What is the Meaning of the Buddha Postures in Thai Temples?
There are seven main Buddha postures in Thai culture; one (or sometimes two) for each day of the week. These are known as the 7 Buddha Postures for the Days of the Week, and each has a unique meaning based on a significant moment in the Buddha’s life. If you’ve visited a Thai temple (called a Wat), you may have seen a row of Buddha statues in different poses: standing, sitting, or reclining. In many temples, seven or eight statues are placed side by side, often with small donation bowls in front of them.
Many visitors see these statues without realising what they represent. Each one is linked to a specific day of the week and reflects an important story or teaching from the life of the Buddha. According to Thai tradition, you should pay respect to the Buddha image that corresponds to the day you were born. While there are more than seven known Buddha postures, these weekly ones are the most commonly seen in temples in Bangkok or Temples in Phuket. During our research around Phuket, we even came across some slight variations in explanations and statue styles.
The Meaning Behind Buddha Statues
The Buddha, a spiritual teacher who emerged in what is now northern India during the 5th century BCE, founded Buddhism and is revered for attaining full enlightenment, a profound state of understanding and freedom from suffering. Within Buddhist art and temple practices, you’ll notice the Buddha depicted in numerous poses, each accompanied by specific hand gestures known as mudras. These aren’t merely decorative; they carry real symbolic weight, each one connected to particular events in his life, stages of his spiritual development, or lessons he imparted to his disciples. In Thailand, especially, these visual representations form a crucial part of Buddhist culture, with Buddha postures woven into the very design of temples and integrated into daily spiritual practice.
Quick Summary
In Thai culture, there are 40 recognised Buddha postures, each showing a different moment from the Buddha’s life. These include poses such as sitting in meditation, standing in contemplation, reclining during rest, or walking in reflection. Each one carries a symbolic message linked to a story or teaching in Buddhism.
Among these, the most well-known set is the 7 Buddha Postures for the Days of the Week. These specific postures are linked to the day you were born and are often displayed in Thai temples to help visitors and locals make merit, reflect, and show respect. Some temples include an eighth posture for those born on a Wednesday night, which is treated separately from the daytime version.
| Day | Thai Name | Posture | Meaning | Lucky Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Pang Thawai Net | Standing, arms crossed at waist | Gratitude | Green |
| Monday | Pang Ham Yati | Standing, right hand raised | Peace & Protection | Black |
| Tuesday | Pang Sai Yat | Reclining on right side | Nirvana | Yellow |
| Wednesday (AM) | Pang Umbat | Standing with alms bowl | Generosity | Green |
| Wednesday (PM) | Pang Pa Lelai | Seated in forest retreat | Retreat & Solitude | White |
| Thursday | Pang Samathi | Seated in meditation | Enlightenment | Orange |
| Friday | Pang Ram Phueng | Standing, arms crossed on chest | Reflection | Pink |
| Saturday | Pang Nak Prok | Seated under Naga serpent | Protection | Blue |
Sunday Buddha Posture
Pang Thawai Net (ปางถวายเนตร – Seven Days Looking)
symbolising gratitude and great blessing
The Sunday Buddha posture shows the Buddha standing with arms crossed at the waist, the right hand over the left. This pose is known in Thai as Pang Thawai Net, or “Seven Days Looking.” It recalls the week after the Buddha’s enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, India, when he stood motionless and gazed at the Bodhi tree in gratitude for its shelter. According to tradition, this posture symbolises mindfulness and appreciation. For Thai Buddhists, it is a reminder to be thankful for the people and conditions that support life and spiritual growth.
Sunday Birth Personality
If you were born on a Sunday, Thai beliefs say you are:
- Respectable, wise, and well-liked by family and friends
- Likely to succeed in a professional career
- Lucky Day: Wednesday
- Unlucky Day: Friday
- Lucky Colour: Green
- Unlucky Colour: Blue
Monday Buddha Posture
Pang Ham Yati (ปางห้ามญาติ – Pacifying the Relatives)
symbolising reassurance and emotional strength
The Monday Buddha posture shows the Buddha standing with his right hand raised to shoulder height, palm facing outward, and fingers extended. This is known as the Abhaya Mudra, a gesture of reassurance, peace, and protection. In Thai tradition, this posture is called Pang Ham Yati, which means Pacifying the Relatives. This posture represents a story in which the Buddha returned from the heavenly realms after three months. During his return, a dispute had broken out among his relatives over the right to water passing through their lands. To prevent conflict, the Buddha calmly advised them to seek compromise and mutual understanding. This moment symbolises the importance of resolving disagreements through wisdom and calm communication.
