Girimehkala

Girimehkala for Wind Symphony is inspired by the fearsome mythological elephant from Sri Lankan Buddhist lore. Girimehkala is believed to be the mighty mount of the demon lord Mara, who attempted to tempt and distract the Buddha from reaching enlightenment. The creature’s most prominent feature is its single, enormous eye, said to carry a deadly curse—anyone who dares to look into it will fall ill with an incurable affliction.

Some scholars suggest that Girimehkala may be a demonized representation of Hindu deities such as Ganesha or Airavata. This interpretation reflects historical tensions and cultural exchanges between Buddhist Sri Lankans and Hindu Indians, particularly during periods of religious conflict and transformation.

In this composition, I interpret Girimehkala’s overwhelming power and mythological symbolism through the dynamic and expressive range of the wind symphony. The piece conveys not only the creature’s brute force, but also its deeper role as a spiritual obstacle, echoing Mara’s function in Buddhist teachings as a representation of temptation, illusion, and internal struggle.

Girimehkala received its world premiere on July 26, 2014, conducted by Dr. Thanapol Setabrahmana and performed by the Mahidol Wind Symphony during the Thailand Brass and Percussion Conference at the College of Music, Mahidol University. It was later featured again at the Thailand International Composition Festival 2025.