Tradition: Thai Mythology
Alternative Names: Hathi Linga, Hatthīliṅga, Hastilinga
Category: Lion
The Myth
The Hatsadiling is a gigantic mythical bird featured in the art and traditions of Northern Thailand. It is said to be as large as a house and possesses a remarkable combination of animal features. Its head and body resemble those of a lion, while an elephant’s trunk and tusks extend from its face. A rooster-like comb rises from its head, and great bird wings complete its unusual form. According to Buddhist tradition, the creature possesses extraordinary strength, said to equal that of five elephants.
In an oral tradition from northeastern Thailand, the Hatsadiling once inhabited Himavanta, a legendary forest filled with supernatural creatures. It is also associated with the founding of Hariphunchai, an ancient Mon kingdom in what is now Thailand. The creature appears in the Cāmadevivaṃsa, a Pali chronicle recounting the kingdom’s foundation by Queen Camadevi, and is mentioned in Buddhist literary traditions.
The Hatsadiling remains an important ceremonial figure in Northern Thai funerary traditions. Its imposing form is used as a decorative motif on elaborate funeral hearses during phongyibyan cremation ceremonies for prominent Buddhist monks. The Marma people have also used the creature as a principal design on funerary hearses. Through these traditions, the Hatsadiling connects the imagery of a powerful supernatural beast with death, religious ceremony, and the passage of revered individuals into the afterlife.
Sources
“Hatsadiling.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsadiling