The Erawan shrine was very popular with local people
A small shrine stands at the edge of the grounds of a luxury hotel in central Bangkok. It is the Erawan Shrine. Although there are some Muslims in Thailand, the majority of Thai people are Buddhists, and Thailand is considered a Buddhist country, yet the deity worshipped here is Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, with four faces and four arms. A bit strange.
Buddhism started as a counterculture to Hinduism, so it has a close relationship with Hinduism. In Japan, Brahma is also incorporated into the Buddhist guardian deities. However, the reason why a shrine enshrining Brahma is set up in the middle of the capital of a Buddhist country and a state of religious coexistence is established is said to be deeply related to the Devaraja philosophy.
The Devaraja philosophy is the belief that the king is an incarnation of the Hindu gods Shiva or Vishnu. Apparently, under the influence of the Khmer culture, the Thai ruling class also adopted this theory to legitimize their kingship. This is why Hindu deities are used as symbols in government institutions. It is similar to the Japanese claim that the emperor is a descendant of Amaterasu Omikami, who appears in the Kojiki and Nihonshoki. They are used to legitimize authority.
Sooner or later, Hindu deities become indigenous and are worshipped on urban street corners. A golden statue of Brahma is enshrined in the narrow precincts of the Erawan Temple, which is highly revered by the locals, and is constantly visited by worshippers. The surrounding area is filled with offerings. The women in the photo were in the middle of praying to the golden statue.
| Dec 2019 PEOPLE THAILAND | |
| BACK SHOT BANGKOK GOLD OFFERING SHRINE WORSHIPER |
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PHOTO DATA
No
11320
Shooting Date
Sep 2019
Posted On
December 13, 2019
Modified On
September 25, 2023
Place
Bangkok, Thailand
Genre
Street Photography
Camera
SONY ALPHA 7R II
Lens
SONNAR T* FE 55MM F1.8 ZA
