Origin from 1956
The Erawan Shrine stands at a busy intersection in central Bangkok, built in 1956 around a gilded statue of the four-faced Hindu deity Brahma, known in Thai popular devotion as Phra Phrom. It was erected, according to the widely repeated founding account, after a string of accidents during construction of the adjoining Erawan Hotel ceased once a Brahmin priest advised installing a shrine to the deity. Since then it has grown into one of the most visited devotional sites in Thailand, drawing worshippers of many backgrounds who leave floral garlands, wooden elephant figurines and hired classical dancers in thanks for granted wishes, a practice scholars read as characteristic of Thai popular religion's comfortable blending of Brahmanical, animist and Buddhist elements rather than as evidence of any one tradition's exclusive claim on the site.
Facts
Origins
Origin Period RegionSourced to the subject's own account Attributions
TraditionHindu and Buddhist (Thai) 2 Status
Status TodayIn active religious use 1 Current StatusActive and among the most visited devotional sites in Bangkok, drawing worshippers across religious backgrounds seeking granted wishes. 1 Geography
Latitude13.7 degrees north 2Tradition: Encyclopaedia Britannica Longitude100.5 degrees east 2Tradition: Encyclopaedia Britannica Site
Type of Site Type of Site DetailUrban shrine in Bangkok built around a statue of the Hindu deity Brahma, a major site of Thai popular devotion. 2 Iconography
SymbolSourced to the subject's own accountThe gilded four-faced statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma, on its pedestal at the shrine. 4 In Other Languages (17 names)
- ইরাওয়ান ব্রহ্মা মন্দির, ব্যাংকক
- Santuari d'Erawan
- Erawan-Schrein
- Santuario de Erawan
- Sanctuaire d'Erawan
- מקדש ארוואן
- エーラーワンの祠
- 에라완 사원
- Erawan-helligdommen
- Алтарь Эраван
- Erawans helgedom
- பிரம்மன் கோயில், தாய்லாந்து
- ఎరావాన్ పుణ్యక్షేత్రం
- ศาลท้าวมหาพรหม โรงแรมเอราวัณ
- ایراون مندر
- San Phra Phrom
- 伊拉旺神壇
Location
Connections
Associated With
This source names Bangkok directly: "at a busy intersection in central Bangkok, built in 1956 around a gilded statue of the four-faced Hindu deity Brahma, known in Thai popular devotion as Phra Phrom."
Source Mediums, Monks, and Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today (Kitiarsa)Pattana Kitiarsa
This source names Brahma directly: "statue of the four-faced Hindu deity Brahma, known in Thai popular devotion as Phra Phrom."
Source Mediums, Monks, and Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today (Kitiarsa)Pattana Kitiarsa
Source Mediums, Monks, and Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today (Kitiarsa)Pattana Kitiarsa
This source names Erawan Shrine directly: "Wikipedia's article on the Erawan Shrine, read directly for this pass, which states the shrine stands at the Ratchaprasong intersection of Ratchadamri Road in Bangkok's Pathum Wan district and..."
Source Erawan Shrine (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
This source names Erawan Shrine directly: "It documents the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok, built in 1956 around a statue of the four-faced Hindu deity Brahma known in Thai as Phra Phrom, and its rise into one of the most visited..."
Source Mediums, Monks, and Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today (Kitiarsa)Pattana Kitiarsa
This source names Thailand directly: "the most visited devotional sites in Thailand, drawing worshippers of many backgrounds who leave floral garlands, wooden elephant figurines and hired classical dancers in thanks for granted wishes..."
Source Mediums, Monks, and Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today (Kitiarsa)Pattana Kitiarsa
Belongs to Tradition
The Erawan Shrine's own deity and ritual form are Hindu-Brahmanist in origin, distinct from the mostly-Buddhist tradition of the majority of its visitors.
Source Mediums, Monks, and Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today (Kitiarsa)Pattana Kitiarsa
Contained In
Source Erawan Shrine (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Originated In
Source Erawan Shrine (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Sacred To
The Erawan Shrine is dedicated to Phra Phrom, the Thai devotional form of the Hindu god Brahma, within a predominantly Buddhist country.
Source Erawan Shrine (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
In the Other Atlases
Located In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.
Sources
1. Mediums, Monks, and Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today (Kitiarsa)
Pattana Kitiarsa, Silkworm Books, 2012
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (online academic reference)
Encyclopaedia Britannica editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 2024Gazetteer coordinates for the shrine at the Ratchaprasong intersection, BangkokView the Source 3. Wikidata: Erawan Shrine
Wikidata Q1235886, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source 4. Erawan Shrine (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia, 2026Wikipedia, Erawan Shrine, statue description
Closer view of the four-faced Brahma (Phra Phrom) statue
Location at the Ratchaprasong intersection, Bangkok
The shrine is near the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, at the Ratchaprasong intersection of Ratchadamri Road in Lumphini Subdistrict, Pathum Wan District.
- Originated In: Southeast Asia, Stored region property on this entity, cited to this source: Southeast Asia
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