These giants from Buddhist mythology are the yaksha. These warriors keep away evil spirits (not me apparently) and can be seen at a number of  temples in Thailand. These are from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

There are guardian Yaksha but also evil Yaksha who haunt wild places and devour travelers. They seem to include a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious. They are associated with with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness.

Interestingly, male yaksas are either fearsome warriors or portly and stout. Females are known as yaksinis and are generally beautiful young women. The one above seems to have a well-developed chest, but we are told that this is supposed to be a male.

#Bangkok #Thailand