Why does Thailand use a Hindu mythical creature as its national emblem? First off, let’s discover who the creature is. The Hindu creature used by Thailand as a national emblem is Garuda, known as ‘Krut’ in Thailand.
In Hindu mythology, Garuda was the vehicle (vahana) of Lord Vishnu. Garuda is depicted as half-man, half-bird; he has the body of a man, but his head, wings, and talons are of an eagle.
The reason Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist nation, adopted Garuda as its national emblem is not illogical; there is a long history of Hinduism in Thailand, and there are very close ties between Buddhism and Hinduism.
Thailand’s cultural roots are actually based on what you might call a religious and spiritual fusion of Buddhism, Hinduism and Animism, which is why so many Hindu deities such as Brahma and Ganesh are commonplace, and Animist Spirit Houses are found outside just about every household.
Hinduism has played an influential role in the Thai Royal Household for centuries. According to legend, the Kings of Thailand are closely connected to Lord Vishnu, and it’s this historic association that led to the adoption of Garuda as the national emblem of Thailand’s royalty many centuries ago. Garuda was adopted as the national emblem by Rama VI in 1911, and since then it has been used on royal and governmental documents.