What’s Your Buddha Day?

Thailand has so many interesting customs and traditions that are followed on a daily basis throughout the country. A lot of these traditions are shared traditions with Hindu (Indian) and/or Chinese ancestry that have migrated and evolved through the generations.

For example, the days of the week are celebrated just as much as the date or year of your birthday, based on an ancient Hindu astrological calendar. In India, each day of the week is assigned a color and each color represents a Hindu God who is known to protect the day. Whichever day your birthday falls on, certain personality traits can be pre-determined based on the deity known for that day. (Similar to the Chinese Zodiac.)

In Thailand, this practice is similarly followed. Each day of the week is assigned a color, but instead of a deity, a Buddha image is honored. The Buddha image conveys its message through distinct Buddha postures, with each posture representing an important moment in the life of Buddha according to the stories written after he died in 543 BC. Most Thai temples will have these images lined up with alms bowls in front for donations and it’s considered good luck to make merit (e.g., donate money to the temple) in front of ‘your’ Buddha image.

Below I have listed the days of the week, the color assigned, and the Buddha image represented:

· SUNDAY : Color Red, Buddha is standing with his hands crossed in front of his body. This posture represents the time after he reached enlightenment, because he was able to stand and continue deep meditation for long periods of time.

· MONDAY: Color Yellow, Buddha has one or two hands raised in a gesture of ‘pacification’. The message is to stop dispute and promote peaceful compromise, and can also be translated to live without fear.

*The current King was born on a Monday, so in his honor every image and flag associated with his throne holds the auspicious yellow color. (All of the royal member’s individual flags are painted in honor of their birthday’s color as well.)*

· TUESDAY: Color Pink, Buddha in the reclining position represents the time when he laid down, died for the first time and reached enlightenment.

· WEDNESDAY: Color Green, Buddha is represented in two postures: one for the morning, and one for the afternoon. One image is Buddha standing holding an alms bowl in front of him. Alms bowls are how monks receive donations and food and this gesture reminds us to be humble. Another image represented is Buddha seated with an elephant and monkey at his feet offering food. The image reminds us to be in tune with nature and kind to animals.

· THURSDAY: Color Orange, Buddha in the classic lotus pose for meditation. Meditation is essential for following Buddha’s path to enlightenment.

· FRIDAY: Color Blue, Buddha stands with both hands crossed in front of his chest, ‘contemplating.’ The posture reminds us to view the world carefully, open and aware that our direct experiences can be deceiving.

· SATURDAY: Color Purple, Buddha is seated and protected by the hood of a seven-headed snake, The Naga King. One day the Buddha was so lost in meditation he withstood wind and rain unknowingly. The Naga King protected the Buddha from the elements and made a seat from his coiled body. Today in temples, nagas and Buddha images go hand in hand since the snake is known as the ‘protector.’

I was born on a Tuesday, so my color is pink and my Buddha image is ‘the reclining Buddha.’ I think as a result of this, I have subconsciously acquired an insane amount of pink trinkets and accessories over the past few years…