Guide: The ubosoth of this temple is beautifully decorated. Let me point out some important features of the exterior of the building. The roof has three tiers. Each gable carries a design of Vishnu on Garuda. The exterior walls are decorated with gilt stucco and coloured - glass mosaics.
Tourist : What are those finials on the gable edges? I’ve seen them on every temple.
Guide : You are very observant. The top finial is called ‘cho-fa’, representing the Garuda, a mythical bird in Hindu literature. It is the vehicle of the god Vishnu. The lower finials are called ‘hang-hong’ in Thai. They represent the heads of the Naga, a mythical serpent in Hindu literature. And those ridge-like teeth running along the gable edges are the ‘bai-raka’, the feathers of the Garuda or the scales of the Naga.
Tourist : How interesting! What does it all mean?
Guide : The whole thing symbolizes the Garuda seizing the Naga. This can be interpreted by a westerner as good overcoming evil.