Much-revered Phra Prom statue destroyed - Bangkok Erawan

[Hasa Sas]

Shocked to see the news that the four face buddha being destroyed

bad omen

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Much-revered Phra Prom statue destroyed

A man described to be mentally-deranged hammered the most-revered Pra Prom or Brahmin creator god at the Hyatt Erawan Hotel and reduced it into pieces before he was lynched to death.

A garland vendor said she saw the man standing up on the base of the statue and hammered away the statue into pieces.

Only the part of lap and base of the statue were left intact. Its head was broken and fell off to the ground. Officials put up white cloth to hide the statue.


The man, who was later identified as Thanakorn Pakdeepol, 27, was assaulted by people near the scene and died about 50 metres away from the Pra Prom shrine.


The garland vendor, Wandee Wichai, 42, said she saw the man hammering the statue at 1 am and she shouted for help.


The man fled but was later caught up by some taxi drivers and people started to beat him up.


Pol Maj Gen Krissasda Phankhongchuen, deputy metropolitan police commissioner, said the man, who suffered severe injuries on his head, was barely alive when police arrived at the scene, which was on the opposite side of road from the Police Hospital.


He said police later arrested two garbage collectors and found an iron bar which one of them used to beat the man.


His father, Sayan Pakdeepol, told police at the Lumpini Police station, that his son, had been suffering from depression since he was conscripted into military service when he was 21 years old.


Sayan said he talked to his son at about 8 pm and he abruptly left home, which was in the same neighbourhood with the shrine. The father said he had not heard from his son after learning that he was killed.

[SmallD]

what a sad things....

[Happywheel]

Originally Posted by SmallD

what a sad things....

Will drop by to have a look since i'm putting up at novotel tomorrow

[vaxvms]

sad to read the news also


Thai Muslim killed after smashing Hindu statue
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A mentally-ill Muslim smashed a landmark Hindu statue in central Bangkok which was worshipped by people of many religions and was then beaten to death, police said on Tuesday.
Thanakorn Pakdeepol broke into the shrine housing the four-faced statue of Brahma, venerated by Hindus as the creator and to whom people prayed for anything from a child to winning the lottery, in the early hours of the morning, they said.

He then used a hammer to smash the statue, which has drawn tourists from around Asia to the shrine beside the five star Erawan hotel, where U.S. President George W. Bush stayed during a state visit in 2003.

"After a scream from a street vendor shouting our father was destroyed, I saw three or four men arresting that man and beating him up," taxi driver Somyos Srikamsuk told Channel 3 television. "He was unconscious, but still alive when police got there."

Two cleaners of the shrine were arrested and charged with murder, Police Colonel Supisan Pakdeenarunart told the television station.

Thanakorn, 27, had been in and out of mental hospitals over the past 10 years, said his father, Sayan.

People who believed the statue had granted their wishes offer gifts, with carved wooden elephants the most popular, and pay for Thai classical dances, making the shrine a lively spot.

A sign at the shrine says it was built 50 years ago to protect the Erawan hotel because the foundation stone was laid on an inauspicious day.

Police cordoned off the shrine compound with yellow tape and the statue itself was draped in white sheets. Offerings of yellow garlands and lotus flowers lay nearby.

Dozens of people gathered on the pavement, clasping their hands in silent prayer and lighting incense sticks and candles.

"This is so sad. It cannot be good luck," said tourist San Trinh, a 50-year-old Cambodian living in California.

He visited the shrine a few years ago after his sister had been denied permission twice to visit the United States. But after he made offerings at the shrine, she was granted a visa.


"Many people really believe in this place," he told Reuters.
(Additional reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan)

[sibaysong4u]

So sad to hear that.

[smelly-bye]

Originally Posted by sibaysong4u

So sad to hear that.

yeah so unfortunate

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 22 March 2006 :-

Things to improve from now: Chidchai

The turmoil in Thailand will subside because the Brahma statue at the Erawan Shrine has made a self-sacrifice and borne the bad luck troubling the country, said Pol General Chidchai Wannasathid, acting deputy prime minister.

"I have talked to an astrologer who told me that the incident could be seen as a self-sacrifice of Phra Phrom. The situation should now start to improve," he said.

"I have also had a telephone conversation with Bovornsak Uwanno, the secretary of the Cabinet about this self sacrifice of Thao Maha Phrom. This time we have a sacrifice of love in a great way, which should help dispel the bad luck."

Chidchai was speaking at the Erawan Shrine yesterday during Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's inspection of the remnants of the four-faced statue, hammered to pieces by a man with a record of mental illness on Tuesday.

It was a shocking incident for the Bangkok public, who have worshipped the Brahma statue for the past 50 years.

