Legends and myths of Thailand. Religion of Thailand - temples, mysticism and faith Thai gods names

Thai demons March 18th, 2011

There is a place where I always find myself at home. Homes are among His own. Among the Thai Demons.

In each country, I am interested in the local philosophy of the spirit, the relationship of man with religion and society, and knsh, cultural and national self-determination. Who are we? No one dominates anyone, because everything is Maya, and the key word that defines the view of the world is “lightness”. And even Shiva, destroying the world - Shiva is dancing!

The Thais very accurately captured this atmosphere (they generally took a lot from the culture of India, even the epic Ramayana, Ramakien in the Thai version). And they fused it even more famously with their main religion (Buddhism) and with local, tass, pre-religious, pagan folklore. In Tae, it is impossible to forget about demons even for a moment. Their statues, figurines and bas-reliefs are poked at every step (by the way, a wonderful tradition to note to other faiths). And, in general, the first impression is rather sharp - fanged-winged creatures are everywhere. In the airport building, on every building of the National Bank, in all the temple complexes ..... But Thai demons are a special song, compared to their other Yuvia relatives, whether Chinese or Laotian. Especially with Chinese ones, because there are a lot of Chinese figurines on the streets of Thailand.

Thais are very hospitable in terms of perception of foreign culture and religion. For them, everything is useful, which is not harmful)). Therefore, Chinese statues, brought, in general, by a banal cargo in the holds of empty ships returning from another voyage to China, are carefully placed on the streets and in the inner temple courtyards. But they differ in design from Thai statues))) This is what gave me the opportunity to understand the place of Thai demons in the cultural and religious consciousness of Thailand.

In general, there are few varieties of demons. This is, first of all, Yaks (huge fanged giants of human appearance) and their king - Ravana. Note - the king, not the leader, like a gang from the gateway, and not the "main demon", reeking of Sovietism)).

Also the Monkeys. What distinguishes them from demons ... but nothing, in general, distinguishes them. Except that instead of the feet of demons, the monkeys have monkey hands. The fangs are just as big, the size of a monkey with demons. In general, these are not green monkeys with bananas, but warlike wise mythical creatures that Rama, for example, attracted to his side in the war with demons. Both yaks and monkeys are depicted with open mouths and fangs (the tour guide said, "nothing, just to intimidate"). The motif of the rising tongue of flame is repeated everywhere in the clothes. Even if there are no clothes (hands, knees, neck), flames, symbolizing strength, are “tattooed” on every centimeter of the statue. Whether the yaks are friends with the monkeys or are at war - it is impossible to say for sure, it all depends on the situation of Ramakien. I think they are in neutrality, they say "nothing personal, friend, just Rama called to fight with you." For example, on the bas-reliefs of Wat Arun, demons and monkeys hold the temple walls on an equal footing. The demons supporting and holding the walls of the temple are a very indicative attitude towards life))).

I was very surprised by the distant relatives of the Greek sirens and other mythical aunts with breasts and tails - kinnaris, as well as their male variants - kinnons. They are even more neutral than yaks and monkeys, there is no harm or benefit from them, they have not been seen in wars and divine confrontations. That is, the Thais simply record their existence, without judgment.

I saw the Divine Garudas in fact, on all the buildings of the National Bank. I imagined them a little differently, but that's not the point. It is important that their images are where it is necessary to mark belonging to the royal (and other administrative) authorities. So, it's the 21st century in the yard, and a garuda is sitting on the building of the Water Resources Authority.

The rest of the demons are prototypes of ordinary animals. Bulls, horses, cats, toads.

