Reading the Icon — The Mace, the Body's Color, and the Posture
The image of Tao Wessuwan is not shaped at whim; every detail carries meaning, from the mace in his hand to the color of his body to whether he stands or sits. Once we learn to 'read' the icon, we grasp what the artisans intended and draw closer to him.
Have you ever noticed that the images of Tao Wessuwan we see are not quite all alike?
Some stand, some sit; some have bodies of emerald green, some of resplendent gold; some hold a mace upright, some open the palm of the hand. These differences are no accident. Each detail carries a meaning that the artisan who made it intended to convey.
When we learn to "read" these images, our acts of homage change from a merely surface glance into a deeper understanding.
The Mace — Symbol of Power and the Subduing of Evil
The most striking feature in an image of Tao Wessuwan is the mace — the cudgel he holds in his hand.
This mace is not a weapon for harm, but a symbol of royal authority and of the power to subdue all that is evil. Just as a king's mace betokens the right to rule, the mace of Tao Wessuwan thus signifies a righteous authority to guard, to protect, and to drive away the menace of wickedness.
Did You Know?
In some forms of the icon, Tao Wessuwan holds the mace planted upon the ground, signifying a steadfast guarding of his domain; in other forms he holds it resting on his shoulder or raised aloft, signifying readiness to subdue the threat. The bearing of the mace thus tells of the deity's mood and his role.
The Color of the Body — Each Hue Conveys a Meaning
Another element of interest is the color of the body, which in Thai tradition is various, and each color carries its own meaning and its own favor.
The most classic and most frequently encountered color is green, or emerald green — the color bound to images of yakshas in Thai art since ancient times. There is also gold, which emphasizes his being a deity of treasure and abundance; black, which conveys an aura of mystic potency and the power to subdue threats; and white, which conveys purity and loving-kindness.
A Point of Interest
In the practice of venerating according to one's day of birth, some lines of devotees favor venerating a Tao Wessuwan whose body color differs according to their own birthday — for instance, those born on a Saturday favor venerating an image with a body of purple. Although this notion is a belief particular to certain groups and is not found directly in the scriptures, it nonetheless reflects the blending of the belief in auspicious daily colors with the act of veneration.
Standing or Seated — Postures of Differing Meaning
The posture of the icon is likewise something that can convey meaning.
The standing posture often signifies the role of an alert guardian, ready to protect and to subdue threats. It is a posture that imparts a feeling of valor and awe-inspiring command, well suited to being enshrined as a gate-guardian watching over a doorway, or as a principal image displaying the power of protection.
The seated posture often imparts a feeling of serene composure and of lofty dignity. Some images are seated in the manner of a king, signifying greatness and the granting of blessings — a posture that imparts a feeling of approachability and loving-kindness.
Moreover, in some forms of the icon there is also the boon-granting posture, in which he opens the palm of the hand, signifying the direct bestowal of loving-kindness and blessings upon those who pay homage.
An Observation
Observe that Tao Wessuwan can bear both the image of the "awe-inspiring guardian" and that of the "compassionate giver of blessings" within one and the same figure. This accords with the two-sided nature of him that we have related throughout this book — at once the mighty King of Yakshas and the righteous, compassion-filled deity.
Many Aspects, Many Forms
What many do not know is that Tao Wessuwan has not only the form of a great, fierce-faced yaksha.
According to Thai tradition, he can appear in many aspects and many forms. In some he is a yaksha as we are accustomed to; in some a beautiful deity; and in some he bears a likeness close to that of a human being. This variety reflects that the icon is merely a "medium" that helps us draw near to him, and not his true self, which is celestial beyond what any form can confine.
A Thought
That Tao Wessuwan has many aspects reminds us not to cling to outward form until we forget the true essence. An icon, whether fierce or beautiful, is but an aid by which our mind may bow in remembrance of his virtue and his sublime majesty — which is what ought truly to be venerated.
When We Know How to Read
When we understand the meaning of the mace, the color of the body, and the posture, then the next time we stand before an image of Tao Wessuwan, we will no longer see merely a fierce-faced statue.
Rather, we will see a deity bearing the mace of righteousness, possessed of a body color that conveys meaning, and holding a posture that tells of his role. Our act of homage will then be filled with a deeper understanding and a deeper reverence.
Before We Go On
But the icon is not the only medium bound up with Tao Wessuwan. There is yet another kind of symbol that has stood alongside the belief in him for ages, and that is mighty in the matter of protection no less than the icon.
That is the yantra and the various auspicious signs, whose power to ward off danger people have believed in — from the yantra-cloth hung above an infant's cradle to the amulet carried upon one's person. In the next chapter, we will come to know the world of the yantras of Tao Wessuwan.