The following is a very abridged version of the story of Prince Kalaket, a traditional Lao folk story. The story is the subject of the mural paintings at Vat Had Siew in Chomphet. The photos below are taken from there.
Kalaket was a Boddhisattva (A future Buddha) in the heavens. He was sent down to earth together with his four wives by Lord Indra, but due to a storm they were all split up. Kalaket himself was born as a son to King Soulivong of Phalanasi whilst his fourth wife was born as Princess Malichan in Muang Phimon. The other three wives were born on earth as Kinnalee (Half human, half bird) to the Queen of Kailasa. But due to their strange appearance they were cast adrift down the river and eventually found and adopted by a hermit Pha Reusi.
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Kalaket grew up to be a handsome young man and one day came upon his father’s prize possession Manikap, a flying horse. Manikap immediately recognised Kalaket as a Boddhisattva and allowed him to climb on his back and fly away. After some time they landed on a sacred Banyan tree. There two birds also recognised Kalaket as a Boddhisattva and offered to serve him. He told them to fly back to Muang Phalanasi and tell his father that he would return in three years.
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Kalaket and Manikap flew onwards for a long time before coming to the Kingdom of Phimon. There Kalaket saw Princess Malichan who had grown up to be the most beautiful woman in the world. He followed Malichan for some time before revealing himself to her. The pair fell in love but Malichan’s father was furious when he heard of this illicit love. He arranged a trap which the following night killed both Kalaket and Manikap.
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Deep in mourning Malichan placed the two dead in urns and sent them down the river in a floating palace. Garuda, King of the birds, saw this strange palace and carried the two bodies to Pha Reusi. Lord Indra then provided Pha Ruesi with miraculous water which bought Kalaket and Manikap back to life. After learning martial arts and magic from the hermit and armed with the magic bow of Garuda, Kalaket flew back to Phimon with Manikap to formally request the hand of Malichan. But her father refused and a huge battle ensued between the king and Kalaket. Kalaket was victorious and the two young lovers flew away on the back of Manikap.
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Later the couple with Manikap came upon three Kinnalee who cast a spell upon them making them fall asleep. Whilst Manikap and Malichan slept, Kalaket was carried away to the Kinnalee’s palace where he was lost in enchanted pleasures. When Manikap and Malichan eventually awoke they spent many weeks searching in vain for Kalaket. Eventually Manikap came upon Pha Reusi at the same time that the three Kinnalee visited their adopted father. Understanding what had happened Pha Reusi commanded that the Kinnalee return Kalaket to his wife Malichan.
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Kalaket, Malichan and Manikap then flew away over a vast ocean until they reached the palace of Mithilat, King of the Naga. Seeing the beautiful palace gardens Malichan decided to bathe in the magical golden waters there. The naga king watched in secret and fell in love with Malichan, now covered in a golden glow from the waters. Casting a sleeping spell upon Kalaket and Manikap he abducted Malichan. She cried out to Lord Indra to save her who then broke the sleeping spell. When Kalaket and Manikap awoke a tremendous battle broke out with the naga king and his allies. Kalaket assisted by Malichan and Manikap was victorious. At the end Garuda persuaded Kalaket to show mercy for the life of King Mithilat whilst Lord Indra sent down a miraculous rain that restored to life all those killed in battle.
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The three Kinnalee now returned and repented their sins, offering themselves to be of service to Kalaket. Finally Prince Kalaket his wife Malichan and the faithful horse Manikap returned to Muang Phalansi where King Soulivong offered the throne to his son so that all could live in peace and harmony.