Hinduism—Thailand
In the Buddhist Thai kingdom, the Hindus constitute about one-tenthof the population. However, various aspects of Hinduism are deeply entrenched in Thai society. Although it sometimes is difficult to distinguish the Hindu elements in Thai culture, Hinduism has survived in Thailand through the concepts of royalty, festivals, music, architecture, the pantheon of Hindu deities, language, and literature.
Although Buddhism is the major religion across Thailand, Hindu elements are also often present. Here, cleansing water is thrown over a young man in traditional dress at the Thai Buddhist New Year's festival in 1995. (KEVIN R. MORRIS/CORBIS)The Hindu dharmasastras (religious scriptures), the concept of kingship, and brahmanical rituals have become essential features of state formation, and rulers have legitimized their position with the help of brahmans (priests, phrams in Thai). These priests perform various rituals connected with royalty. In the rajyabhiseka ceremony (consecration), they invoke the blessings of Hindu deities and present royal regalia to the king, and Thai ceremonies adhere to the tenets of the Satapatha Brahmana and Aitreya Brahmana. The steed of the Hindu God Vishnu Garuda is the royal symbol of Thailand.
The influence of Hinduism is also ingrained in popular Thai culture. Icons of Hindu gods and goddesses have been discovered in ancient excavations, and sculptures of such icons as Parvati, Hanumana, Ganesha, Vishnu, Indra, and Brahma adorn wats (temples) in Thailand. Images of Ganesha, the patron of Thai arts, are sometimes installed in newly constructed buildings. Hindu deities are worshipped along with Buddha and phis (spirits). Even to the present, the Thai congregate at the Erawan shrine in Bangkok to invoke Brahma.
The Ramayana tradition is important in Thailand. In the process of adoption, the stories of Ramayana have been transformed into a Thai version known as the Ramakien. Performing arts forms like classical dance, masked plays, theater shows, and shadow plays have continuously used the themes of this classic. The Thai features in these works are so predominant that only the origin of the Ramakien remains as a nonindigenous element. An admixture of Hindu and Buddhist elements exists in the popular festivals like Loh Chingecha (swing ceremony), Loi Krathong (festival of lights), Baruna Satra (rain festival), and Songkran (astrological New Year). The brahmans also have a role in such family ceremonies as births, deaths, purifications, and weddings. The similarities of Thai beliefs in the existence of the other world with such Hindu concepts as savan (paradise) and narok (hell) and with the Hindu names for deities (devata), worship (pussa), and God (isuan) point toward the cultural interaction between Thailand and India. Thai society has shown a tremendous capacity to harmonize Hindu elements and yet retain its distinct identity.
Further Reading
Chu, Valentin. (1968) Thailand Today. New York: Thomas W. Crowell.
Coedes, George. (1968) The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. Honolulu, HI: East-West Center Press.
Dawee Daweewarn. (1982) Brahmanism in South-East Asia. New Delhi: Sterling.
Desai, Santosh N. (1994) Hinduism in Thai Life. Mumbai, India: Popular Prakashan.
Promsak Jermsawatdi. (1979) Thai Art with Indian Influences. New Delhi: Abhinav.
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