When I went to the Erawan Shrine, the first thing the guide told us about the shrine was that Jackie Chan, the famous Hong Kong martial arts star, once visited the Shrine in 1996.
Mr.
Chan knew the shrine is Hindu, but he must have thought that the thousands of people who visited the shrine before him cannot be wrong about its ability to grant good fortune.
He offered prays and made offerings as part of his buddhist beliefs.
Since then his films have been one success after another even at his late age he is still going strong.
Was this a mere coincidence that brought him such success? Or was his success prompted by his visit to the shrine? Built in 1956 to appease the spirits who lived in the trees that were chopped down to make way for the Erawan Hotel, the Erawan Shrine holds a sculptural icon of Than Tao Mahaprom, a Brahma god (Hindu) who prizes and grants kindness, mercy, sympathy and impartiality.
Each of these attributes is represented by each of his four faces.
The expressions on the faces, although serene, give you the impression that the statue is about to rouse and discover you facing it.
Unfortunately, in 2006 a mentally ill man damaged the shrine.
The bystanders who witnessed the vandalism set on the man killing him.
The statue is mostly restored but work appeared to be still going on.
Just like Jackie Chan, another Hong Kong film star, Deborah Li, paid her respects to the God.
Ever since, she has had many successful movies as arguably a result.
Deborah was in tears when she heard that the statue had been damaged though.
The examples of success and fortune following visits to the shrine are well recorded and well known.
A sea people - tourists, local Thais, foreign and national dignitaries, and other visitors - flood the shrine everyday making ritual offerings from of floral garlands, food, fruits as well as teakwood elephants in the hope that their wishes will be fulfilled.
Judging from the multitude of believers, for many those wishes were indeed granted.
When I was there, several bus-loads of tourists were busy disembarking with cameras in hand while their buses blocked already congested city roads, which were further constricted by road works.
For many this is a holy pilgrimage - made many times - judging from the conversations I had with the other visitors.
Having got there, I was both impressed and dismayed that, although the four faced icon was beautiful, it was smaller than I expected.
I bought the required garlands, and made offerings of food and money at the altar.
Thai girls danced traditional dances but to be honest they did not have the finesse of trained dancers and looked more like students earning some money during summer recess.
Why do people visit the shrine? They are looking for good fortune and those who believe in the icon's (or Brahma's) power do indeed seem to benefit.
Perhaps the state of mind in the person changes to drive them onto success - just like Jackie Chan - or perhaps there really is a mystical force at work propelling true believers to success.
Whatever the true reality, the stories of good fortune, remission from cancer and career success abound.
A foundation distributes the money donations to various charitable organisations and buys equipment for hospitals in rural areas of Thailand.
The experience can be even more memorable if your visit to the shrine coincides with performances of Thai Classical Dance troupes or Chinese Lion dances making a memory of Bangkok more exotic.
Erawan is right at the heart of Bangkok, in the heart of the business district, next to the Sky Train service at Chit Lom and within a few minutes walk of the Siam Paragon and Central World shopping Malls.
In fact, the Grand Hyatt Bangkok is built adjacent to the shrine and sees no drop in business even during the recession.
Even if you are not particularly spiritual you may find that your fortunes change as a result of a visit to the shrine.
Mr.
Chan knew the shrine is Hindu, but he must have thought that the thousands of people who visited the shrine before him cannot be wrong about its ability to grant good fortune.
He offered prays and made offerings as part of his buddhist beliefs.
Since then his films have been one success after another even at his late age he is still going strong.
Was this a mere coincidence that brought him such success? Or was his success prompted by his visit to the shrine? Built in 1956 to appease the spirits who lived in the trees that were chopped down to make way for the Erawan Hotel, the Erawan Shrine holds a sculptural icon of Than Tao Mahaprom, a Brahma god (Hindu) who prizes and grants kindness, mercy, sympathy and impartiality.
Each of these attributes is represented by each of his four faces.
The expressions on the faces, although serene, give you the impression that the statue is about to rouse and discover you facing it.
Unfortunately, in 2006 a mentally ill man damaged the shrine.
The bystanders who witnessed the vandalism set on the man killing him.
The statue is mostly restored but work appeared to be still going on.
Just like Jackie Chan, another Hong Kong film star, Deborah Li, paid her respects to the God.
Ever since, she has had many successful movies as arguably a result.
Deborah was in tears when she heard that the statue had been damaged though.
The examples of success and fortune following visits to the shrine are well recorded and well known.
A sea people - tourists, local Thais, foreign and national dignitaries, and other visitors - flood the shrine everyday making ritual offerings from of floral garlands, food, fruits as well as teakwood elephants in the hope that their wishes will be fulfilled.
Judging from the multitude of believers, for many those wishes were indeed granted.
When I was there, several bus-loads of tourists were busy disembarking with cameras in hand while their buses blocked already congested city roads, which were further constricted by road works.
For many this is a holy pilgrimage - made many times - judging from the conversations I had with the other visitors.
Having got there, I was both impressed and dismayed that, although the four faced icon was beautiful, it was smaller than I expected.
I bought the required garlands, and made offerings of food and money at the altar.
Thai girls danced traditional dances but to be honest they did not have the finesse of trained dancers and looked more like students earning some money during summer recess.
Why do people visit the shrine? They are looking for good fortune and those who believe in the icon's (or Brahma's) power do indeed seem to benefit.
Perhaps the state of mind in the person changes to drive them onto success - just like Jackie Chan - or perhaps there really is a mystical force at work propelling true believers to success.
Whatever the true reality, the stories of good fortune, remission from cancer and career success abound.
A foundation distributes the money donations to various charitable organisations and buys equipment for hospitals in rural areas of Thailand.
The experience can be even more memorable if your visit to the shrine coincides with performances of Thai Classical Dance troupes or Chinese Lion dances making a memory of Bangkok more exotic.
Erawan is right at the heart of Bangkok, in the heart of the business district, next to the Sky Train service at Chit Lom and within a few minutes walk of the Siam Paragon and Central World shopping Malls.
In fact, the Grand Hyatt Bangkok is built adjacent to the shrine and sees no drop in business even during the recession.
Even if you are not particularly spiritual you may find that your fortunes change as a result of a visit to the shrine.