Why Thailand Has Hindu Statues at Buddhist Temples
All of Thailand’s temples are unique in its own way. Ranging from electrifying Grand Palace in Bangkok to the local temples hidden in Soi, Thailand holds pride in each. The most surprising element is the presence of Hindu Gods like Ganesh and Shiva. Thailand is the land of Buddha. So Buddhist statues mark it’s peak in Thailand. However, the Hindu idols grabs the attention. Confused? Give this article a read to find out the mystery of Hindu deities in Thailand’s temples. Happy exploring!!!
A Hindu Backdrop: Now if you visit Thailand, 95 percent of the people are Buddhists. However, this was not the case previously. Even before the name Thailand came into existence it had a very rich Hindu past. It was ruled by many Kingdoms. One Kingdom after another rotated and Thailand created it’s history on the sands of time. Among all the ruling empires, the most powerful was the Khmer Empire. This was totally a Hindu Empire. The region where they ruled is modern day Cambodia. Due to their Hindu practices, this religion spread to diverse parts of the world including modern day Thailand. The land and Culture of Thai began to be shaped under the feathers of Hinduism. This was due to the Hindu rule of the Khmer dynasty. The Thai Culture traces back its roots into Hinduism. The Sindhu Culture is the foundation brick of Thailand. A very popular example in this can be that Thailand’s former capital Ayutthaya was named after Ajodhya in India. It’s the birthplace of Lord Rama. The Phanom Rung temple in Issan is dedicated to Lord Shiva who forms one of the most important deities of the Hindu mythology. It’s built in Khmer style. It represents the pious and tranquil sight of Mount Kailash which is the sacred dwelling place of Lord Shiva. Even the national epic of Thailand is the later manifestation of the Hindu epic Ramayana. It’s called Ramakien. It has been derived from the life of Lord Rama in Ramayana. So next time you visit Thailand don’t forget to take pride in our own Hindu mythology which has been so beautifully depicted in the Thai Culture.
Holy Idols: The Khmer Dynasty is long gone. Despite of this fact Thailand still carries it’s legacy in the form of Hindu statues in Buddhist temples. There are many Buddhist temples in Thailand which still has Hindu statues. It stands proudly side by side with the Buddhist statues. This credit can be given solely to the secularist policy of Buddhism. Buddhism as a religion is open to all religions. It’s unlike the Abrahamic religions which practice monotheism. They are quite strict in their practices. Buddhism on the other hand welcomes Hinduism with open hands. Besides the records of Hindu past in Thailand suggests that the Thai Culture descends from Hinduism. Only the names of the deities differ. This is quite understandable as their dialect though quite analogues to the Sindhu dialect, differs in tone and structure. For instance the Hindu god Ganesh is known as Phra Pikanet in the Thai Culture. The statue of Ganesh can be commonly seen in Thailand. Though the Thai people do not normally worship Ganesh in all circumstances but they do in certain occasions. Ganesh is worshipped as a remover of hindrances and a patron of arts and crafts. When opening new start-ups in Business, people pray to him as he is the god of good things. Ganesh can be commonly seen along with the Statues of Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Indra and Lord Vishnu. They are represented in Thai Shiva as Phra Isuan, Brahma as Phra Phrom, Indra as Phra In and Vishnu as Phra Narai. These deities may not be the most celebrated as of Buddha in the Thai Culture but they still are important Gods. They are still worshipped after so many years of Khmer Dynasty declined. So if you visit Thailand don’t miss these deities to enjoy the fusion of two cultures. They are sure to give you some positive vibes.
Where to find them: All over Thailand, you can visualise Hindu statues. However, the most notable ones can be found in Suvarnabhumi Airport and Bangkok’s Grand Palace. The stunning statues of Hindu giants that is the Yaks can be found there. The Erawan Shrine in Bangkok forms an important tourist destination. It houses a small yet magnificent golden statue of Lord Brahma. It saw the attack of terrorists as well. In our previous article, we gave a complete guide to these statues. So if you haven’t yet read it, go up and give it a good read. The Ganesh statue in Chachoensao Province is equally admirable. Near Bangkok, this temple houses many such sculptures of Ganesh. The whole of Thailand is filled up with grand statues of Hindu deities to drive you crazy. So if you are an enthusiast in Culture, Thailand awaits for you.
Quite aptly, Thailand is the land of Culture. It can make you a cultural maniac by its exceptional style of craftsmanship. So do visit and appreciate Thai’s rich cultural heritage depicting the Hindu mythology at its best. Stay connected with us for more. Take care and stay tuned.