Jump to content

Gajasimha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Gajasiha)
Gajasimha sculpture, Museum of Cham Sculpture, Danang, Vietnam

The gajasimha or gajasiha (from Sanskrit: gaja+siṃha / Pali: gaja+sīha) is a mythical hybrid animal in Hindu mythology, appearing as a sinha or rajasiha (mythical lion) with the head or trunk of an elephant. It is found as a motif in Indian and Sinhalese art,[1] and is used as a heraldic symbol in some Southeast Asian countries, especially Cambodia and Thailand. In Siam (pre-modern Thailand), the gajasimha served as the symbol of the kalahom, one of the king's two chief chancellors. It appears as a supporter in the coat of arms of Siam, in use from 1873 to 1910, and the royal arms of Cambodia, officially adopted in 1993.

[edit]

In heraldry

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bane, Theresa (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. McFarland. p. 132. ISBN 9780786495054.