This story is taken from Thai Children's Favorite Stories - Fables, Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales by Marian D. Toth

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When lightning flashes and thunder roars, Thai mothers say, “Don’t be afraid, children. It’s only Mekhala flashing her crystal ball. She is teasing the cruel god of thunder, Ramasura.”.

Mekhala is a beautiful Thai goddess with sparkling black eyes and shining black hair. It is said she was born in the foam of the sea. She is the goddess of the streams, rivers and oceans of the world..

Ramasura is a demigod, half ogre and half divine and he carries a beautiful ax decorated with diamonds. He was born in a storm cloud, and to this day he wears a rain cloud as a cloak..

All the gods and goddesses are fond of Mekhala because of her happy, carefree manner. They delight in watching her tease those who are serious. Her favorite victim is Ramasura. He is not a popular god because, it is said, he is harsh, cruel and violent. Worst of all, he has a very bad habit of throwing his ax at those who offend him. Fortunately, Ramasura and Mekhala don’t meet often. Most of the year Mekhala stays in the palace of her husband, Siva, where she spends her time polishing her crystal ball..

Mekhala’s father had given her the crystal ball when she had married the great god Siva. “Now Mekhala, you must be a good wife to Siva,” he said. “My wedding gift to you is a sparkling crystal ball. It will amuse you and keep you occupied. You must always keep it polished, my child.”.

“Chai,” said Mekhala. “I shall do as you say, Father.”.

She kept her word, polishing her crystal ball until it sparkled like a brilliant star..

But polishing the crystal was Mekhala’s only task, and soon she became bored with her work..

“If I only had someone to talk to,” she sighed. “I do wish Siva would not leave me alone in this beautiful palace.”.

One day, when the monsoon season began, the gods and goddesses assembled in heaven to celebrate the life-giving gift of rain. They sang and danced as happily as mortals. As it was such a special occasion, Siva allowed Mekhala to attend the party. When she arrived, everyone stopped dancing and looked at her sparkling eyes, shining hair and her beautiful crystal ball that flashed beams of light into the sky..

When Ramasura saw the beautiful Mekhala he walked toward her. She flashed her jewel in his eyes and laughed at the huge god..

“Don’t you know who I am?” he roared..

Mekhala giggled and flew in and out of the fluffy clouds..

The winds whipped through the sky as Ramasura tried to find Mekhala. Most goddesses would have been terrified but Mekhala thought it was great fun to hide in the clouds and flash her crystal ball at Ramasura. She led him all over heaven as she skipped and giggled, diving into clouds and hiding in their mists..

The more she laughed, the more enraged Ramasura became. “I’ll catch that little teaser if it is the last thing I do,” he said..

No one could catch a goddess who darted as fast as a ray of sunlight, and it seemed as if Mekhala had escaped. Then, suddenly, Ramasura raised his arm and aimed his glittering ax at her. She flashed her crystal in his eyes and blinded him just as the ax flew from his hand with a thunderous sound. Again and again he hurled his ax at her, but his aim was always spoiled by the light from her crystal..

On a stormy night, look into the sky. That flash of lightning is the sparkle of Mekhala’s crystal ball. The roar of thunder is Ramasura’s ax rolling across the corridors of the sky. If you sit very still and listen carefully you may hear Mekhala’s tinkling laughter, and if the clouds should part suddenly, you may see a graceful goddess darting above the mists with a sparkling crystal ball flashing rays of brilliant light into Ramasura’s angry eyes.