Thaksin took time in the afternoon to visit the shrine, where he was met by Surakiart Sathirathai, the deputy prime minister, and the heads of the Fine Arts Department, Religion Department and Foundation of Thao Maha Phrom.

Thaksin said it would take about two months to restore the statue to its original shape. "The restoration will have to strictly follow the religious principles and all the rituals. Some parts of the original statue may also be placed at the shrine," he added.

Thaksin worshipped at the shrine before setting free nine birds as part of a merit-making ritual.

The desecration of Phra Phrom has triggered widespread rumours in the capital about the ill omens hovering over Thailand. Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said yesterday during the anti-Thaksin rally that something fishy was going on with the desecration of Phra Phrom. "Why was the man stomped to death after he smashed the statue? I have in-depth information about someone who is deeply obsessed with superstition. He wants to destroy Thao Maha Phrom so that he can rebuild it by himself and then bury "his stuff" in the statue. This is a way to avert ill omens," Sondhi said.

"Anybody who messes with superstition will also perish by superstition ... we have a leader, who is obsessed with superstition. That's why we have to suffer," Sondhi said.

There is a rumour that a high-ranking politician has linked his own luck with Phra Phrom at both Government House and Erawan Shrine, so that when people worship the Brahma statues, they also pray for his long life and power.

[KatoeyLover69]

Delete double postings .........

[siamcutey]

Originally Posted by KatoeyLover69

The desecration of Phra Phrom has triggered widespread rumours in the capital about the ill omens hovering over Thailand. Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said yesterday during the anti-Thaksin rally that something fishy was going on with the desecration of Phra Phrom. "Why was the man stomped to death after he smashed the statue? I have in-depth information about someone who is deeply obsessed with superstition. He wants to destroy Thao Maha Phrom so that he can rebuild it by himself and then bury "his stuff" in the statue. This is a way to avert ill omens," Sondhi said.

"Anybody who messes with superstition will also perish by superstition ... we have a leader, who is obsessed with superstition. That's why we have to suffer," Sondhi said.

There is a rumour that a high-ranking politician has linked his own luck with Phra Phrom at both Government House and Erawan Shrine, so that when people worship the Brahma statues, they also pray for his long life and power.

Sometimes these politicians really have such a 'fantasy' mind. Making use of every single opportunity, even by using religion to topple the official they do not like.

Sad case.


SC

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Friday 24 March 2006 :-

A royal touch for new Thao Maha Phrom installation

His Majesty the King will be invited to preside over a ritual during which a new Thao Maha Phrom statue will be made. His Majesty has also been asked to oversee the enshrining ceremony.

Deputy Prime sMinister Surakiart Sathirathai, as the chief of the committee overseeing the Thao Maha Phrom statue's restoration, said after a meeting with related organisations yesterday that the ritual to mould the new statue and recite incantations would be performed in both Buddhist and Brahman styles.

During the rites, after making merit to the creators of the old Thao Maha Phrom statue, the officials will open the base of the shrine and the pieces of the original statue will be crushed into a powder and placed inside, he said.

Preecha Kantiya, director-general of the Religious Department, said officials had started making a model of the new statue, which will take about 45 days.

It would then take 15 days to manufacture.

The new statue will then be placed at the Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong intersection, Surakiart said.

A man with a history of mental illness smashed the old statue to pieces with a hammer on Tuesday.

Surakiart said the Foundation of Thao Maha Phrom was willing to shoulder the restoration costs, but people could donate towards the restoration at provincial cultural centres across the country.

People living abroad can approach their nearest Thai embassy or consulate to hand in their donations.

The new statue will have round-the-clock guards protecting it.

[Spore Cuntel]

Yes, it's a sad thing.

I heard from a friend working in Thailand that some people picked up some small part of the destroyed statue and going to put into amulets before the police close the area. The rest will be put into the new statue that the govt is building.

I am asking my friend if he can try to find these amulets for me.

[acmilan]

Originally Posted by Spore Cuntel

Yes, it's a sad thing.

I heard from a friend working in Thailand that some people picked up some small part of the destroyed statue and going to put into amulets before the police close the area. The rest will be put into the new statue that the govt is building.

I am asking my friend if he can try to find these amulets for me.

I am a free-thinker...but does not seem instinctively good to take a part of something destroyed and hope to receive good from it. Much like those who rush to car accident not out of concern but to take down car number for 4D !

[MarkNgSiongBoon]

Muslim man with terrorist links destroyed it but media downplay this to avoid problems. This is Buddhist shrine with Hindu origins but the media also played up the Hindu factor as not to incite hatred towards muslims from the Buddhists.