Phra Phirun (พระพิรุณ)

Thai. Name for the Thai god of rain, who is associated with the Vedic god Varuna. He is depicted on the logo of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (fig.), surrounded by kanok motifs and holding a sword upright in one hand, while walking on the back of a naga that sprouts water from its mouth, as well as on the logo of its subdivision, the Thai Department of Agriculture (fig.), where he is additionally flanked by a male farmer using a dibble and a female farmer wearing a ngop (fig.) and holding some ears of rice, though in this logo the naga does not sprout water from its mouth, the kanok motifs are replaced by clouds, and the upper half of the deity is surrounded by a crystal palace or reuan kaew (fig.). He is also depicted on the logo of the of Kasetsart University, i.e. the ‘University of Agriculture’ (fig.). In a later incarnation, he was born as the monkey-warrior Wayabud (fig.). 回