Erawan Shrine

The Erawan Shrine (officially named Thao Maha Brahma) in Bangkok is not old, but it is an interesting testament of the role of religion in modern Thai society.

The Erawan Shrine was built in 1956 to appease the supposed evil forces that were taking the lives of construction workers and causing other calamities in the construction what is now the Grand Hyatt Erawan. The misfortunes were caused, it seemed, by starting the construction on an unfavorable date. After the shrine was erected, construction deaths stopped and the hotel grew very prosperous.

The apparent effectiveness of the monument made the shrine one of the most revered spots in Thailand. The great importance of the shrine became terribly apparent in 2006, when a mentally disturbed Thai man attacked the statue with a hammer - onlookers beat him to death in broad daylight. The statue was replaced within two months, incorporating pieces from the original image.

The Erawan Shrine is located on the northwest corner of the Grand Hyatt Erawan property, near the Chit Lom stop on the skytrain. It consists of a golden statue of the four-faced Hindu god Brahma, named Than Tao Mahaprom. The statue sits beneath a glittering canopy, surrounded by offerings of flowers, incese and candles.

The area is crowded with worshippers day and night and always wafting with incense smoke. It is also common to see people bowing as they pass by bus, taxi or above by skytrain.