Singha
Twin Singha with Swords
Two mirrored singha with flame shaped manes and spiral hip marks, a sword in the jaws and an arc of Khom script.
✦Meaning & Background
The Singha is the mythical guardian lion that stands at the entrance of temples in Thailand. Here there are two, mirrored, with flame shaped manes, spiral marks on the hips and a sword in the jaws. As a pair they guard an entrance: anything that wants to pass between them has to get by.
✦More about this design
The Singha already appears on the site in several guises: as the guardian lion, as the sacred lion with victory flags and as the Singha with spiral energy. This design sets two of them side by side, mirrored, in the role they are most often seen in across Thailand: as a pair at an entrance. The flaming manes and the spirals on the hips are typical of the Singha in Thai imagery. The sword in the jaws makes the guardian role explicit. Anyone who combines this figure with Hanuman on the Singha gets the full story of rider and mount. Within all Sak Yant designs the Singha falls under protection. Read about all Sak Yant symbols to see the figure beside the tiger and the naga, or book an appointment.
✦Frequently asked questions
What is a Singha?
The Singha is the mythical guardian lion of the Thai and Buddhist tradition. You will find it as a statue at temple entrances, usually in pairs.
Why are there two of them?
Singha are traditionally placed in pairs, left and right of an entrance. This design follows that arrangement.
Is this the same as a tiger?
No. The Singha is a mythical creature with flaming manes and spiral marks; the tiger is a real animal. Both stand for strength, but the Singha explicitly in the role of guardian.
