Bangkok's Wat Arun Demon Loses Head To Lightning, Sparks Talk Of Ill Omen

[webfact]

Wat Arun demon loses head to lightning, sparks talk of ill omen

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Lightning has struck off the head of a sculpture of a 'yaksa' demon adorning the top of a pagoda at Wat Arun, one of Bangkok's most famous monasteries.

The Fine Arts Department was making urgent repairs and trying to dispel concerns that the falling head may be an ill omen.

"Don't interpret the incident. It's just an accident," department director-general Sahawat Naenna said yesterday.

He said it was fortunate that the falling head did not hurt anyone.

Sahawat said he had instructed officials to install a better lightning rod on the sculpture to prevent a recurrence of such a "shocking" incident.

Tarapong Srisuchart, who heads the department's Archaeology Bureau, said an electric current ran down the original lightning rod fixed above the head of the sculpture during a downpour last week.

"An explosion occurred and the head of the sculpture fell off," he said.

He said rods could be used to reattach the head to the neck of the sculpture, after which cement would be used to hold them together firmly.

"The process should be completed before the end of this month," Tarapong said.

Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome inspected Wat Arun yesterday.

Earlier this year, the head and neck of a horse sculpture adorning another small pagoda at Wat Arun broke off. Sukumol said repairs to that statue were complete.

The ministry has prepared a Bt130-million budget for the restoration of Wat Arun between 2013 and 2015, she said.

"Two small pagodas and two surrounding mandapas [pavilions] there are in a dilapidated state," she said. "In fiscal 2013 we will have a Bt39.7-million budget to restore these structures."

She said the main pagoda and the landscape of the riverside temple would be renovated in 2014 and 2015 with a budget of Bt130 million.

Though constructed in the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767), Wat Arun or Wat Chaeng (The Temple of the Dawn) became the monastery inside King Taksin's palace during the Thon Buri period (1767-1782). Thailand's most famous Buddha statue, the Emerald Buddha, was once enshrined at Wat Arun.

-- The Nation 2012-10-20

[asdecas]

Now that's what I call a CRACKDOWN!

[Farang0tang]

Nevermind the ill omen, I cant see any frigging lottery numbers in the rubble!

[thaigold]

It is an omen.

There's a bad moon rising. My sources in the United States say Mitt Romney's been wearing magic underwear made of kevlar since the lightning strike.

[vijer]

Buy buy buy! No No No. Sell Sell Sell! Paint your face white and run in circles and burn some incense. But first buy a lottery ticket,

[Puccini]

I wonder why there is so much negativity in Thailand's superstition. If it is a bad omen when a demon loses his head, what would be a good omen? When he grows a second head as a result of lightening?

[theajarn]

It is an omen.

There's a bad moon rising. My sources in the United States say Mitt Romney's been wearing magic underwear made of kevlar since the lightning strike.

YOU DON'T SAY~!

[joboss]

Some people may lose their heads.

[Chads]

For once, heads have rolled...

[Payboy]

If a demon lost his head, I'd think that's a jolly good omen.

Above post may contain matter offensive to some. Parental guidance is advised.

[EarthAlien]

It is an omen.

There's a bad moon rising. My sources in the United States say Mitt Romney's been wearing magic underwear made of kevlar since the lightning strike.

Does this mean that he joined the Mormons?

[samken]

Some people may lose their heads.

Some 'Head of Department' or warning to the 'Run away Head'?...

[Payboy]

I can confirm it's an omen. I got some head last night.

Above post may contain matter offensive to some. Parental guidance is advised.

[Chads]

This must have come as electrifying news!

[swift760]

(yawn)...pass the bala...