Monday Birth Personality
If you were born on a Monday, Thai beliefs say you are:
- Serious, thoughtful, and blessed with a strong memory
- Likely to enjoy travel and skilled work
- Lucky Day: Saturday
- Unlucky Day: Sunday
- Lucky Colour: Black
- Unlucky Colour: Orange
Tuesday Buddha Posture
Pang Sai Yat (ปางไสยาสน์ – Realising Nirvana)
representing tranquillity and detachment
The Tuesday Buddha posture depicts the figure lying on his right side, head supported by his hand, with legs extended and aligned. This reclining position carries meaning connected to the Buddha’s final passage into Nirvana, that ultimate state of liberation. Thai tradition calls this Pang Sai Yat, which translates to Realising Nirvana.
According to one account, during the Buddha’s time in Savatthi, he came across Asura Rahu, a proud and formidable spirit resistant to showing reverence. The Buddha responded by expanding his form and adopting this composed reclining pose, a display of such profound wisdom and calm that it shifted Asura Rahu’s perspective, leading him to embrace the Buddha’s teachings. Many people misinterpret this posture as merely symbolic of death, yet within Thai Buddhist practice, it actually represents something different: peace, acceptance, and the fulfilment of one’s spiritual path.
Tuesday Birth Personality
If you were born on a Tuesday, Thai beliefs say you are:
- Brave, determined, and action-oriented
- Likely to work in the services or security sectors
- Lucky Day: Thursday
- Unlucky Day: Monday
- Lucky Colour: Yellow
- Unlucky Colour: White
Wednesday Morning Buddha Posture
Pang Umbat (ปางอุ้มบาตร – Receiving Alms)
indicating generosity and compassion
When the Buddha returned to his hometown after travelling and teaching for four years, something remarkable happened. He stood holding an alms bowl with both hands—not as a beggar, but as part of an ancient spiritual practice. Every morning, Buddhist monks still walk barefoot through the streets collecting food from local people, a tradition known as Pindabat. The Buddha participated in this same practice, yet his father was shocked and disapproving when he witnessed it.
Rather than accept criticism, the Buddha explained that this wasn’t begging at all. It represented something far more significant: a noble custom observed by all Buddhas throughout history, one that allows ordinary people to accumulate merit through voluntary giving. This act bridges a gap between monastic communities and laypeople, embodying humility and mutual respect.
Thai temples refer to this posture as Pang Umbat. Interestingly, those born on Wednesday mornings and evenings are thought to possess quite different characteristics, suggesting the day itself holds multiple spiritual dimensions.
Wednesday Morning Birth Personality
If born on a Wednesday morning:
- Polite, emotional, artistic, and often creative in work
- Lucky Time: Wednesday night
- Lucky Colour: Green
- Unlucky Day: Tuesday
- Unlucky Colour: Pink
Wednesday Nighttime Buddha Posture
Pang Pa Lelai (“Forest Retreat”)
representing solitude and inner peace
The Wednesday Nighttime Buddha shows something quite different from the daytime version. Here, the Buddha sits on a rock in a relaxed position, not cross-legged but more like sitting on a chair. His right hand rests palm-up on his right knee, his left hand palm-down on his left knee. An elephant stands on one side, a monkey on the other. Trees rise behind him. The Thai name is Pang Pa Lelai (ปางป่าเลไลยก์), meaning “forest retreat.” This posture comes from a well-known story in Buddhist texts.
The Buddha was staying at a monastery in Kosambī when monks split into two groups, arguing over minor rules. The dispute grew heated. The Buddha tried to make peace, but the monks refused to listen. So he left. He wandered until he reached Pārileyyaka forest and stayed alone at the foot of a tree. During his time there, a noble elephant left his herd to care for the Buddha, bringing water and food. A monkey later appeared and offered wild honey on a leaf. Their service was voluntary and sincere. Nobody asked them to help. The posture shows the value of solitude and retreat. Sometimes stepping back preserves dignity and clarity. It’s a reminder that peace can be found away from conflict, and that even in isolation, kindness appears from unexpected places. Wednesday Night Birth Personality
Wednesday Evening Birth Personality
If born on a Wednesday evening:
- Hardworking, calm, and honest, likely to be in a structured profession
- Lucky Day: Monday
- Lucky Colour: White
- Unlucky Day: Thursday
- Unlucky Colour: Yellow
Thursday Buddha Posture
Pang Samti (ปางสมาธิ – The Meditating Buddha)
signifying inner stillness and enlightenment
Sit in full lotus position, and you’ll understand what the Thursday Buddha represents. Both soles face upward, hands rest gently in the lap, the right positioned over the left with palms open—this is the Dhyani Mudra, the gesture of profound meditation. In Thai temples, this same pose is called Pang Samti.