Toads, by the way, live in abundance on the temple grounds, because there is water, an artificial waterfall, as well as bushes and everything is in stone. And, of course, on the stone steps, irrigated by a stream, in the shade of a bush, my beloved toad people at night expanse and happiness. Therefore, at night, the incessant toad Sankirtan stands over the territory of any temple, and the spotlights in absolute darkness illuminate 6-meter demons ..... Name day of the soul, I tell you, I would live there without hesitation))))))

A special place is occupied, of course, by lions. They sit in pairs at the entrances. The right one, as a rule, has a stone ball in the ajar mouth, which can be rolled by putting a hand in the mouth. The left ball has none. What this tradition is connected with, the guide could not say, which is a pity.
Lion at the entrance to the temple

Thais see demons as free beings of greater intelligence, physical and astral strength, and lesser moral standards. They do not oppose gods and demons, and there is not a single story in which a demon would harm a person. How sincerely the guide was puzzled, “why should he harm a person? Humans have their lives, demons have theirs. If there is a benefit - for example, to protect the king or the temple - then you need to invite the demons, because they are higher and stronger than people. From such the most correct logic, I wanted to howl and kiss all her people in the face of a thick, talkative secret))))))))) For age-old wisdom, for an uncomplicated look at the real state of affairs. Because you really want to stay surrounded by demons. Just sit next to them. Or stroking a demon cat with a demon kitten))) Or looking at a lion. Of course, I don't think the demon kitty is the cutest uxi-trigger animal. He is primarily a demon, albeit a small one. It is all the more dear and pleasant to observe the full life of demons and the appearance of their offspring. Such pictures give reassurance and faith that everything will be fine, and life goes on in this world, and the power has not yet left it))).

In the temple complexes, the motif of the tongue of flame is repeated everywhere. It is on the hilt of a sword held by a demon. It is carved on the backs of lions, lined with mosaics on the walls of temples. Even on the peaks of the roofs there is a certain alloy of the tongue of flame and the head of a demon warrior. Multiplying this by the amount of gold leaf on the walls and roofs of the temples, we get an incredible radiance of pure aggressive energy. The quintessence of aggression, a powerful fountain of power, ringing air, shaking you with the desire to take off "together with them." The temple complex and all its inhabitants, from the Buddha to the last demon frog, seem to be in your dream at the same time, and really, almost physically exude powerful boundless unbridled power. You are entering another reality through a portal. To the reality of demons, to the world of pure energy. This feeling is confusing, I want to touch each sculpture, try to find and feel this power with my hands. And the wings spread themselves.

We continue our excursion into Hinduism. Today we will talk about the beautiful companions of the Hindu pantheon and some of their descendants. By the way, many Indian gods and goddesses help in creativity, contribute to the removal of barriers and the achievement of well-being and prosperity. If you want to know the details, then read on ☺

As I already told in the post “Hinduism and the supreme Indian gods”, at the top of the Indian “Olympus” are the Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who form the Trimurti. Each of them has a wonderful life partner (or even all lives), of divine or human origin, but always with a very difficult fate. After they connected their lives and fate with their divine spouses, they became Shakti - deities (divine power, light), carrying female energy in the universe.

Companion of Brahma

The wife of Brahma is the beautiful goddess Saraswati, the patroness of the hearth, fertility, prosperity. In addition, she favors creators, giving special preference to writers of all stripes and musicians.

Saraswati is often called the river goddess, the goddess of water, moreover, her name is translated as "the one that flows." Usually Saraswati is depicted as a beautiful woman in white robes, seated on a white lotus flower. It is not difficult to guess that white is her color, symbolizing knowledge and purification from blood. Her clothes are rich, but, in comparison with the decoration of Lakshmi, they are very modest (we will get to Lakshmi later). Most likely, this indirectly indicates that she is above worldly goods, since she has known the highest truth. Also, her symbol is a light yellow blooming mustard flower, which is just beginning to form into buds in the spring during a holiday in her honor.

Saraswati, like Brahma, has four arms. And just like her divine husband, in other of them she holds a rosary, of course, white, and the Vedas. In the third hand she has a wana (national musical instrument), in the fourth - sacred water (she is not the dawn, the goddess of water). Often a white swan swims at the feet of Saraswati, which is also a symbol of her experience and wisdom in the knowledge of the highest truth. Saraswati is sometimes referred to as Hamsavahini, which means "she who uses the swan to move."

