Erawan Shrine Destroyed

[kenk3z]

I believe I have that right - just saw something on the news. Apparently the famous shrine near the Erawan hotel. The figure inside appears to be totally gone, smashed.

And it seems the person who did the deed came upon bad luck rather quickly. Some bystander(s) killed him.

kenk3z

[sriracha john]

Man lynched to death after breaking apart much-revered Phra Prom statue

A 27-year-old man was lynched to death early Tuesday morning after he completely destroyed the much-revered statue of Brahma god of creator or Pra Prom at Hyatt Erawan Hotel.

Police said the man used a hammer to break apart the statue at around 1 am and tried to flee but were caught up by taxi drivers and other people in the area and were assaulted and killed about 50 metres away from the shrine.

Two hours later, his father, Sayan Pakdeepol, told police at the Lumpini Police station, that his son Thanakorn Pakdeepol, 27, had been suffering from depression since he was conscripted into military service when he was 21 years old.

The statue was completely ravaged, only the base remained. The head of the statue was broken and fell to the ground, police said.

- TN

[sriracha john]

Man attacks Bangkok's famed Brahman statue

Bangkok (dpa) - A mentally disturbed man was killed early Tuesday after he destroyed a much revered Brahman statue at the Erawan Shrine - one of Bangkok's most popular places of worship, police and eyewitnesses said.

Thanakorn Pakdeepol, 27, was found dead in a pool of blood outside the shrine shortly after he attacked the sacred image at 1 a.m., police said.

"I saw him climb over the fence and use a hammer to hit the statute," said Wandee Vichai, 42, a vendor who was one of the few eyewitnesses to the incident.

"I started to scream and some trash collectors came out and chased after the man. When I caught up with them he was lying dead on the pavement," Wandee told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa.

Lumpinee Police Colonel Supisarn PakdeeNarunart said two suspects had been arrested for Thanakorn's slaying.

The victim's father Saiyan Pakdeepol said his son had suffered from mental illness for several years and was nervous and depressed on Monday, one of Bangkok's hottest so far this hot season when the temperature reached 39 degrees centigrade.

Saiyan said his son had a breakdown and ran out of the house at midnight.

The Erawan Shine stands next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in central Bangkok. The shrine was built in 1956, one year after the original government-owned Erawan Hotel was opened as one of the capital's first international class establishments.

Rear Admiral Luang Suwichanphaet, a specialist in astrology, advised the hotel management to construct the shrine with the Thao Maha Brahma statue, also known as Phra Pom, on the corner of its property to ensure good fortune.

The Erawan Hotel was bought by the Hyatt hotel group about 14 years ago.

The shrine is a popular place of worship for Buddhists and Hindus from Thailand and abroad, especially among tourists from Hong Kong and Singapore.

"We're worried the destruction of Phra Pom will affect our business," said vendor Wandee. "There are more than 50 families that make their living off selling items of worship to people who come here."

- BP

[The Coder]

Shocking. What a tragedy. I really don't know what to say.

[Plus]

Terrible loss.

[Ulysses G.]

I hope that they can replace it quickly. Seeing people waiting there is one of my first memories of Bangkok and of Thailand.

[taxexile]

also hope that those responsible for the murder are punished appropriately too.

sad that his depression remained untreated for so long.

the shrine can be rebuilt very quickly , and the whinging vendors of the overpriced tat will no doubt survive , but a young man has been beaten to death , his family will suffer for a long time.

[Patex]

One more sign of Taksins falling star...

[sriracha john]

additional information:

Much-revered Phra Prom statue destroyed

A man described to be mentally-deranged hammered the much-revered statue of Pra Prom or Brahma 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.

"I've been selling garlands here for 30 years but I've never seen this man. He appeared like a mad man while hammering Pra Prom," Wandee said.

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 left home, which was in the same neighbourhood with the shrine, at midnight. The father said he had not heard from his son after learning that he was killed.

"My son arrived home at 8 pm and went to bed. I went upstairs to his room to give him a cold drug but he appeared angry and threatened to harm people in the house," Sayan said.

"He left the house ad midnight and I don't know where he was so I called 191 police to inform them for fear that he would assault other people."

Although Brahama statue belongs to a Hindi god it is much revered by Thai Buddhists and Buddhists from other Asian countries who flocked to the statue to pay respect and ask for blessing.

Foreign tourists also like to visit the shrine to see traditional dancers, who were hired by those had seen their wishes come true, perform.

- TN

[Sandstone Art]

I was shocked to read the news this morning....

Apprently, one of my friend that just went to worship during the weekend (late night time) saw someone similar to that man mentioned liotering around the place....

The shrine used to open '24hrs' but seems to close by mid-night lately....

Terrible lost!

[siamesekitty]

OH MY BUDDHA.

[PREM-R]

The father said he had not heard from his son after learning that he was killed.

Did he expect a call from beyond the grave?

[englishoak]

If any of you know how important that shrine is you will understand the reaction of the Thai's.

Although sad the man died it does not surprise me in the least as to his fate........ And as far as the killers go they did what was the only expected reaction in that situation...... Total outrage and instant action, I hope they are vindicated of the crime this is clearly a case of diminished responsibility in my book.

Mess with sacred religeous shrines and thats what happens......... What do you think would have happened in a large number of other countries? ...........Possibly most depending on the shrine.

Edited March 21, 2006 by englishoak

[Plus]

There's no doubt people who beat the guy to death will be exonerated.

[mike_l]

An article on the BBC website mentions the guy who destroyed it was a Thai Muslim, let's hope that doesn't cause even further repercussions as it seems to have the potential to

[Jai Dee]

Man smashes Erawan statue, beaten to death

Bangkok (dpa) - A mentally disturbed Muslim man was killed early Tuesday after he destroyed a much revered Brahman statue at the Erawan Shrine - one of Bangkok's most popular places of worship, police and eyewitnesses said.

