The Role of Shiva in Thai Folktales

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to compile Thai folktales and to study the roles of Shiva as portrayed in those folktales. Based on 30 Thai folktales, it is found that the role of Shiva is most frequently found in Southern Thai folktales, followed by the folktales from the central, the northern and the northeastern regions, respectively. Shiva’s roles in Thai folktales can be classified into seven groups: the giver, the conqueror, the helper, the world controller, the creator, the challenger (and also the one who is being challenged) and the educator. Although these seven roles played by Shiva in Thai folktales remain similar to those in Hinduism, it is found that certain modifications have been made in order to make Shiva’s role in Thai folktales appear more in line with Buddhist beliefs.