The story behind this posture reaches back to the moment before the Buddha achieved enlightenment. A follower named Sotthiya offered him a bundle of grass. The Buddha arranged it as a seat, then made a solemn vow that he would not rise until he reached complete enlightenment. His declaration reflected absolute commitment:
“Skin, sinew and bone may dry up as they will, my flesh and blood may dry in my body, but without attaining complete enlightenment, I will not leave this seat.”
That unwavering resolve led to his achievement. He entered a state of complete understanding and liberation from all suffering. This posture, therefore, embodies more than meditation—it represents inner peace, discipline, and the tremendous mental strength spiritual transformation demands.
Thursday Birth Personality
If you were born on a Thursday, Thai tradition says you are:
- Calm, peaceful, and honest
- Often drawn to teaching, law, or roles involving wisdom and fairness
- Lucky Day: Sunday
- Unlucky Day: Saturday
- Lucky Colour: Orange
- Unlucky Colour: Black
Friday Buddha Posture
Pang Ram Pueng (ปางรำพึง – Contemplating Buddha)
representing reflection and inner peace
The Friday Buddha posture shows the Buddha standing with both arms crossed over the chest, the right hand gently covering the left. This gesture reflects a moment of quiet contemplation following his enlightenment, while he rested under the Banyan tree. During this time, the Buddha reflected on the Dharma, the truth he had discovered, and expressed concern that it was too complex for most people to understand or follow. He hesitated to teach, thinking the path to Nirvana was too subtle and difficult for ordinary minds to grasp.
He said:
“This Dharma that I have found is profound, hard to see, and hard to understand; it is peaceful, sublime, beyond the sphere of mere reasoning… but this generation delights in attachment, making it hard to see the truth.”
Despite these doubts, his compassion led him to share the Dharma with others, realising that people, like lotus flowers, bloom at different depths. Some would be ready to understand, even if others were not. This posture, known in Thai as Pang Ram Pueng, symbolises introspection, wisdom, and compassion. It reminds followers to reflect deeply and consider when and how to share knowledge with others.
Friday Birth Personality
If you were born on a Friday, Thai belief suggests you are:
- Friendly, sociable, and ambitious
- Often drawn to public roles or creative work
- Lucky Day: Tuesday
- Unlucky Time: Wednesday night
- Lucky Colour: Pink
- Unlucky Colour: Light Green
Saturday Buddha Posture
Pang Nak Prok (ปางนาคปรก – Protected by the Naga King)
symbolising resilience and spiritual protection
The Saturday Buddha posture shows the Buddha seated in full lotus meditation on the coiled body of the Naga King Muchalinda, with the serpent’s multiple heads forming a hood above him. This dramatic and symbolic posture is called Pang Nak Prok in Thai, meaning Protected by the Naga. This image represents an event during the sixth week after the Buddha’s enlightenment. As he meditated under a tree, a great storm broke out. The Naga King emerged from the earth, wrapped his coils beneath the Buddha to lift him above the rising floodwaters, and spread his multi-headed hood above him to shield him from the rain. This posture symbolises protection, resilience, and spiritual focus in the face of hardship. It’s a powerful reminder that inner peace can remain steady even during external chaos.
Saturday Birth Personality and Beliefs
If you were born on a Saturday, Thai belief says you are:
- Calm, logical, and slightly reserved
- Often skilled in hands-on or technical work
- Lucky Day: Friday
- Unlucky Day: Wednesday (daytime)
- Lucky Colour: Blue
- Unlucky Colour: Green
Click here if you would like to know more about meditation in Thailand
The Buddha postures linked to each day of the week are far more significant than decorative pieces found throughout Thai temples. Each position reflects a specific moment in Buddha’s life and holds particular importance, rooted in concepts such as peace, thanks, knowledge, and resolve. Within Thai culture, these representations also reflect the character and fate of individuals depending on their birth day.
When people visit a Thai temple, it’s typical for locals to leave a coin by the Buddha figure matching their birth day, followed by a brief prayer. This custom is thought to attract positive outcomes and provide reflection on individual qualities. Whether you follow Buddhism or simply have an interest in Thai customs, learning about these positions adds depth to your temple visits.
If you don’t know the day of the week you were born, it’s easy to check online or ask a local—they might even tell you what kind of person you are, just based on that.
