Hindu Gods have great importance in Thai culture, A culture that has got two ancient religions unique intertwined in its culture and tradition. Thailand is the land of Wat or temples; you could witness the grandeur of the Thai culture. You can find the gilded, pristine and serene statues of Buddha and bask in the serenity and divinity of these Wats. But while you are on a temple hopping trip, you realize and notice one very important detail. You might come across many Hindus God’s idols in some of them. Hindu God’s such as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Hanuman etc., frequently would make an appearance in Thai temples. Is that strange? Why is it normal to have a Hindu idol in a Buddhist temple? Read on to find out more. How Hinduism made a mark in Thai history and tradition? Today, almost 95% of Thai’s practice Buddhism, but that was always not the case. Thailand, long before it became Thailand, we know and love today, was divided into many kingdoms and ruled by different dynasties. One such kingdom was ruled by modern-day Cambodia under the mighty Khmer empire. The Khmer kings were Hindus, so when they ruled a part of Thailand, they brought Hinduism with them. With the passage of time, the Hindu practices, traditions, and more importantly, Hindu God’s started to become an important part of Thai culture and tradition. There are several examples to prove that, for example, the former capital city was named Ayutthaya after the birthplace of Lord Rama, Ayodhya. The famous Phanom Rung temple, which is built in Khmer style, is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva and represents the holy mountain known as Mount Kailash, which is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Even the national epic of Thailand is the Thai version of the Hindu sacred epic, Ramayana. The sanctity of these idols. Even though the Khmer empire has long gone from Thailand, but the traces of their religion still stand strong with Thai beliefs and practices. Many of these practices have seeped into Thai culture and are now considered an integral part of it. These idols are not as important in Thai Buddhist culture, but you cannot question their importance. For example, Thais don’t worship Hindu God Ganesh, but when they start a new venture or business, they pray to him as he is considered as remover of obstacles in Hinduism. Some of the famous Hindu idols are the statues of Yak in the grand palace or visit Erawan shrine, which is dedicated to Hindu God Brahma.
