Erawan Shrine, in Bangkok, is often called Four-Faced Buddha Shrine. It was built in 1956, under an astrologer’s advice, as part of d Erawan Hotel to offset the bad influence or to eliminate the bad karma believed to cause hotel construction mishaps and labor-injury accidents. After the Brahma statue was designed, built and enshrined in Erawan Shrine in November 1956, in general, the Hotel construction was proceeded without accidents or delay. Because of its spirit or mercy or magic power, the same statue, made of metal or other material was also casted and erected in a few other major construction or hotel sites in Thailand.

Erawan Shrine is also called Thao Maha Phrom Shrine, which is actually a Hindu shrine which worships Phra Phrom, a Hindu God of Creation. But in Thai Buddhist theology, Phra Phrom is known as Lord Brahma who is full of kindness, mercy, sympathy and impartiality and is God of these 4 Virtues, and these four virtues are represented by his four faces, each delivering peaceful grace and serene virtue to the worshippers.

Worshippers, especially Chinese worshippers from Hong Kong and Taiwan, believe that the four-faced god is extremely efficacious. If their wishes do come true after praying, most believers will come back to fulfill their wishes. That is why there is always no shortage of the required offerings around the Shrine’s altar. Some believers do perform singing, dancing and music themselves or hire dancers to accompany their prayers.

In Erawan Shrine, the Administration Desk does offer traditional Thai-style dance troupe to the worshippers in listed price, ranging from $ 300B for 2 dancers and $750B for 8 dancers’ performance [Feb 2024 listing price], although it is called as donation or contribution to the Shrine. For worshippers who prefer to pray more sincere or seriously with the dance troupe performance members, they generally would make donation to the Shrine, via the administration desk, and then wait in line for their praying time. When their praying time does come, they generally would knell in front of the 4-faced Goddess and pray when dancers perform their dance behind the worship-prayer.

The shrine is located near the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, Bangkok, and it can be easily accessed by BTS Skytrain [station name- Chit Lom], which has clear road sign for the Shrine.

Shrine does NOT allow incense and candles for worship practice from March 2020 due to health and environmental concerns. However, worshippers can buy flowers, wood elephant statues of various sizes for worship. Believers can also buy small birds for mercy release to the sky.

While there are no strict rules at the shrine, it is advisable to wear clothing that cover shoulders and knees. Shrine is free for entrance and photo is allowed.

Hinduism in Thailand seems to be affected by Thai culture and gradually adopts certain worship practices, religious and Architectual decoration of Thai Buddhism. Is this Thailandization for Hinduism in Thailand? Visitors may know it if they visit a few Buddhist and Hinduist temples in Bangkok.