If you remember, last time I told you that according to one of the theories, humanity appeared as a result of Brahma's passion for his daughter Vak. This state of affairs does not suit some believers, therefore Vak is often positioned as one of the incarnations of Saraswati. Her other images may be Rati, Kanti, Savitri and Gayatri. The goddess is very popular in India, sometimes she is sometimes even called Mahadevi - the Great Mother. It is believed that if you name your daughter Saraswati, then she will study hard, and in her future home there will be prosperity and contentment.

Companion of Vishnu

As we remember, Vishnu came to earth 9 times in different avatars, and each time Lakshmi was his wife, naturally, in her different incarnations. The most famous and revered are Sita (when Vishnu was Rama) and Rukmini (Vishnu - Krishna).

But no matter how they call her in one way or another, no one doubts that this is Lakshmi. Lakshmi emerged from the depths of the Comic Ocean along with other treasures, so many revere her herself as a divine treasure. She, like a true woman, is both the strength and weakness of her chosen one, which has repeatedly been reflected in folk art, for example, in Ramayat. Often, her image overshadows Saraswati, as well as Vishnu Brahma, and it is on her that the role of the Great Mother of Mahadevi is shifted.

Lakshmi is traditionally depicted sitting on a pink or red lotus flower as a beautiful young woman, younger than Saraswati, wearing beautiful expensive clothes and jewelry. As a means of transportation, she usually uses a white owl. She, like the other gods, has four arms, but no obligatory items that she holds can be distinguished. Sometimes she is depicted with lotuses, sometimes with gold coins - which is enough for the artist's imagination. Lakshmi is incredibly popular in India, because, in addition to being the wife of the supreme deity, she also patronizes wealth, luck, luck, light, knowledge, wisdom, light, courage and fertility. She is a welcome guest in any home.

Surprisingly, but the fact is that in order to earn her favor, the following, already familiar to us, actions are mandatory. The goddess does not accept mess, if your house is full of garbage, dust, unused things, do not expect her to visit you. The air in the house should be fresh, be sure to have water in a decanter, a house plant (if there is no garden), candles and incense. The most favorable area for placing the image of Lakshmi is the southeastern part of the house. If you remember my post, then according to Chinese tradition, the wealth zone is located there, and the minimum measures to attract it come down to cleaning and airing. There is reason to think...

The offspring of Lakshmi and Vishnu is the god of love Kama. We all have heard a lot or little about the Kama Sutra, and so, if translated literally, it means "rules of love (lust)". By the way, poor Kama, seriously suffered from the god Shiva, which brought on the latter a serious wrath of Vishnu and Lakshmi. Kama, having fired an arrow of passion at Shiva, when he was in deep austerity and many years of meditation, in order to draw his attention to the beautiful daughter of the king of the Himalayas, Parvati. This angered Shiva so much that he incinerated Kama with his third eye. Under pressure from Vishnu, Lakshmi and other gods, he was forced to agree to the rebirth of the god of love. Despite all the efforts, Kama was reborn to life as anangoy (incorporeal) and now he is everywhere.

Companions of Shiva

Here we smoothly got to the love affairs of the great ascetic Shiva. There were many of them, depending on the form of its manifestation. Religious scholars did not agree on whether this woman was alone or not.

Here I will talk about them as different, because if all this variety of forms and essences is “thrown” into one character, I’m afraid I myself will get confused. Naturally, I can’t write about all of them either, so let’s focus on the most revered ones.

Devi means "goddess". Devi is especially revered among the followers of Tantra. Goddess Devi "contains the whole world in her womb", she "lights the lamp of wisdom" and "brings joy to the heart of Shiva, her Lord". Today in India, rituals dedicated to Devi are often performed on the eve of the wedding, and, as we understand, the religion of the spouses is of no interest to anyone ☺

Sati - "true, immaculate." Sati was the daughter of the king (god?) Daksha. On the day of her coming of age, he sent out an invitation to all the gods, with the exception of Shiva, so that Sati could choose a worthy husband for herself. He believed that Shiva was behaving unworthy of the gods, spoiling their name and essence. When Sati entered the hall and did not see the only one whom she worshiped and whose wife she dreamed of becoming, she offered him a prayer with a request to accept the wedding garland. Shiva accepted her gift and Daksha had no choice but to marry Sati to him. But the story didn't end there. Daksha decided to arrange a huge sacrifice in honor of the gods, again depriving Shiva of his attention. This act outraged Sati and she came to his house without an invitation, claiming that Shiva is a god above all gods. Defending the honor of her husband, she herself stepped into the sacrificial fire and burned in its flame.

