Phaya Thaen (Sky God)
Phaya Thaen (Lao: ພະຍາແຖນ, also known as Phi Thaen or Phi Fa) is the supreme sky god and creator deity in traditional Lao and Tai folk religion. He is the highest celestial being who rules over heaven (Muang Fa) and is responsible for sending rain, creating the world, and appointing kings. According to the Nithan Khun Borom chronicle, Phaya Thaen destroyed the corrupt first humanity with a great flood, sparing only three righteous chiefs. When they returned to earth, he sent a buffalo to help them cultivate; after the buffalo died, gourds grew and produced the new human races. He then sent his