Nariphon
Thai lacquerwork painting of the Naripon tree at Phra Pathom Chedi | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Grouping | Mythical tree Legendary creatures |
| Sub grouping | Sylvan |
| Folklore | Buddhist mythology Thai folk mythology |
| Origin | |
| Country | India, Thailand |
| Region | Southeast Asia |
The Nariphon (Thai: นารีผล, from Pali nārīphala), also known as Makkaliphon (Thai: มักกะลีผล, from Pali makkaliphala), is a tree in Buddhist mythology which bears fruit in the shape of young female creatures. The maidens grow attached by their head from the tree branches. This tree grows at the Himaphan, a mythical forest where the female fruits are enjoyed by the Gandharvas who cut the fruits and take them away.
The Nariphon is also mentioned in the Vessantara Jātaka in which Indra placed these trees around the grove where the Bodhisattva Vessantara meditated.