(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Destruction of the Phra Prom statue - March 22, 2006
Much-revered
Phra Prom statue destroyed - The Nation, March 21, 2006
A man described to be mentally-deranged hammered the most-revered
Pra Prom or Brahmin creator god at the Hyatt Erawan Hotel and reduced
it into pieces before he was lynched to death...
Thai
Muslim killed after smashing Hindu statue - Reuters,
March 21, 2006
Thai government
orders quick restoration of Brahman statue - TNA, March 21,
2006
...He said the restoration would be finished within two months
by using as many former fragments of the damaged image as possible.
Pending the completion of the restoration, the painted images of
the Brahma will be posted on the four sides of the closed shrine
for admirers to pay homage, instead of the image itself...
Bangkok's primary
Hindu deity destroyed by mentally-ill man - TNA, March 21, 2006
...The mentally-ill man used a hammer to shatter Bangkok's most
revered 'popular religion' image, a shrine which traditionally helped
barren women have children, the unemployed find job, lovers to resolve
their quandaries and those confronted by impossible burdens to find
relief...
Damage
to shrine 'could hit tourism' - The Nation, March 22,
2006
The damage inflicted on the much-revered Brahman shrine at Rajprasong
intersection could lead to the loss of at least one million tourists
a year, as the statue has been a major attraction, drawing worshippers
from around the world, according to Prakit Shinamourpong, vice president
of Thai Hotels Association...
Revered
Brahma image returns to Erewan Shrine
- TNA, May 19, 2006
...Restoring the sacred image and objects of adoration after
the statue was destroyed by a mentally-ill man in March, caretaker
Prime Ministerr Thaksin Shinawatra will preside at the ceremonies
at 11:39-11:59 a.m. Sunday...
More on this area: Bangkok's
Crucible of Construction- More on the original
Erawan Hotel
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Above: Devotees pray outside
of the shrine.
Below: The Skytrain passes over the shrine site.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
(Source: Erawan Hotel brochure, circa 1963, showing the first Erawan Hotel)
More on the destruction of the Phra Prom statue - March 23, 2006
From a plaque at the Erawan Shrine site exactly as it is written: At the end of the year 1955, the union of the Thai Hotel and Tourism Company Limited, the founder of the Erawan Hotel was told by Rear Admiral Luan Suwichanphaet, who specialized on astrology, that the original moment for laying the foundation stone of the Erawan Hotel was not really right auspicious moment, it must be corrected by building a shrine of the Thao Maha Brahma and a spirit house in the area of the hotel. Then a shrine with the image of the Thao Maha Brahma and a spirit house were built followed the advice. The image was a sculpture in plaster covered with gold leaf, which was designed and sculpted by Mr. Chit Phimkowit, a sculptor of the Fine Arts Department. It was brought to enshrine there since the 9th November, 1956. And a worship ceremony of the image has been held on the 9th November of every year.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Above: Another missing shrine opposite
the Phra Prom statue
Below: The same corner in July 2005
The unprotected
intersection - March 22, 2006
On the corner opposite the Phra Prom statue is another prominent
shrine which has been removed (above). This intersection, called
the Rajaprasong intersection, is considered an area rife with
bad luck and thus the need for shrines. The area was long ago
used to put criminals on public display and the Central World
Plaza area was considered potentially unlucky as it was built
on former palace grounds and has a highrise that towers over a
temple. It is certain that Thai observers will note the loss of
two prominent shrines on Bangkok's most hexed intersection as
an ill-omen.
More on this area: Bangkok's
Crucible of Construction
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
(Photo: Rail Asia)
(Photo: Rail Asia)
(Photo: Rail Asia)
Robert writes: The Ratchaprasong Intersection, the corner of the Thanon Ratchadamri and Ploenchit close to the Erawan shrine were the spirits now can focus on a massive construction. One can like it or dislike it, this is the city and here struggle to keep on moving. The building of an elevated city railway raised from the gridlock beneath. Here seen the building in progress on 12 February 1999. The following pictures were all shot from one point over a five year period.