The Four Faced Buddha Of Erawan Shrine

Posted by : foongpc | Tuesday, January 25, 2011 | Published in

ADVERTISEMENT


Have you ever visited the famous Four Faced Buddha of Erawan Shrine in Bangkok?

This is one of the most famous tourist spots in Bangkok and is always filled with visitors from all over the world! This was my second time here, the first time being many, many years ago.

After spending some time shopping at MBK Shopping Mall and Siam Paragon, my friend and I decided to visit Erawan Shrine by walking instead of sitting the Skytrain.





It was about 5pm and the traffic was getting heavy. Hmmm, I noticed that taxis in Bangkok were mostly Toyota Camry models!





After a short 15 minutes walk, we reached the Erawan Shrine, also known as San Phra Phrom. It is actually located at the heart of Bangkok, next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, at the Ratchaprasong intersection of Ratchadamri Road and Sukhumvit Road.





It is also very near to Skytrain's Chitlom Station which has an elevated walkway overlooking the shrine (as can been seen from the photo above).

Directly opposite is Gaysorn Shopping Mall, which houses some of the world's best brands and within walking distance is CentralWorld Shopping Mall.





In the middle of the shrine is the Four Faced Buddha, which is not really a Buddha but actually the Hindu creation God, Brahma. I wonder why they called it the Four Faced Buddha!

Anyway, when we were there, we could see lots of people, both locals and foreigners, seeking blessing from the Four Faced Buddha.


Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Each of the four faces of the deity are said to represent different elements. In a clockwise direction starting from the entrance, the first face represents the Face of Peace and Health, followed by the Face of Good Fortune, the Face of Good Relationships and the Face of Protection Against Evils.

So did I pray while I was there? Of course I did since I was already there right? The only problem was I did not know the correct way of praying. I knew that I had to pray to all four directions but from which direction should I start first? And do I go clockwise or anti clockwise?





Firstly, what we did was buy the candles, joss sticks and flowers from the stall inside the shrine. These were required offerings to be made to the Four Faced Buddha.

Then we lit up our candles and joss sticks (like what the lady in the photo above did).

After that we prayed to the Four Faced Buddha, one side at a time until we covered all four sides. On each side, we placed the joss sticks and flowers as offerings.





So did we do it right? I honestly do not know!

Some people said you can start from anywhere and can go clockwise or anti-clockwise, it does not really matter. Well, I chose anti-clockwise for no reason whatsoever.

Also, you must pray on one specific thing at each direction. For example, you might want to pray for good health at one direction, money and wealth at another direction, good relationships at the third direction and perhaps protection from evil people and evil forces at the fourth direction.

When I came back home to Malaysia, a friend told me that the proper procedure is to state your name, birth date and where you come from before saying your wishes. Also, you must promise to return and give thanks and pay respect if your wishes were to come true.





According to my friend, most of his friends who went to pray there had their wishes fulfilled and they were so grateful that they return to the Erawan Shrine year after year to give thanks!

Whether you believe in this or not, I still think it is a good place to visit if you ever go to Bangkok.

Besides, you can get to see performances by the resident Thai dance troupes! Yes, these are dancers paid by worshippers in return for having their prayers answered.





There seems to be an interesting story behind the creation of Erawan Shrine, how it came into being, why it was built and how the original statue deity was destroyed by a demented man and quickly rebuilt. Read more HERE.

FIRST COMMENTER
MPG

(67) Comments

  1. Mariuca said...

    hi

    January 25, 2011 at 1:59 AM
  2. Mariuca said...

    Woo hoo, chop! :D:D:D

    January 25, 2011 at 1:59 AM
  3. Mariuca said...

    No, I've never been to the famous Four Faced Buddha of Erawan Shrine in Bangkok! :D

    January 25, 2011 at 2:01 AM
  4. Mariuca said...

    Wah really? So tell me later if ur wish came true okay?

    January 25, 2011 at 2:02 AM
  5. Mariuca said...

    Nemind la at least u got to go there, hopefully u got it right and ur wish will come true he he! :D:D

    January 25, 2011 at 2:02 AM
  6. Monica said...

    we passed by the Erawan Shrine many times when we were there but never stopped to pray.. hehe we're not Buddhist :)

    January 25, 2011 at 2:09 AM
  7. bluedreamer27 said...

    wow... it seems that a lot of people are offering some goods for the Buddha

    January 25, 2011 at 2:37 AM
  8. bluedreamer27 said...

    what did you wish??? hint hint hint
    i'm intrigued hahah

    January 25, 2011 at 2:40 AM
  9. bluedreamer27 said...

    soyou mean if you failed to follow the proper procedure.. your wishes will not come true?

    January 25, 2011 at 2:40 AM
  10. bluedreamer27 said...

    have a great day Foong and happy blogging

    January 25, 2011 at 2:46 AM
  11. lina said...

