MONSTERS, CRYPTIDS AND SUPERNATURAL CREATURES
PENANGGAL
Penanggalan
A nocturnal vampiric creature, that appears as a floating, disembodied woman's head with its internal organs still trailing beneath. Throughout the daytime and whenever her head is still attached to her torso, this strange creature is, for all intents and purposes, a living human being. Once night falls, the she will soak her organs in vinegar to shrink them for easy entry back into her body, before setting out in search of prey, the penanggal thus carries an odor of vinegar wherever she flies. Even in her human form, she will carry this strong smell, making it possible to detect one from an ordinary woman. It’s favoured meal is the blood of mothers and their newborn children and will extend it’s long tongue into the house of the victim, lapping up blood spilt during childbirth. It will not only drink the blood of the child, but devour its flesh entirely. Due to its preferred food it will, quite often, seek out work as a midwife or any profession, that will grant it access to pregnant women and children, therefore tradition states one must be very wary when choosing a midwife and if she smells of vinegar, she must be cast out immediately. Any whose blood the penanggal feeds upon contract a fatal wasting disease. Even if she is not successful in her attempt to feed, anyone who is merely brushed by her entrails will suffer painful open sores that will not heal without a bomoh's help.
Physiology:
Appears as a disembodied female head with its entrails hanging below, these organs, as well as her long, tangled hair are said to act like tendrils and can be used to manouvre or entangle victims. The head is described as having a mouth filled with sharp teeth and an extendable, extremely long invisible tongue, which is used to feed. In some cases the eyes are said to be piering and red.
Etylmology:
The namederives from the word "tanggal" meaning to remove or take off.
History:
Every village and town has its array of monsters and mythological creatures, many of which have sprung from thousands of years of folkloric traditions. The Pananggal is one that stems from Malay ghost myths and exists by different names in every country of Southeast Asia.
Territory:
Malaysia
Origination:
The penanggal is not an undead being, but a witch, whom has the ability to transform in to such a horrifying creature through black magic.They are said to meditate during a ritual bath in vinegar, with the entire body submerged except for the head. Modern legends offer alternative views, such the result of a curse, or the breaking of a demonic pact. One story tells of a young woman whom was executed for murder. She was hung and her feet attached to a bull, tearing her head from her body, entrails and all. By morning the head and organs were gone and unwittingly the Penanggal was created.
Nature:
Molevolent and predatory. Will purposefully seek out and target young mothers and their children, even going as far as to take on positions, that enable her to be closer to her intended prey, such as a midwife. The penanggal is a deceiptful and secretive creature with no regard for its food source, infecting it with disease, when it has had its fill rather than allowing it to make a recovery.
Modus Operandi:
Will Hide its headless, vulnerable body somewhere safe whilst the head is detached. The head will seek out its prey, remaining outside of a dwelling, usually on a neigbouriing rooftop and search for an opening, even as small as a crack or hole and extend its long , sharp, invisible tongue inside, where its victim is sleeping to feed on them.
Vulnerability:
The Penanggal's organs are its most vulnerable part and can easily be damaged by physical attacks from most sharp objects, such as scissors or knives, although getting close is not recommended due to the fatal disease it inflicts by mere contact with its entrails. The safest method is to locate its body and either sanctify or destroy it, preventing the penanggal from reattaching to it before sunrise. Otherwise filling the neck cavity with broken glass will sever the internal organs of the Penanggal when it reattaches. Another action is to turn the body, so that when the head reattaches it will be reversed, thereby revealing to everyone what she really is. Tradition suggests scattering the thorny leaves of the mengkuang plant or broken glass around windows to either snare or injure the exposed organs of the penanggal.