 The
belief in the supernatural power of unseen and unproven phenomena
is in the Thai blood. Even though most Thais are followers
of Buddhism, Thai people also pay respect to icons and symbolic
figures of holy spirits.
In
every compound throughout Thailand: people's houses, hotels,
hospitals, or office buildings, there is invariably a shrine
containing a venerated icon or sacred statue; or a miniature
of a gaily-painted Thai house, placed at a level slightly
higher than the eyes of a standing person. It symbolizes the
abode of the Lord of the Land, a holy spirit who protects
the dwellers from any unseen troubles.
Such
beliefs are a mixture of Animism, Hinduism and Buddhism, well
integrated into the Thai culture. This faith plays a great
role in the daily lives of the Thai people.
Both
Thai and Chinese houses host these guardian spirits. When
a new home is built, a suitable place in the garden or the
house is selected for a spirit house or a shrine. Usually,
it faces either north or south, preferably north. It must
not be placed at a spot where the owner's house overshadows
it; otherwise the spirits will not reside there.
 The
Thai and Chinese guardian spirits share a number of similarities.
The Chinese shrine also has a wooden carved picture of the
spirit, usually with one hand holding a book. It is believed
that the deaths of people under the spirit's protection are
recorded in the book.
The
shrine or spirit house usually contains an outer terrace where
daily offerings to the guardian spirit are placed. Food offerings,
together with fresh flowers, incense sticks and candles are
placed on the small gallery of the little house on important
days such as Buddhist holy days and New Year's Day. It is
a rule that food should not be offered later than 11.00 am.
Firm
believers feel that such beliefs help uplift the spiritual
strength of people. If anyone has a feeling of misfortune
and wants to overcome this difficulty or has a great need
for something, which is seemingly impossible to obtain, they
will ask the spirit to help fulfill their wishes.
Apart
from the spirit house, there are also landmark shrines that
have become famous places of worship in several places in
Bangkok and the provinces.
Visitors
unfamiliar to Bangkok, passing the Ratchaprasong intersection,
may raise an eyebrow as they see crowds of people paying homage
at a golden shrine. That is the Erawan or Phra Phrom Shrine,
one of the most sacred shrines in Bangkok.
Many
people come to pray at the Erawan Shrine, beseeching the spirits
there to fulfill their wishes or help bring them luck and
prosperity. This shrine is believed to be so sacred and powerful
that visitors from as far away as China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore
and Malaysia come to pay their respects and make a wish at
the shrine.
 Sometimes,
people will promise a reward to the holy spirit in return
for help in fulfilling their wishes. A reward can be an offering
of food or a number of servants, elephants or horses. Hence,
miniature servants or animals, which are made of wood, clay
or paper, can be seen around the shrine, to symbolize living
servants and animals.
Apart
from Erawan Shrine, you will see many other sacred shrines
all over Bangkok and other parts of Thailand.
Popular
places of worship, other than Phra Phrom shrine, include the
Equestrian Statue of King Rama V, the Chinese Chao Phor Seu
shrine, and the City Pillar (Lak Muang) shrine. Everyday,
these shrines are frequented and honored by firm believers.
They can get very crowded, especially on holy days.
So
if you wonder why, next time you see a Thai delivering a deep
and graceful 'wai' when there don't seem to be any people
around, they are probably making a wish or just paying respects
to a sacred shrine somewhere close by.
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