Upon learning of the death of his beloved, Shiva was distraught with grief. With his servants, he came to Daksha's palace and killed him and his followers. After that, with the body of his beloved in his arms, he danced his divine dance 7 times around all the worlds. The crazy rhythm of his dance brought destruction and sadness to everything around, the scale of the disaster reached such a volume that they forced Vishnu to intervene, who, in order to stop this crazy dance, cut Sati's body into several parts and they fell to the ground. After that, Shiva came to his senses, repented of the murder of Daksha and even returned his life to him (albeit with a goat's head, since his original one was lost).

Uma - "Graceful". There is a version that she is the rebirth of the goddess Sati, but skeptics are inclined to believe that Sati's body was cut into several parts and fell into different places, so that she could not be reborn in a single image. Her name is sometimes associated with Barhma, as she is his intermediary in communicating with other gods. Based on this, Uma is the patroness of oratory. Also, Uma became the cause of the divine conflict when the servants of Brahma caught her in the arms of Shiva in the sacred forest. He was so angry that he condemned any male, regardless of his species, to turn into a female, as soon as he entered the territory of the forest.

Parvati - "mountain". Another possible reincarnation of Sati, the daughter of King Himvan, the ruler of the Himalayas. The girl loved Shiva very much, but he did not pay any attention to her and was completely absorbed in meditation and austerity. In the end, the Gods could not stand the suffering of the beautiful Parvati and sent Kama to awaken passion and desire in him, for which, poor fellow, he paid the price. Paying attention to the beauty and devotion of the girl, Shiva nevertheless considered her unworthy, and she was forced to perform difficult ascetic feats for many years in order to achieve his favor. In the end, she succeeded, and she became not only the beloved wife of Shiva, nor the mother of his son Ganesh.

Ganesha is one of the most popular characters, even in countries where Buddhism is the main religion, he is still revered. For example, in the north of the Thai city of Chiang Mai there is absolutely stunning. It is very easy to distinguish him from all the other gods - he is the only one with an elephant head. By the way, according to one version, his own father Shiva deprived him of his human head, who did not recognize his son in the grown-up Ganesha and was jealous of Parvati for him. In order to revive his son, he ordered the servants to kill the first animal that came across and bring his head to the palace. By coincidence, it turned out to be the head of an elephant, which Shiva attached to the place of his son's head in order to resurrect him and calm the inconsolable Parvati.

As a means of transportation, Ganesha uses a white mouse, so Hindus do not favor cats - as they eat mice and cause Ganesh's wrath. And no one wants his anger, on the contrary, they crave his favor. After all, Ganesha is considered the patron of wealth, the remover of obstacles, he helps to increase earnings and profits, and also stimulates success in studies and profession. For these purposes, a Ganesh figurine is often placed on the desktop or at the cash desk, and special mantras are also sung, for example: OM GAM GANAPATHAYA NAMAH or OM SRI GANESHAYA NAMAH.

Durga means "impregnable". There are many legends associated with the appearance of Durga, but one of the most popular is the following. Once the king of the giants Mahisha defeated the gods, deprived them of everything and expelled them from their dwellings. Then, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined their powers and released dazzling rays of light from their eyes, from which emerged the Warrior Goddess with three eyes and eighteen arms. Then each of the gods gave her his weapon: Brahma - a rosary and a jug of water, Vishnu - a throwing disc, Shiva - a trident, Varuna - a shell, Agni - a dart, Vayu - a bow, Surya - a quiver of arrows, Indra - lightning, Kubera - a mace , Kala - shield and sword, Vishvakarma - battle axe. Mahisha was inflamed with passion for Durga and wished to make her his wife, but he said that he would submit only to the one who defeated her in a fight. She jumped off her tiger and jumped on the back of Mahisha, who took the form of a bull to fight. With her feet, she struck a blow with such crushing force on the head of the bull that he fell senseless to the ground. After that, Durga cut off his head with a sword.