Thanakorn Pakdeepol, 27, was found dead in a pool of blood outside the shrine shortly after he attacked the sacred image at 1 a.m., police said.

"I saw him climb over the fence and use a hammer to hit the statute," said Wandee Vichai, 42, a vendor who was one of the few eyewitnesses to the incident.

"I started to scream and some trash collectors came out and chased after the man. When I caught up with them he was lying dead on the pavement," Wandee told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa.

Lumpinee Police Colonel Supisarn PakdeeNarunart said two suspects had been charted with murder in Thanakorn's slaying.

The victim's father Saiyan Pakdeepol said his son had suffered from mental illness for several years and was nervous and depressed on Monday. He had a breakdown and ran out of the house at midnight.

The Erawan Shine stands next to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in central Bangkok. The shrine was built in 1956, one year after the original government-owned Erawan Hotel was opened as one of the capital's first international class establishments.

Rear Admiral Luang Suwichanphaet, a specialist in astrology, advised the hotel management to construct the shrine with the Thao Maha Brahma statue, also known as Phra Pom, on the corner of its property to ensure good fortune.

The Erawan Hotel was bought by the Hyatt hotel group about 14 years ago.

The shrine is a popular place for Buddhists and Hindus to ask favours, and is a tourist highlight, particularly visitors from Hong Kong and Singapore.

"We're worried the destruction of Phra Pom will affect our business," said vendor Wandee. "There are more than 50 families that make their living off selling items of worship to people who come here."

Source: Bangkok Post - 21 Mar 2006

[englishoak]

An article on the BBC website mentions the guy who destroyed it was a Thai Muslim, let's hope that doesn't cause even further repercussions as it seems to have the potential to

Now that is more cause for concern..........

[bkkjosh]

Thats really sad..

Knowing the 30 baht state medical system (and the way it works) I don't think he had much of a chance.. even if the depression hadn't gone undiagnosed.. the waiting periods between specialists like that are often many months. I'm not sure if the ultimate responsibility here lies with the government for their poor health system.

A real tradgedy. As if there isn't enough religious tension in thailand at the moment...

[Samuian]

Well after all, what ever has driven him do destroy the statue, it was only a statue, an Image of Brahma - he didn't destroy Brahma - cause he couldn't.

So far about worhsip and hangups of images, after all it's only business, ever thought about this?

He paid for his deed almost instantly, his killers must have been fierce "believers"... certainly no Brahmins and very far away from buddhist values!

It will be repaired, restored and the jingle, jangle willl go on....no worries..

[astral]

Sacrilige.

At least his mental illness has now been permanently cured.

[udon]

Erawan Shrine before attack

[camerata]

For serious Buddhists I think this incident is a fine example of the core teaching that all things are impermanent. The image is gone and the man who destroyed it is gone. It's a pity people had to beat the guy to death since now we'll never know if he had a specific reason for doing it. Did he want to be famous? Was he a devout Buddhist who couldn't stand seeing fellow Thais beseeching a Hindu god for good fortune? We'll never know.

At least the image is only 50 years old and can easily be replaced. Kyoto's 14th century Golden Pavilion (a Zen temple) was burnt down in 1950 by a deranged monk who objected to the beautiful temple on religious grounds. It must have cost a fortune to reconstruct.

[h5n1]

wow. that was one of the few cool things about bangkok. going to mix it up with all the thais at the shrine.

name does not sound muslim - but if he was, im sure the blow will not go unanswered.

one good thing about thailand is that they will build it back better than ever, revere the ruins and it will be double special place i think.

wow- i was just showing the shrine to a friend last week while in bkk - wow.

yes - and camerata like bamiyan buddhas in afghanistan it goes to the heart of the dhamma.

~ impermanance (sp).

Edited March 21, 2006 by h5n1

[skippybangkok]

Cartoons in Europe, Shrines in Thailand. Be respectfull of other peoples beliefs no matter how ludicroious they may seem to you.

[The Coder]

Here's a look at it at night time before this event. This was a very special place even for me; part of what made me fall in love with Thailand.

[Plus]

Lots of stories were assosiated with this image. It had special powers.

[English Noodles]

Very sad, A Father and mother have lost there son. The Image will be replaced the son will not.

"We're worried the destruction of Phra Pom will affect our business," said vendor Wandee. "There are more than 50 families that make their living off selling items of worship to people who come here."

Yes that is what you are upset about.

Noodles.

[TopChinese]

I'm one of those many chinese who flock to the Erawan everytime Im in Bangkok. Something with "returning the favour" to the image after asking for help at a very difficult time with my mother's health. It is tragic to read about the destruction and the ensuring incident.

The image is well renowed in Singapore, Hong Kong and the other chinese countries for being very efficacious. It is a stop for many tour groups originating from chinese speaking countries so much so that the vendors can immediately identify who we are and tout their goods in perfect mandarin.

What are the effects of a broken image? As the image is supposed to embodied the nats of the erawan property, one should be cautious about angry spirts.

[bulmercke]

There's no doubt people who beat the guy to death will be exonerated.

The victim was mentally ill.

He should have been receiving psychiatric treatment, though I doubt at the time he was receiving any.

And under the circumstances it's tragic he should have lost his life in such a senseless manner. (Though I'm not defending his actions in any way.)

As for the murderers - and that's what they are - then there's absolutely no excuse for such debased and primitive behaviour, even if it was the wanton destruction of a much revered Buddha statue that they were insensed about.

Animals.

Edited March 21, 2006 by bulmercke

[tolsti]

I hope it is back when I visit in October.... I spent an hour there just people watching