

When the child was born and had grown old enough to recognize people, King Tri Trueng [th] ordered that nobles and citizens assemble at the palace, each bringing food. He declared that the man to whom the prince crawled and from whom he accepted food would be acknowledged as the royal son-in-law. The prince did not approach any of the assembled men. Thao Saen Pom, who had not initially participated, was summoned and offered a lump of cold rice to the prince. The prince crawled directly to him. King Tri Trueng [th], angered by the result, banished Thao Saen Pom, the princess, and their son.^[1]

During their exile, Indra, disguised as a monkey, presented Thao Saen Pom with a magical drum capable of granting wishes. After striking the drum, the bumps covering his body disappeared and he was transformed into a handsome man. He then struck the drum again and wished for the creation of a city, which came into being and was named Thep Nakhon (เทพนคร). There he crowned himself king. He later named his son Uthong. According to the legend, King Uthong subsequently founded Ayutthaya and established the Uthong Dynasty.^[1]

Theories of identification

Earlier scholarship regarded Saen Pom as a purely legendary figure incorporated into royal drama and chronicle tradition. Later scholars, such as King Rama VI, suggested that the legend may preserve elements of political memory from the relevant historical period.^[5][4] Katitham Singkhaselit proposed, on the basis of etymological analysis, that Saen Pom may have been identical with Khom Sabat Khlon Lamphong,^[6] who ruled Sukhothai until 1238, when he was overthrown by the combined forces of Pha Mueang and Si Intharathit.^{[7]: 195–6} In a literary adaptation by King Rama VI refers to Saen Pom as a local prince of Srivijaya or modern Nakhon Pathom.^[5][4]

Phiset Chiajanpong further proposed that Tri Trueng [th] should be located at present-day Thung Yang in Uttaradit province rather than in Kamphaeng Phet province. He suggested that Saen Pom may have had a dynastic connection with the Tai Gao [th] rulers of Mueang Rat (เมืองราด), namely Sri Naw Nam Thum and his son Pha Mueang, situating Mueang Rat in the area related to Thung Yang.^{[8]: 54–9} In this period, this city is mentioned in the Legend of Sawankalok as being governed by Phra Ruang III, the eldest (half) brother of Si Intharathit.^[9]: 28 However, the identification among Saen Pom, Khom Sabat Khlon Lamphong, and Phra Ruang III remains debated.

Association with the Suphannaphum dynasty

Because the legend states that Saen Pom bore a son named Uthong, earlier scholars identified him as the father of King Uthong, the first monarch of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.^[5] In this interpretation, Saen Pom was equated with Chaiyasiri of Yonok, who is said to have migrated southward and established Kamphaeng Phet as his principal center,^[10][11] thereby linking King Uthong to Mueang Uthong,^[5] and even further equated Chaiyasiri with Phanom Thale Sri.^[12] Archaeological evidence, however, indicates that Mueang Uthong had been abandoned several centuries prior to the period associated with King Uthong.^[13]: 3 Subsequent analysis concluded that King Uthong of Ayutthaya was instead a prince of Baramaraja of Mueang Chaliang who married Princess Sunandhadevi of Ayodhya.^[14]

According to the architectural style analysis, interpretations of political developments,^[15] and the identification of Thep Nakhon (เทพนคร) with Suphan Buri,^{[16]: 60–1} a subsequent theory proposes that Saen Pom was a progenitor of the Suphannaphum dynasty and may have had a dynastic connection with the Phra Ruang dynasty of the Sukhothai Kingdom.^[15] This view suggests that this lineage may have exercised control over Suphannaphum around the early 13th century.^[16]: 61 According to this interpretation, a later ruler of this line potentially married his daughter to King Uthong of Ayutthaya, culminating in the establishment of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1351.^[16]: 61 According to Dhanit Yupho, this line shared the same dynastic origin as Uthong I, who ruled Suphannaphum in 1163.^[16]: 61