Longing & Persuasion · สาวหลง
ว่านเครือสาวหลง
Wan Khruea Sao Long
Maiden-Longing Vine
Ritual purpose
Very strong metta-maha-niyom/attraction.
Botanical
No reliable genus/species found. SaimHerbal describes a threadlike, leafless, stemless fragrant growth clinging to large trees in deep forest — not enough for identification. Distinct from ว่านสาวหลง (Amomum spp.) and ว่านเถาวัลย์หลง (Argyreia splendens).
Origin / legend
SaimHerbal preserves a provenance story: obtained from deep northern forest by gatherers, connected to Phra Thep Rattanakawi (abbot of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat), sold during the temple's annual fair. A Palungjit forum thread distinguishes it sharply from the similarly-named เครือเขาหลง: that is a large deep-forest vine said to make birds, animals, and even spirits lose their way, while เครือสาวหลง is a small, leafless, threadlike ground growth found in haunted areas or cemeteries, with black male threads and red female threads, said to carry strong occult force in the surrounding soil. The same poster claims to have found it inside นกกระปูด (greater coucal) nests in both male and female forms. A separate Pantip story thread preserves the more mainstream เครือเขาหลง/เถาวัลย์หลง/เครือสาวหลง legend: the vine guards the entrance to เมืองลับแล (a legendary hidden city), and anyone who crosses it may become lost, with even birds said to be trapped until death. Treat all of this as forum-preserved folklore, not verified history.
Consecration method (ปลุกเสก)
Web-pra forum material gives the clearest use formula (in a marketplace context, possibly echoing ว่านสาวหลง text): insert the small terminal/thread portion in a tooth gap for attraction; before use recite "นะโมพุทธายะ" or "อิธะคะมะ"; stronger use invokes a longer มนตรามหาหลง beginning "โอมมหาหลง สารพัดที่จะหลง..." (only the opening is given, not the full text). Forum sources also say obtaining the plant traditionally required a พิธีพลีขอขมา (an apology/offering rite to the spirit guardians) before harvesting.
Katha (คาถา)
โอมมหาหลง สารพัดที่จะหลง...
om maha long sapphadi thi cha long...
"Om, great longing/delusion, all manner of things shall become lost/entranced..." — only the opening of a longer มนตรามหาหลง formula is given by the source; full text not found.
นะโมพุทธายะ / อิธะคะมะ
namo phutthaya / i-dha-kha-ma
Homage to the Buddha / an unclear syllabic charm — alternative short formulas recited before use.
Application
Web-pra/forum sources: the thread portion inserted in a tooth gap for attraction; carried after the short formula. SaimHerbal gives no practical method beyond keeping/worshipping it.
Taboos / restrictions (ข้อห้าม)
- None found.
Popular usage often merges เครือเขาหลง, เถาวัลย์หลง, เครือสาวหลง, and เครือเถาหลง into one cluster; Palungjit forum material explicitly rejects that merge and describes a distinct smaller, ground-dwelling, cemetery-associated growth. Keep this entry's name distinct from the botanical เถาวัลย์หลง (Argyreia splendens) entry unless deliberately modeling the contested-name cluster.
Sources
Demonstrations & transcripts
More Longing & Persuasion waan