Kali means black. Probably the most controversial goddess of the Hindu pantheon, one of the most beautiful and at the same time dangerous. Her skin is black, a great warrior and a great dancer, like her husband Shiva. She is usually depicted wearing expensive clothing with a necklace of skulls and a sash of severed hands. Most often, she has four hands: in one she holds a bloodied sword, in the other - the head of a defeated enemy, and the other two hands bless her subjects. That is, it simultaneously carries both death and immortality. During the battle, she pulls out her tongue to drink the blood of her victims (by the way, according to many theories, it is Kali who is the prototype of Lilith and vampires). Sometimes she is depicted standing with one foot on her chest, and the other on the hip of prostrate Shiva. This is explained by the following legend. Having defeated the giant Raktvija, she began to dance in joy, and her dance was so passionate and unbridled that it threatened to destroy the earth and the whole world. The gods tried to exhort her, but all was in vain. Then Shiva lay down at her feet, while Kali continued to dance until she saw her own husband under her feet. She was ashamed of her own fury and disrespect shown to the great god that she stopped in her tracks. By the way, Shiva quite easily forgave her.

Among the companions of Shiva there are also Jagadgauri, Chinnamustaka, Tara, Muktakesi, Dasabhuja, Singhavanini, Mahishamandini, Jagaddhatri, Ambika, Bhavani, Pithivi, etc., you can’t remember them all ☺ .

Well, here, perhaps, the end of the fairy tale, whoever read it to the end - well done ☺! I hope you were interested.

Thai traditional culture has very ancient roots. But it received especially rapid development in the 11th-12th centuries with the penetration of Buddhism in its Theravadian version into the territory of modern Thailand. This is due to the fact that until the 11th century, these territories were ruled partly by the Khmer empire, partly by the Lao kingdom of Champassak, and partly by the Mon empire of the Burmese. The Thai tribes adopted religion from these peoples in the form in which it was formed among them. And here the influence of the Khmers in the first place was enormous. Until the 10th-11th centuries, the dominant religion on the territory of the Khmer Empire was Hinduism, which was also adopted by the southern Lao tribes. But the Mon empire of the Burmese spread Buddhism. And so a special conglomerate of the Theravada religious teachings arose. That is why in the material culture of modern Thailand there is such a strong element of the Brahmanistic religious culture, which is expressed in numerous picturesque and sculptural images of mythological creatures that came from the Vedic traditions of Hinduism.

Everywhere in Thailand, as well as in neighboring countries (Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar), you can see many sculptural incarnations of mythological creatures worshiped by Theravada Buddhists. A large number of such monuments can be found at the entrance or on the territory of Buddhist monasteries, on city squares.

Iravan(Erawan, Airavatta). A multi-headed elephant (usually depicted as a three-headed one), on which the Hindu god Indra sat. The elephant in Hinduism symbolizes 33 celestial spheres, so in fact it is considered not 3 heads, but 33 heads. You can also find images of this elephant with the deities Indra or Ganesha sitting on it. Sometimes at Iravan one can see not two tusks at each head, but four or even six. Iravan is often included in the composition of heraldic images. Previously, he was depicted in the coat of arms of Siam, before the 1975 revolution, his image was the royal coat of arms of Laos. In the province of Samut Prakan, Thailand, a whole Hindu complex was built, crowned with a giant sculptural image of Iravan.