    Did you make any wish, Foong? :)

    January 25, 2011 at 8:40 AM
  12. jam said...

    So what's your wish?

    January 25, 2011 at 8:41 AM
  13. lina said...

    I think the first time I learnt abou this statue was from Ian Wright. Or was it Bobby Chin? XD

    January 25, 2011 at 8:41 AM
  14. lina said...

    Can wish for 4D ah? LOL

    January 25, 2011 at 8:42 AM
  15. khengsiong said...

    The tradition is doing it clockwise.
    Why didn't you observe other people, or ask the joss stick seller?

    January 25, 2011 at 9:01 AM
  16. Che-Cheh said...

    This shrine is always full of devotees. Do you know we have a 4-faced Buddha in PJ?

    January 25, 2011 at 9:16 AM
  17. Reanaclaire said...

    I will say the same thing..I wanna go visit Bangkok one day.. must check out air asia free tickets! haha...

    January 25, 2011 at 9:30 AM
  18. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Its unwise to go anti-clockwise haha..Also you must state you NRIC No as well there might be 1001 Pandaz wit the same name..*just kidding* lolz..

    January 25, 2011 at 9:56 AM
  19. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Its unwise to go anti-clockwise haha..Also you must state you NRIC No as well there might be 1001 Pandaz wit the same name..*just kidding* lolz..

    January 25, 2011 at 9:57 AM
  20. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Its unwise to go anti-clockwise haha..Also you must state you NRIC No as well there might be 1001 Pandaz wit the same name..*just kidding* lolz..

    January 25, 2011 at 9:57 AM
  21. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Agree this place is a 'must see' when you are in Bangkok. tQ for the pixz.

    January 25, 2011 at 9:59 AM
  22. wenn said...

    i had that kind of buddha at my home n shop.

    January 25, 2011 at 10:00 AM
  23. LadyJava said...

    That is beautiful..
    eh in SG at Golden Mile also have this kind of shrine.. though i cant remember if it has four face.. but i always see Thais or perhaps Buddhist pray there giving offering each time I'm there on my coach..

    January 25, 2011 at 2:01 PM
  24. Caroline said...

    never been there ler. ;) but then i know this place very nice! one of the top attractions at there. :)

    January 25, 2011 at 2:04 PM
  25. Caroline said...

    haha so familiar those directions! get to know it during college time, tourism ma! xD but true la.

    January 25, 2011 at 2:05 PM
  26. Caroline said...

    whoa so nice, most of their wishes come true eh! :D i also want to visit there one day! ;)

    January 25, 2011 at 2:06 PM
  27. mNhL said...

    haha.....did you pray correctly? It doesn't matter. As long as you are sincere, I believe your wish will be granted.

    January 25, 2011 at 4:03 PM
  28. Anonymous

    Toyota is also a popular vehicle choice in Bali. I see them everywhere.

    January 25, 2011 at 10:05 PM
  29. [SK] said...

    oh, this is a very famous four-faced buddha in BKK i guess..

    January 25, 2011 at 10:57 PM
  30. [SK] said...

    i've always heard about the four-faced buddha in BKK but i didn't know where the place is..

    January 25, 2011 at 10:58 PM
  31. [SK] said...

    even that time when i was just outside the temple, and i saw lots of people, i still didn't realise that..

    January 25, 2011 at 10:58 PM
  32. [SK] said...

    until one day when i was chatting with a friend, only i realised that's the place the four-faced buddha is!!

    January 25, 2011 at 10:59 PM
  33. [SK] said...

    guess the next time i'm going to BKK, i must go there and make a prayer~~ :)

    January 25, 2011 at 10:59 PM
  34. Pete said...

    I visited Erawan when I was in Bangkok. Very popular among tourist.

    January 25, 2011 at 11:08 PM
  35. foongpc said...

    mariuca, congrats! You are FC! Haha! I think I did not pray the proper way so maybe my wishes will not come true : )

    January 25, 2011 at 11:50 PM
  36. foongpc said...

    monica, I also not Buddhist but still prayed there : )

    January 25, 2011 at 11:51 PM
  37. foongpc said...

    bluedreamer27, what did I wish? haha, that's SECRET! : D

    January 25, 2011 at 11:52 PM
  38. foongpc said...

    lina, yes I did! : )

    January 25, 2011 at 11:53 PM
  39. foongpc said...

    jam, Haha! That's a SECRET! : D

    January 25, 2011 at 11:53 PM
  40. foongpc said...

    lina, so Ian Wright or Bobby Chin went there? Yes, I think you can pray for winning lottery numbers! Haha!

