This old flag
was used during the monarchial times. The image was the three headed
elephant on top of a stand with an umbrella (or parasol) on top.
The three headed
elephant image is Buddhist/Hindu in origin - it is called Airavata
(or Erawan in Thai & Cambodia). According to Buddhist/Hindu
beliefs the elephant has always been a symbol of greatness, wisdom
and a vehicle.
Many former
Lao kings prized these large animals, especially the light colour/albino-like
elephants. To this day, the current Lao government still keep a
few for special occassions and celebrations. Coincidentally, the
three headed mythic elephant symbol had the same number as there
were principalities. Thus the three heads came to represent the
former Kingdoms of Vientiane, Luangprabang, and Champassak. However
among Lao scholars
there is controversy over whether the three headed elephant meant
to represent the unity of the three kingdoms or just the Kingdom
of Luangprabang.
The umbrella
also has certain meanings. In Sri Lanka and India, Buddhist temples
were in the shape of huge domes and on top of the dome there would
be a small umbrella (or parasol) surrounded by square railings.
The highest point of the dome or pillar, the umbrella, represents
the Buddhist cosmological myth of Mt. Meru being the center of the
universe.
The background
color of the flag, red, represents the blood of the people. The
stand on which the elephant is standing on represents the laws of
the country/kingdom.