Ganesha(in Thai Pra Pikanesavora or Pra Kanet). A deity depicted with a human body and the head of an elephant, one of whose tusks is broken. According to legend, he was the son of Parvati, created from leather mixed with oil and water from the Ganges River. In a fit of anger, the god Shiva beheaded Ganesha, promising to return his head, and he returned his head, but not human, but the head of an elephant. Ganesha broke his tusk in anger, throwing it at the moon because she laughed when she saw him. Ganesha is considered the patron of the arts and business. He is especially helpful in new business ventures. Therefore, often his sculptural images can be found on the central streets of cities, in office blocks. There is also an image of Ganesha sitting on the back of the three-headed elephant Iravan. The worship of Ganesha is one of the oldest in Theravada Buddhism. Archaeological finds on the territory of ancient Thai, Khmer and Lao cities clearly prove this. In those days, it was also believed that Ganesha patronizes wise and just rulers, so precious sculptures of Ganesha are almost always found in excavations of palace complexes.

Torani(Me Pra Torani). One of the most common sculptural and bas-relief images in Thailand and Laos, representing the deity of the Earth. At a time when the demon Mara tried in every possible way to interfere with the enlightenment of the Buddha, Torani helped the Buddha, pouring water from her hair on him and saving him from thirst, as well as dispersing the demons of the cardinal points. Torani was also the first witness to the actual enlightenment of the Buddha. Picturesque images of Torani are present in all Buddhist temples, sculptural images can often be found on the streets and squares of cities. The Democratic Party of Thailand has chosen the image of Torani as its coat of arms.

Indra(Pra Intra). The Vedic god of the heavenly spheres Tavatimsa. He is included in the triad of the main gods along with Shiva and Vishnu. Also the god of war, weather, the first among the gods. His image always represents his face and body in green. In the traditional performances of the Ramayana theater, which is widespread in some provinces of Thailand and almost everywhere in Laos, he is an indispensable character - his mask is always green. In his hand he holds a trident or an axe. Sometimes, together with a trident or an ax, he also holds a throwing disc, which was a melee weapon. There are images of him sitting astride the elephant Iravan. There are not so many sculptural images of him, mostly they can be found on the territory of monasteries, multi-confessional complexes or in parks.

Kinnari(Kinarin). A mythical creature half-man, half-bird (but not Garuda). They are both female (then they are called kinnari) and male (their name is kinnaburut). Their head is crowned with a special precious headdress - a child, on the model of which the monarchs of Southeast Asia had their royal crowns. Sometimes there is a statue of a kinnari, one leg of which is entwined with the tail of the Naga serpent, with which the kinnari, like Garuda, fought. The largest kinnari figure is located in the main Bangkok Buddhist shrine on the territory of the Dusit complex.

Naga(Nagarai). The mythological serpent (cobra), with which dozens of legends are associated, both of the general Buddhist and Hindu cults, as well as numerous local legends cultivated among the population of the Mekong basin. True, the modern inhabitants of the banks of the river, when asked about the legends associated with Naga, only smile skeptically in response and say that their fathers do not even remember the appearance of even a simple anaconda here. I admit, it even disappointed me a little. However, the festival dedicated to Naga (in Thai it is called บั้งไฟพญานาค - bangfai payanak) is celebrated today in the Nong Khai province of Thailand and in Laos. A picturesque image of Naga can be found almost everywhere in monasteries, and his sculptural statue is generally found in Southeast Asia almost at every turn. In any case, the traditions of Buddhist art have long used the statue of Naga as a decoration for stairs leading inside temples. There is another mythological serpent named Ananta. But in the mythical culture of our time, these two characters have long merged into one. In Thai artistic tradition, there is an image of a snake called Anantanagarai. It is also the name of one of the royal yachts, the bow stern of which is a seven-headed serpent. In Laos, images of this creature are also widespread, the gilded funerary royal hearse is also made in the form of Nagarai. As a rule, the snake is depicted with three or seven heads on one snake body. The serpent either covers the meditating Buddha with its open neck parachute like an umbrella, or fights with Garuda or Kinnari, or protects the dream of the god Narai under the golden lotus on which Brahma sits, or simply guards the entrance to the shrine. By the way, according to Hindu mythology, it was Naga who first listened to the teachings of the Buddha.

