Erawan (Chang Sam Sian)
Three-Headed Erawan Elephant
A three-headed elephant facing straight towards you, surrounded by rings of Khom script, with seven spires and a stepped block of letters at the top.
✦Meaning & Background
The elephant stands facing forward, with an ornate headdress and a jewel on the middle head, tusks on every head and a decorated harness around the neck. Rings of Khom script enclose it, and at the top seven spires rise around a stepped block of letters. In the tradition Erawan is the white elephant and mount of the god Indra, and stands for strength, prestige and prosperity.
✦More about this design
The site already has elephants in the form of a god: Phra Pikanet and Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity who removes obstacles. This design does not show a god with an elephant's head but the animal itself: Erawan, the three-headed elephant, drawn from the front with three heads side by side, each with its own tusks. In the tradition Erawan is the white elephant and mount of the god Indra. Like the Garuda, the mount of Vishnu, he is a divine bearer, and he stands for strength, prestige and prosperity. The rings of Khom script enclose the elephant like a fence, while the seven spires at the top stand around a stepped block of letters, a structure that recalls the Nine Peaks. The design is round and symmetrical and works best on an area with a flat centre, such as the upper back or the chest. Browse all Sak Yant designs, read about all Sak Yant symbols or book an appointment.
✦Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as Ganesha?
No. Ganesha, called Phra Pikanet in Thailand, is a god with an elephant's head. Erawan is the elephant itself, with three heads, and in the tradition the mount of the god Indra.
Why does the elephant have three heads?
That is how Erawan is often depicted in Thai art. The three heads make him instantly recognisable and set him apart from an ordinary elephant.
Where is this design usually placed?
On the upper back or the chest, where the round shape with the spires above it can sit symmetrically.
