• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pattaya Unlimited

Pattaya Trip Tips & Things To Do

  • Pattaya Guides
  • Things To Do in Pattaya
  • Thai Girls & Ladyboys
  • About This Blog
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Thailand Guides / Why is Thailand’s National Emblem Hindu

Why is Thailand’s National Emblem Hindu

Updated April 2, 2019 By Darren C

Why does Thailand use a Hindu God as it’s national emblem ?. First off let’s discover who this Hindu God is, The Hindu God used by Thailand as a national emblem is Garuda, known as ‘Krut’ in Thailand. In Hindu mythology Garuda (Krut) was the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, Garuda is half man, half bird, he has the body of a man but his head, his wings and talons are that of an eagle.

The reason Thailand as a Buddhist nation adopted Garuda, a Hindu God as a 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 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 an avatar or reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, it is this historic role which led to the adoption of Garuda as the national emblem of Thailand’s royalty many centuries ago. Garuda was not officially accepted as the national emblem until Rama VI officiated it in 1911, since then it has been used to officiate both royal and governmental documents.

Garuda may take on slightly different forms, as you see in the photos below, you will most commonly see examples of the first photo (below) on royal and government documents, and used by many official organizations such as banks as a motif or seal of approval. The statue form of Garuda in the second photo below is commonly seen on and around temples and official buildings.

Garuda Thailand Emblem
Thailand National Emblem (symbol) and Royal Seal of Approval.

Garuda
Garuda.

ShareTweet

Related Posts:

  • Make Ancestral Bones
  • Dancing to The Temple
  • Is Thailand a Land of Ghosts
  • Motorcycle Exhaust Pipe Burn
  • Raising the Chofah
  • Thailand Deities: Phra Rahu
  • Amazing Thailand Video Moments
  • Thailand Photos: Money Monks

Category: Thailand Guides Tags: Thai Life & Culture

Previous Post: « Pattaya Backpacker Hotels
Next Post: Pattaya Beach Resorts »

Primary Sidebar

Pattaya Visitor Guides

Pattaya Beginners Tips & Tricks

Pattaya High & Low Seasons

Getting Around Pattaya

Pattaya Dos & Dont's

Coronavirus in Pattaya

Pattaya For Men

Paying For Bar Girls, Sex in Pattaya

Pattaya First Time Guide For Men

The Naughty Thai Dating Site

Thai Girlfriend Experience

Top Places in Pattaya

Walking Street

Soi Buakhao

Pattaya Beach

Top Attractions in Pattaya

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

The Islands Near Pattaya

Flight of The Gibbon

Ramayana Water Park

Tiffany's Ladyboy Show

I'm Darren, a British ex-pat in Pattaya for more than 20 years and a blogger just passing on a few tips and things you might like to know about Pattaya. Read More…

FOLLOW

Facebook | Twitter

© 2009–2022 pattayaunlimited.com | Privacy | About