The depiction of Phra Phrom (aka “Thao Maha Phrom”, the Thai representation of the Hindu god Brahma) at Erawan shrine is a relatively new edition to the city’s sacred scene. During the construction of the nearby Erawan Hotel (now the Hyatt) in the early 1950s, a handful of deaths and several other accidents led workers to quit their jobs en masse due to fears that the spirits of the land had not been sufficiently placated before building began and were, as a result, unleashing their anger on the unfortunate workers.
Following the instructions of a renowned astrologer, a gold plated, four-faced statue of Phra Phrom was dedicated on an auspicious date in 1956 to soothe the terrestrial spirits. Before being officially mounted in its glittering open-air case, the statue underwent an elaborate series of ceremonies that included being consecrated by both Buddhist monks and Hindu Brahmans in some of Bangkok’s most sacred venues. Every last detail of the statue’s consecration and official debut was carefully considered, right down to the exact minute it was mounted.