Hongse(Hang Hong). Another mythological creature with the head of a dragon bird, a long body and a tail with large crests, which has long become part of the artistic culture. Sometimes this snake is depicted with short legs. Images of this creature are common not only in the countries of Southeast Asia, but also in China, on the Korean Peninsula. Many of the tops of Buddhist pagodas are made in the form of the head of this mythological creature. This style of ornamentation of temples was called bai rak. One of the royal yachts of the Thai king is called Sufannahongse, her hull is made entirely in the form of this creature.

Yak. His sculptural images are especially common in Thailand. This is a mythological character who guards the treasures of the gods and devours greedy people who are eager to take possession of these riches. These beings, if female, are called Yakshi. In traditional artistic culture, sculptures can often be found at the entrance to Buddhist monasteries, as well as in parks and large areas of cities. Due to some external resemblance, Yak is sometimes confused with Rahu. However, Rahu is a legless mythological character and therefore it is not difficult to distinguish him. In addition, Rahu is depicted most often holding and examining the solar or lunar ball, respectively, red or yellow, while Yak is always armed with a long sword. The most ancient images of Rahu date back to the 3rd century BC. This is especially interesting from the standpoint that the Hindus knew long before the Europeans what the actual geometric shape of the planets was.

Trimurti(Pra Trimurti). Such or similar statues of three-faced creatures are also often found in Thailand, as well as in Cambodia and Burma. Initially, the Vedic cult provided that the three faces are the three aspects of Agni, Indra and Surya. Later in Hinduism there was a semantic transformation of this image, which began to symbolize the trinity of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. In Thailand, open chapels with such sculptures are often found, called ตรีมูรติ - Pra Trimurti. Of course, this is far from a complete description of Hindu and Theravadian mythological creatures, often embodied in works of landscape gardening, temple and urban applied art. In fact, you can meet many more statues, one way or another representing mythology and religion, as well as popular beliefs and legends.

Lac Muang. Sacred pillars of the city (หลักเมือง). The taller spirit pillar of Bangkok dates back to the time of the first king of the Chakrin Dynasty, Rama I. The other one dates back to the reign of King Mongkut. According to the ancient belief of the Thais, the sacred spirit of the city is in such columns, protecting it from all kinds of invasions of enemies and epidemics. Almost every city in Thailand has such Lak Muangi. The tradition of establishing such kologgs existed long before the founding of the capital in Rattanakosin (Bangkok), but it was with the accession of the Chakrin (Chakri) dynasty that it became most widespread. Already in the 18th century, such columns were erected at the entrance to the largest cities, which was supposed to emphasize the belonging of this territory to the king and his sovereignty over the city. When in 1944 the dictator Pibupsongkram decided to move the capital of the state from Bangkok to Phetchabun, he ordered the construction of the giant Lak Muang there. However, his plans to move the capital did not come true. In 1992, a special law allowed all provincial capitals to build such columns at the entrance. Over time, the forms of such Lak Muangs began to vary. Many cities built Lac Muang in the traditional Chinese style of arched gates with pagoda tops. In 2007, a gigantic modern Lak Muang, also in Chinese style, was erected in Bangkok.

Experienced tourists talk about the "Thai effect". Like, you come back from there and in the familiar world you can’t find a place for yourself. You get used to bright colors, spicy tastes, intoxicating aromas so much that everything seems bland at home ... Do you want to check if this is so? And what kind of civilization is Thailand?

"The land of a thousand smiles" - this phrase about Thailand has become a textbook and is present in every guidebook. But there is not a drop of exaggeration in these words! Here you are so sincerely smiled that it seems that all the people are happy about your arrival. No, these are not glossy smiles a la "everything is OK", it's a matter of mentality.

Thais are Buddhists, and strongly believers: you will be convinced of this when you see that incredible number of temples and houses of spirits with gifts - either near skyscrapers or near the huts of the poor. The main thing for them is peace in the soul, and by some miracle the people manage to adhere to this principle in life. Perhaps that is why Thailand smiles like the Cheshire Cat.

