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Mrenh kongveal (Khmer: ម្រេញគង្វាល, M’rénh Kóngvéal [mrɨɲ kuŋʋiəl]) are beings in Cambodian folk mythology resembling elves of western folklore; they are particularly associated with guarding animals.^[1]^[2] By anecdotal accounts the roots of Mrenh kongveal appear to be uniquely Khmer. The mrenh kongveal are small in stature with bodies comparable in size to human children, and are fond of mischief. Offerings are often left to them when seeking their help.

The etymology of the name given these spirits is not entirely evident in the component meanings. The Khmer word mrenh by itself is fishermen's slang for "one who catches fish" or, as a derivation from Sanskrit, "cancer". Kongveal means "herdsman", "guardian" or "keeper".^[3]

Originally they were perceived to be nomadic beings in the jungle, where they were the guardian herdsmen of wild animals, especially social animals that travel in herds, such as elephants. Hunters, farmers and mahouts (elephant trappers), would make baskets to leave offerings for mrenh kongveal, to bring luck in the hunt, to help them capture young elephants and buffalo, or to ward wild animals away from their crops. Today mrenh kongveal are thought of as akin to supernatural guardians, associated with a person, place, or institution. They protect or offer guidance to their benefactors, usually through telepathy (heard as whispers) or influencing dreams. They can't be seen by adults but belief holds that they can make themselves appear to children between the ages of 6 and 14 who are "pure of heart", and many Cambodians claim to have seen mrenh kongveal as children.^[4]

Romanization

There is no single accepted system of transliterating the Khmer alphabet. The spelling used is that most commonly found in Western scholarly work. Variants include m'ring kung veal, mereng kung veal, merang keng veal, mreñ ganval^[5] and mrén kongvial.

Notes

^ Ian Charles Harris, Cambodian Buddhism: History and Practice (Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 2005), p. 59.
^ Joachim Schliesinger, Ethnic Groups of Cambodia Vol 2: Profile of Austro-Asiatic-Speaking Peoples (Bangkok: White Lotus, 2011), p. 40.
^ Headley, Robert K; Chhor, Kylin; Lim, Lam Kheng; Lim, Hak; Chun, Chen (1977). Cambodian-English Dictionary. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press Bureau of Special Research in Modern Languages. ISBN 0813205093. ម្រេញគង្វាល 1 n kind of ghost which is believed to take care of wild animals in the forest. People often pray to them to protect farm animals. 2 n elf. 3 n kind of fairy or elf which resembles a child and is believed to watch over animal herds. ម្រេញ 1 n ulcer, cancer (Sanskrit) 2 n one who catches fish (fishermen's slang). គង្វាល 1 n guardian, keeper, herdsman.
^ Kriah, Chan (23 May 2013). "ម្រេញគង្វាលធ្លាប់ព្យាបាលខ្ញុំ (Mrenh kongveal watched over me)". Koh Santepheap Daily. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ Jūlān, Qāmn (1986). Les êtres surnaturels dans la religion populaire khmère. Cambodia: Cedorek. ISBN 9780996135504.

References

Buddhasāsanapandity (1967), Dictionnaire cambodgien, Tome 1, K.M. (Cinquieme), Dictionnaire cambodgien, Buddhasāsanapandity (Institute: Phnom Penh, Cambodia), Edition 4, Éditions de l’Institut bouddhique
Thompson, Ashley (2005), Calling the souls: a Cambodian ritual text (illustrated), Reyum, University of Michigan, Digitized 23 Jun 2009, ISBN 1588860744, ISBN 9781588860743
Jacq-Hergoualc’h, Michel (1982), Le roman source d’inspiration de la peinture khmère à la fin du XIXe et au début du XXe siècle: l’Histoire de Preah Chinavong et son illustration dans la (sālā) de Vat Kieng Svay Krau, Volume 1, École française d’Extrême-Orient, University of Michigan, Digitized 25 Jan 2008, ISBN 2855397340, ISBN 9782855397344
Jūlān, Qāmn (1986) Les êtres surnaturels dans la religion populaire khmère, Volume 1 of Bibliothèque khmère: Série B, Volume 1 of Bibliothèque khmère: Travaux et recherches, Cedorek, ISBN 2867310288, ISBN 9782867310287
Piper, Jacqueline M. (1992), Bamboo and rattan: traditional uses and beliefs Images of Asia (illustrated), Oxford University Press, Indiana University, Digitized 19 Aug 2009, ISBN 0195889983, ISBN 9780195889987