    January 25, 2011 at 11:55 PM
  41. foongpc said...

    khengsiong, I observed the people and some did it clockwise and others anti-clockwise! No I did not ask the joss stick seller as he was too busy selling joss sticks!! : D

    January 25, 2011 at 11:56 PM
  42. foongpc said...

    che-cheh, really? Where is it?

    January 25, 2011 at 11:56 PM
  43. foongpc said...

    reanaclaire, yes go go go!! : D

    January 25, 2011 at 11:57 PM
  44. foongpc said...

    bananaz, why is it unwise to go anti-clockwise? : )

    January 25, 2011 at 11:57 PM
  45. foongpc said...

    wenn, oh really? So you pray to the 4 Faced Buddha?

    January 25, 2011 at 11:58 PM
  46. foongpc said...

    ladyjava, in Singapore? I guess it's not surprising since you can actually get a a mini four faced buddha and put in your home!

    January 26, 2011 at 12:01 AM
  47. foongpc said...

    caroline ng, go visit there someday! : )

    January 26, 2011 at 12:02 AM
  48. foongpc said...

    mNhL, I hope so too : )

    January 26, 2011 at 12:02 AM
  49. foongpc said...

    mei teng, oh yeah! I noticed that my driver in Bali drove a Toyota Avanza! : )

    January 26, 2011 at 12:03 AM
  50. foongpc said...

    SK, haha!! How come you did not know it's the famous shrine when you were so near it? Yes, go there and pray! : )

    January 26, 2011 at 12:05 AM
  51. foongpc said...

    pete, yes very popular indeed : )

    January 26, 2011 at 12:05 AM
  52. Tekkaus said...

    I have never ever been out of Malaysia.... :(

    January 26, 2011 at 6:08 AM
  53. Tekkaus said...

    Wow...your second time here already? :D You sure travel a lot bro.

    January 26, 2011 at 6:09 AM
  54. Tekkaus said...

    The roads here look like KL? :p Wow...all taxis are toyota camry? How come? Because toyota is much cheaper?

    January 26, 2011 at 6:10 AM
  55. Tekkaus said...

    So it is not a buddha? But a Brahma? Ouh...yeah...you are right. :)

    January 26, 2011 at 6:10 AM
  56. Tekkaus said...

    I thought the four faces represent different elements such as fire. :)

    January 26, 2011 at 6:12 AM
  57. Tekkaus said...

    Yeah! God also has his limitation. So we need to state our names and where we are from. :p

    January 26, 2011 at 6:13 AM
  58. Tekkaus said...

    Wow..your friends prayers were answered? What did they pray for? :p

    January 26, 2011 at 6:14 AM
  59. Tekkaus said...

    So some worshipers even pay for dancers to "bribe" the God? :p LOL :D

    January 26, 2011 at 6:14 AM
  60. lina said...

    @foong,
    come to think of it, I think it was Anthony Bourdain. XD

    January 26, 2011 at 8:54 AM
  61. Cindy said...

    Gonna make a trip there during my Bangkok trip in May!

    January 26, 2011 at 6:17 PM
  62. Unknown said...

    wah...one day me must go to bangkok!!

    January 27, 2011 at 3:34 PM
  63. LifeRamblings said...

    i visited the 4-faced buddha 15 years ago. it still looks the same and seems like it's always crowded.

    January 28, 2011 at 3:58 PM
  64. Ishmael F. Ahab said...

    I will visit this place if I ever got the chance to go to Bangkok. ^_^

    January 29, 2011 at 10:03 AM
  65. Wong

    1 of 2 my wishes just 'rejected' today...

    I really hope the miracle can come so that my 2 wishes can come true...

    February 6, 2011 at 12:14 AM
  66. Anonymous

    Hello:

    I have been in bad luck since childhood. I was born in a slum in Bangkok. I was moleasted on a bus by a strange man when I was 6 years old. My parents did not send me to school but picked my other sister to go to school. I had to study on-line and eventually came to USA with only $100 in my pocket. I have now been living in USA doing odd jobs. My husband cheated on me 5 times and everytime He begged me not to leave him. I am too weak and scare to leave him. I took my husband to Bangkok for a vacation, he fucked 3 prostitutes and passed me diseases. I am now infected with diseases.

    I have lost my job and Sandy Hurrican hit my house.
    I am now homeless and have no money. I have rashes in my arms and I broke my front tooth.
    I was robbed and mugged by 2 black males and I am injured. I have medical and dental bills to pay
    No one cares. I am at the bottom of the hell right now.
    I wonder what's next to hurt me. Please help me.

    January 7, 2013 at 11:59 AM
  67. cara menggugurkan hamil said...

    kandungan dengan cepat dan akurat terbukti ampuh untuk melunturkan janin kehamilan muda 1 minggu hingga 1 , 2 , 3 dan 4 bulan

    August 21, 2018 at 12:32 AM