After praying at Erawan Shrine, I headed to the Grand Palace in Bangkok. And before entering the Grand Palace, I stepped into a small shrine called Lak Mueang, which is just around the corner. Inside the shrine, the floor was recessed and two golden pillars were erected in the center of the hall. These pillars are the deity of Lak Mueang.
These two pillars are said to house the guardian deity of the town, Chao Pho Lak Mueang. It is like a Japanese Spirit-dwelling object. In Bangkok, there are many Buddhist statues, Hindu gods like Erawan shrine, and local gods, too. The benefits of Chao Pho Lak Mueang are extensive. It is believed that financial and professional success can be achieved by praying here. So many people come here to pray.
When I entered, some women were in the middle of praying on the floor. In Japan, it is common to have a pillar as a deity (gods are counted as one or two pillars), but I don't think it is customary to worship the town's guardian god. This may mean that in Japan, towns and villages were rarely attacked by foreign enemies.
Dec 2019 PEOPLE THAILAND | |
BANGKOK SHRINE WORSHIPER |
No
11321
Shooting Date
Sep 2019
Posted On
December 13, 2019
Modified On
September 25, 2020
Place
Bangkok, Thailand
Genre
Street Photography
Camera
SONY ALPHA 7R II
Lens
SONNAR T* FE 55MM F1.8 ZA