Nang Kwak and the figurines to attract Fortune

Thai shopkeepers like to use deities and figurines to attract fortune to their shops, here are the 3 main ones.

Nang Kwak or the attractive woman who attracts fortune

Nang Kwakwhich translates as " attractive woman "is the Thai goddess of wealth.

Its representation can be found in the form of a statuette or on a sacred cloth (Yaan) in most shops in Thailand.

His right hand is raised to attracting wealthIt encourages passers-by to buy.

The statuettes of Nang Kwak often have magical inscriptions on their hands, breasts, foreheads and backs.

The iconography of this goddess is based on the Hindu goddess Lakshmibut its true origin is believed to be local and older.

Lakshmi another goddess of fortune

In Hinduism, Lakshmi (or Mahalakshmi) is the Goddess of Fortune and inherent wealth, or abundance.

It is also the Goddess of Beauty.

She is the daughter of wise Bhrigu and the faithful/loving/devout wife of Vishnu.

As the goddess Athena, its vehicle is the Owl.

It is a benefactor that helps to develop inner wealth.

It is incarnated on earth, following Vishnu in the guise of Sîtâ in the Rāmāyana and Draupadi in the Mahâbhârata.

She is depicted with four hands indicating spiritual virtues. Coins flow from one of them as she blesses the faithful.

She is unarmed. She is crowned, wears a red sari and sits on a lotus.

It is surrounded by two white elephants, symbols of good luck.

She herself is worshipped by many gods, including the elephant god Ganesh.

Maneki-neko, the cat that attracts fortune

Thai people also like to use maneki-nekoalso known as lucky cat.

The arm is in the same position as Nang Kwakfor attracting money.

It is a traditional Japanese ceramic or porcelain statue of a sitting cat with its paw(s) raised at the ear, frequently found on storefronts, near checkouts in shopping malls...

Maneki comes from the verb maneku which in Japanese means to invite (in the sense of bringing) or to greet, and neko  points to the cat.

It is therefore literally "the inviting cat ".

It is traditional to put one of these cats with its paw up in the shops to attract (pecuniary) fortune.

The raised paw varies depending on whether the cat is supposed to attract the customer or make him spend more money in the shop:

the left paw is supposed to attracting customersthe right paw money.

There are cats that lift both legs and more rarely all four.

You will find many versions of Maneki Neko on this Amazon link.

See also :
Divinities and Symbols in Thai Culture