Here a shrine, there a shrine...

Here are a couple of interesting shrines to look out for. Could be a little good juju to add to your kharma.

The Trimurti Shrine (Lover's shrine)

On a Thursday evening exactly at 21:30 is when lovelorn singles wearing red turn to Trimurti, the god of love, with offerings of red roses - all in the name of love, and in the hope that they will meet their eternal sweethearts. The shrine is a landmark in front of CentralWorld, and was even slightly moved (at great expense) to make way for recent renovations. In Hinduism, Trimurti represents the three aspects of God: Brahma (the Source/Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver) and Shiva (the Transformer or Destroyer). Some resemblance with the concept of Trinity in Christianity is evident here. Many claim Trimurti is especially successful in matching foreign mates with Thai partners, and the shrine is so crowded on a Thursday night that you'll have to wait your turn. What we wouldn't do for love...

The deity is a gold statue of a human body with two heads and four arms. The heads are one on top of the other, and the lower head has four faces. Built in 1989, the Trimurti Shrine is on a raised platform, sheltered by a dome on four pillars with elaborately carved gables at the four sides. There's an open area around the shrine with a ring of seats for worshippers to sit and reflect. Crafted in classical Indian sculpture with a Thai touch, the statue is a replica of the original from Ayutthaya.

The Ganesha Shrine


Directly adjacent to Trimurti stands another important Hindu shrine, this time for Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. Ganesha is considered a master of intellect and wisdom, and visitors here seek to be blessed with artistic success and accomplishment. The deity is one of the more recognizable (at least for non-Hindus) because of his elephant head, human components (many arms), elements of serpents, and the big belly that it is depicted with. His attendant is a mouse.
Ganesha is often linked to the field of arts, but is, in fact, the Destroyer of Obstacles. Craftsmen would invoke Ganesha before embarking on a delicate process like stone carving, hence the link with the arts. He is also believed to be the god of good fortune, and revered by businessmen who wish for success in their ventures. Legend has it that Ganesha angered his father, who unwittingly cut off his own son's head. To make amends, he told his soldiers to bring the head of the first animal they encountered, which happened to be an elephant with one tusk. A red lotus is the main offering amongst many that are dedicated to this god.