Maeng Nguan (The Singing Cricket)

    One night, Indra heard a beautiful sound of music that went "yong, yong, yong." He was so pleased that he wanted to give a reward to the singer.   So, he said to his courtiers, "You must bring whoever that sang the beautiful song last night to me.  I wish to hear more of the beautiful song."

    So the courtiers went out making announcement, "Whoever sang the beautiful song last night must come forward; the Great Indra wishes to hear more of your song."

    The gekko stepped forward and said, "It's me that sang the beautiful song last night."

    "Then tell me what I need to prepare for your performance tonight for the Great Indra," asked one of the courtiers.

    "Oh, you must prepare a good size bamboo pipe and hang it on a pillar at the Great Indra's hall," said the gekko.

    All was done before night fell.  When night fell, the gekko crawled inside the bamboo pipe and began his song, "thod, thod, thod, tappo, tappo, tappo."

    The Great Indra then said, "Oh, you sang a beautiful song; I will give you a colorful jacket to wear."

    In the evening, the Great Indra again heard, "yong, yong, yong," the beautiful song again.  "The one that sang last night was beautiful, but it is not the same."  So, he said to his courtiers, "Do you know that I still hear the beautiful song?  The one I heard before the gekko came to sing?  Please go to find the singer for me."

    So the courtiers went out making the same announcement, "Whoever sang a beautiful song last night must come forward; the Great Indra wishes to hear more of your song."

    The bullfrog stepped forward and said, "It's me that sang the beautiful song last night."

    "Then tell me what I need to prepare for your performance tonight for the Great Indra," asked one of the courtiers.

    "Oh, you must prepare a good size bowl of water and place it at the foot of the stairs of the Great Indra's hall," said the bullfrog.

    All was done before night fell.  When night fell, the bullfrog crawled onto the bowl of water and began his song, "hueng aang, hueng aang, hueng aang."

    The Great Indra then said, "Oh, you sang a beautiful song; I will give you a vest to wear."

    In the evening, the Great Indra again heard, "yong, yong, yong," the beautiful song again.  "The one that sang last night was beautiful, but it is not the same."  So, he said to his courtiers, "Do you know that I still hear the beautiful song?  The one I heard before the gekko came to sing?  Please go to find the singer for me."

    This time the courtiers came across Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket.  So, they asked, "Did you sing a beautiful song last night?"

    "Yes, I did.  Why did you ask?" asked Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket.

    "Oh, the Great Indra wants to hear you sing again tonight.   Would you come?"

    "Yes, I will come," said Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket.

   "Then tell me what I need to prepare for your performance tonight for the Great Indra," asked one of the courtiers.

    "Oh, absolutely nothing.  I will just fly to light at a pillar of the Great Indra's hall and sing," said Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket.

    So, that night Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket went to light at a pillar of the Great Indra's hall and began singing, "yong, yong, yong."

    The Great Indra was so delighted that he granted divine food to Maeng Nguan, the singing cricket and gave him divine eyes so he can see both night and day.  So, the cricket takes no normal food.   All he enjoys is the dew drops from heaven.