Thailand Travel Pages - Four Faced Shrine at Erawan, Bangkok

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Four Faced Shrine at Erawan:

Although it is often referred to as the Four-Faced Buddha, the small shrine at Erawan actually represents Lord Brahma (one of the Trinity of Hindu Gods) who is known as Phra Phrom in Thai. Even though the shrine represents a Hindu God it is worshipped by many Thai Buddhists. This is because Thai Buddhism incorporates many Hindu beliefs. The shrine is therefore very important in Thailand as it represents a fusion of faiths.

Lord Brahma is the god of creation, mercy and compassion. The shrine shows Lord Brahma with four faces and eight hands. The faces symbolize the four books of the Vedas (Hindu scriptures). Starting clockwise from the entrance the faces represent Peace and Health, Good Fortune, Good Relationships and Protection against Evil. The shrine’s eight hands symbolize Lord Brahma’s omnipresence.

The shrine was originally built in 1956 to counter the negative luck or bad karma that was believed to have been caused by laying the foundations of what is now the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.

Worshippers offer colorful flower garlands, lotus, incense and candles to the shrine and make a wish. If a wish has been granted, the grateful show their thanks by donating teak elephants, gigantic candles or commissioning the classical Thai dancers and musicians to perform for the Gods.

Getting there

You can take the Skytrain to Siam/Central Station if you are on the Silom line or to Chidlom if you are on the Sukhumvit line. The shrine can be found on the corner of Rama Road and Rama Ratchadamri Road, outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.

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