Another detail that strikes on the spot is a bizarre mixture of the modern world and Asian exoticism. You can look at multi-level tracks for more than one hour: they shock and fascinate. And right there - right on the streets of the city - you can easily see an elephant walking around. A friend who visited Thailand a couple of years ago told me how he felt in the market that someone was reaching into the pocket of his jeans. I looked around - and saw ... an elephant calf. He was discouraged, shocked, then touched almost to tears and bought the baby some kind of sweetness.

In general, what to say, it immediately becomes clear: Thailand is some other planet with its own laws and way of life. And here, on this completely incomprehensible land, you are sincerely welcome ...

Bangkok: in the City of Angels

Even if you have traveled all over the world, the capital of Thailand will still shock you! This Asian City of Angels seems to be stuck between the past - spicy, exotic - and the future - ultra-modern, incredible!

It feels like you have been thrown 50 years into the future in a time machine. These Bangkok multi-level tracks - I have not met a person who would not admire their complex structure and aesthetics.

In general, Bangkok is a solid eclecticism. Imagine: on these chic roads, luxurious cars drive imposingly, between which local tuk-tuks scurry impudently. I highly recommend pro-rolling on this miracle of local technology - with a breeze! And be sure to see the city from the water...

Here is another comparison: the capital of Thailand is often called the Asian Venice, because the city is literally pierced by the channels of the "mother of waters" - Chao Phraya. With one personal correction: Bangkok is cooler! Feel free to get into a sharp-nosed boat and go on an excursion.

And as you wish, but it is necessary to get to the floating market - because you will not see SUCH anywhere else! It seems that all the merchants of the world have flocked here with their goods! I was especially struck by the fact that on these boats, right on an open fire, people cook food ...

Travel by tuk-tuk - 20-40 baht (depending on the distance). In general, everything here is cheap, especially food: fresh fruits - for a penny, literally for a hryvnia-five (coconut, pineapple, papaya and many other unknown things). They even sell candied locusts!

Thai food

This country loves to eat! But meat, fish and even fruits are served with a mixture of incredibly hot spices. Here they cook around the clock! In any case, whenever you go out into the street, even at night, you will not remain hungry on the road. And in the morning you will find a chic selection of edibles in general. And everything smells so appetizing, it looks so appetizing that it’s impossible to pass by!

With his dishes, Tai beckons and seduces - and always successfully! Something is fried and sizzling on the fire, pieces of meat or shrimp are languishing on the grill, nearby merchants offer fruits and sweets ... In general, it is simply unrealistic to refuse all this splendor! And why? But when you take food - warn that you don’t need to put seasonings!

You can eat in a restaurant for 10 USD. e. per person. Lunch on the street will cost one dollar (give or take): you can buy a large bowl of rice with vegetables and chicken, coconut juice and a fruit dessert.

Phi Phi Islands

The twin islands are quiet, virgin nature, excellent diving. There is everything for a tired resident of the metropolis. By the way, it was on the islands that "The Beach" was filmed with Leonardo DiCaprio.

It is very beautiful in here! And again there is an impression that you were sent in a time machine, but now 100 years (or even more) back into the past! To tell the truth, I did not watch the film "The Beach", but when I got to the very snow-white coast where this movie was filmed, I was delighted. A small piece of land seems to be sprinkled with sugar and surrounded by rocks on all sides. I immediately wanted to sit on the sand and stare at the emerald sea (it really is there!), at kayaks with couples riding, I wanted to slowly enter the water and swim to my heart's content. Although there are deeper waters near other islands, and coral reefs, and a lot of all sorts of sea monsters ...

You can spend the night on the mainland, a room in a four-star hotel is about 150 USD. e. per day (with breakfast). There is also accommodation on some islands - both free on the beach and respectable - in an expensive five-star hotel.

Photo in text: Depositphotos.com

Text by Ivan Davidenko