Deities and Demigods portrayed in statues... Woman with water flowing from her hair

[RandomSand]

Could someone please point out the names of these statues which one often sees in Thailand. Some links for further reading would be great too.

The first too that I'm interested in are "the woman with water flowing from her hair" and "the snake or dragon serpent (Thai snake unlike Chinese dragon although might be the same)".

I'm aware of Dragon and Garuda already, although I don't see Dragon portrayed much as I see it, which is, expression of dynamic change. I see Garuda as expression of ascension, btw.

Edited February 27, 2014 by RandomSand

[camerata]

The woman wringing out her hair is Phra Mae Thorani (Dharani), the earth goddess, part of the Buddha's enlightenment legend. The serpents are called nagas. Mucalinda, king of the nagas, once sheltered the Buddha from the rain. Most of the strange, hybrid animals you see outside temples or depicted in murals are from the Himaphan Forest.

[fabianfred]

http://www.himmapan.com/about_himmapan.html

The popular statue of the female goddess with a Chinese following is Mae Kuan Yin is based upon a person who never existed...but follows the Mahayana liking for depicting a deity with certain positive attributes and perfections.

http://www.thaibuddhism.net/KwanYin.htm