พ่อแก่ ฤาษี ตาไฟ Ruesi Por Gae, Lord shiva & the third eye

The name Por Gae is a rather mysterious thing, due to the fact  that his presence has been mentioned in various times over the past thousand years or so.Ruesi Por Gae's  legend is sometimes seen to be related to Hlwong Phu Taep Loke Udorn, who is another mysterious character who results in being extremely difficult to trace his existence.Their legends have many factors in common; one of these factors is the ability to cause fire to arise from a simple glance, due to having acheived samabhati (ฌานสมาบัติ - Chaan Samaabat in Thai), and having practised gasin fai (the control of the element of fire).The images/statues created in likeness of Pra Ruesi Por Gae Tha Fai can be seen to have three eyes, the third in the center of the forehead.According to the legend, whenever Ruesi Por Gae would open the third eye, flames would arise in the line of sight of his third eye.According to both Brahmin and Buddhist beliefs, the posession of a third eye is the result of having practised self control and renunciation over a period of many thousands of lifetimes. Such a meritorious person is recognized at birth by observing various signs that can be found on the body of the person; one of these signs is the form of an Unalome - อุนาโลม in the center of the forehead (Unalome means a spiral shape). The unalome is seen as a sign of the third eye, or divine eye. It is believed that Ruesi Por Gae Tha Fai is also the Avatar (earthly incarnation) of the lord of the world (Siva, or Ishvara - in Thai known as Pra Isworn or Pra Siwa). 

Above pic; Pra Isworn recieves the Yaksa demon Nontuk who asked for the blessing of a diamond finger (From Ramakian epic) This painting is from the murals in the temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Royal Palace, Bangkok

Lord Shiva is one of the three lords of Heaven in Brahmin cosmology, and is considered to be the highest of the three due to the fact that he has never fully incarnated as a human being, only sending parts of himself as messengers, teachers or agents of his doing.Lord Shiva, or "Pra isworn" if you like, is believed to have a third eye in the center of his forehead.This third eye is synchronymous with the third eye of Por Gae. An additional factor that is synonymous with Siva (or Shiva) and Por Gae is the fact that whenever Shiva opened his third eye, whatever was in the sightpath of the eye would be consumed in flame.For this reason Thai people believe that Pra Ruesi Tha Fai is a manifestation of an aspect of Pra Isworn (พระอิศวร - Shiva). Thai people believe that Pra Iswornmanifests as Ruesi Tha Fai in order to be a teacher for the sake of Humankind.Shiva is the supreme Ruesi of all Ruesi.

About Lord Shiva

Shiva or Siva is the Hindu God of Destruction and Change. Shiva is part of the Hindu Trinity along with Vishnu “The preserver” and Brahma “The Creator”. Shiva destroys the world which Brahma then in turn creates and then the cycle repeats (Gruenwald). Shiva not only represents change as destruction, but also positive change; for example, breaking out of bad habits. Shiva is also seen as representing Truth, Beauty and the most essential Goodness. Shiva has had two wives, Shakti and Parvarti; He is also the father of two other Hindu Gods, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Shiva lives atop Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas (Narasimhachary) .

Shiva is said to have sprung from the head of Brahma in the form of Rudra and separated into male and female in order to show the mercy of God. He has the potential to bring great destruction, while on the other hand but he can be kind and forgiving (Bowes).

Shiva is a god who exhibits many facets of his personality, some of which are pleasant and some that are not so pleasant (Sherrat).

Shiva has five major forms and five major energies.

-Aghora- Shiva in cremation grounds, most often associated with death and mourning. (Gruenwald)

-Ishana- The form of Shiva symbolizing that which is invisible yet omnipresent. (Gruenwald)

-Tat Purasha- Signifies the power of meditation (Shiva is the God most associated with meditation, yogis and celibacy). (Gruenwald)

-Varna Deva- Represents Shiva's immortality and is also know as eternal Shiva. This form also signifies the repetitiveness of the cycle between destruction and preservation. (Gruenwald)

-Saddyojat or Braddha Rudra- Represensents Shivas destructive wrathful side and is the form Shiva takes when people do not follow Karma. (Gruenwald)

These five forms are all depicted in sixth five-headed form of Shiva known as Panchavaktra. (Gruenwald).

Other names and manifestations are: Bhairava, Daksinamurti, Mahesa, Nataraja, Nrtyanatha, Rudra, Sadasiva, Yogi, Linga (Michaels).

Bibliography

Bowes, P. (1977). The Hindu Religious Tradition. Boston.

Gruenwald, Christine “Shiva” (November 2005) Online. Internet. October 2005 Available: http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/shiva.htm

Michaels, Axel. Hinduism Past and Present. New Jersey: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Narasimhachary, M. (1997). Handbook of Hindu Gods, Goddesses and Saints. Delhi, Sundeep Prakashan.

Sherrat, B.W. (1972). Gods and Men: A Survey of World Religions. Glasgow.