Bangkok, Thailand: The Story Behind the Impressive Serpent Statue at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport

If you fly out from the new Bangkok ‘Suvarnabhumi’ International Airport, the huge, colourful and impressive mythical statue popular in Thai and Indian culture, the 3-headed serpent Naga (his name Vasuki) in a spectacular tug-of-war scene with its mid-section body wrapped around a stone, which is actually a mountain, and Vishnu one of the supreme deities in Hindu is sitting on top, will greet you as you finish immigration and step inside the airport’s duty free shopping area.

You just have to stop and be dazzled by it.

The whole installation is impressive and as I took pictures I wondered what the story is behind this scene. After much googling around, I found out that the statue is very famous in Hindu culture and religion. This legendary scene is called ‘Samudra Manthan’ in other words in English – the ‘Churning of the Ocean of Milk’.

I have no idea why it is called the ocean of milk though, perhaps it is mere an expression of allegory.

There is no official state religion in Thailand but majority of the people practice Buddhism, however though, there is a strong pull of Hinduism as well. So I guess, this must have been a display of a rather strong not really mainstream statement in Thai culture and community. Installing an enormous Hindu scene, in an exceptionally prominent public place, in a largely Buddhist country. Hmm. I wish I have asked locals about their view on this, but this will probably have to wait until the next time around when I am in Thailand.

So the story about the churning of the ocean of milk is a cooperation arranged by Vishnu, the supreme god in Hindu culture and literature between the demons (Asuras) and the gods (Devas) to jointly churn the ocean so they can extract the highly coveted nectar of immortality. In order to do this they used Mount Mandara as the pivot, and Vasuki, the 3-headed king of serpents as the churning rod.

The Asuras then took the head-end of Vasuki and the Devas its tail-end forming a tug-of-war scene. In the middle where the body of Vasuki is coiled around Mount Mandara you will see Vishnu the supreme god on top and his incarnate turtle at the bottom providing support and balance.

So you can say this is a very interesting alliance between yin and yang. If you want to learn more if they were able to extract the elixir of immortality, I suggest reading the following sites:

Samudra Manthan
Ocean of Milk (Kshir Sagar)

And you really think I am just gonna give away the answer that easily! Ooops sorry, haha =)

So yeah, the search for the holy grail of immortality has been going on for centuries, and has captivated and haunted many cultures and literatures around the world. We do not have answers but people are not giving up, not even in our generation. Large pharmaceutical companies have put a great deal amount of money on researching for the ageless magic serum.

BUT -- Would you want to live forever? Stay young forever?

Well, there is only 1 immortal person I know though, and that’s Connor MacLeod in the series Highlander =)

QUICK TIP: There is a bas-relief depicting this churning of the ocean of milk scene in Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Ah, another place I want to visit in the nearby future.

Arriving here at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport with a huge welcome picture of the late king who recently died. Thailand is mourning 365 days for the loss of its king.

This is at the check-in counter area where you can find the multi-tiered roof Bushapaka Throne enshrining a Relinquary Urn of the Lord Buddha surrounded by many beautiful orchids.

The parents - my mom is over the moon with all the orchids.

And this is what greeted us after passing through immigration and into the duty free shopping area. Oh, you will have to ignore the tempting European upscale signature brand shops in the background though, hehe.

Vasuki in Hindu literature is the 3-headed king of serpents. On this end of the tug-of-war scene you can see the demons (the Asuras).

This tug-of-war scene is actually an alliance between the demons (left, on the head-end of the snake) and the gods (right, on the tail-end of the snake) to jointly churn the ocean for the coveted elixir of immortality by using Vasuki, the serpent as the churning rod and Mount Mandaru as the pivot. 

Vishnu, the supreme god in Hindu culture is standing on top of a sacred lotus flower on Mount Mandara the pivot of the churning of the ocean of milk.

At the tail-end part of the serpent, you can see the team of gods (the Devas).

Travel Period: November 2015
Destination: Samut Prakan (Greater Bangkok Area), Thailand

Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)

All pictures were taken by a point and shoot pocket camera or iPhone.