Thai Guardian or Asura figurine

This wooden figurine is an example of a Thai guardian, known as an asura or a yaksha. These creatures have been prominent in Thai mythology for over 800 years. Though they can appear in various artistic mediums and sizes, they are most often wooden carvings of an impressive size, deliberately placed to protect a sacred entity from evil. Notable examples of asura guardians are found at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. These massive statues are striking to behold with their brightly painted armour and their grimacing expressions. They loom over twenty feet tall and are placed at every entrance of the temple to guard against evil spirits that might bring harm to the Emerald Buddha they protect. All twelve of these guardians are based on characters from The Ramakien, a Thai epic and creation story based on the ancient Sanskrit Ramayana text. Though asura guardians can have a variety of different physical characteristics, ranging from crocodile eyes and elephant trunks to an array of additional limbs, they are almost unanimously seen wearing warrior’s armour and holding a club firmly planted between their feet. This small wooden asura is an example of a handmade souvenir likely purchased in a market, as these wares became more commonly sought after by tourists in the last decades, all hoping to bring home something with “cultural significance”.

Bibliography

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Esterik, Penny van. “Interpreting a Cosmology: Guardian Spirits in Thai Buddhism.” Anthropos 77, no. 1/2 (1982): 1–15. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40460429.

“Giant Asura Guardians,” The Royal Grand Palace, accessed November 12, 2024, https://www.royalgrandpalace.th/en/discover/architecture/1.

Kadgaonkar, Shivendra B. “The Role of Animals and Birds in Ancient Indian Art and Culture.” Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute 68/69 (2008): 163–65. http://www.jstor.org/stable/42931202.

Luong, Tuan. “Best Souvenirs to Buy in Thailand: A Traveler’s Guide.” Last modified July 30, 2024. https://www.asiakingtravel.com/blog/souvenirs-thailand-guide.html.

Hannah Torchinsky