The Erawan Museum

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The Erawan Museum: Convergence of Dreams, Faith and Gratitude The Erawan Museum: Convergence of Dreams, Faith and Gratitude


Behind the huge fort-like walls stands the Erawan whose height is about that of a 14-storey building standing on the circular building.

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The Erawan Museum : Convergence of Dreams, Faith and Gratitude Story : Photos :

Vanchai Tan Sakol Kasemphant, Bansit Bunyaratavej, Boonkit Suthiyananon Wichit Sae-Heng, Pravej Tantrapirom

The astonishing sight of a colossal

the conception of constructing an apple

three-headed copper elephant located in

shape architecture, functioning as the most

Samut Prakan takes everyone’s breath away,

important building in the community.

and has become a new striking symbol of Thailand_a country whose famous animal

According to western belief, the fruit played

figure is the elephant.

Mr. Viriyahbhun was enthusiastic about the

a crucial part in shaping human destiny.

This three-headed elephant, Aira-

idea, nevertheless, considered it more

vata of Hindu mythology, was born of the dreams of Mr. Lek Viriyahbhun_Thailand’s

appropriate to adhere to Eastern traditions.

first and only Mercedes Benz dealer. Inspired

He thus decided on the heavenly elephant Airavata _ the vehicle of the god Indra.

by his great interest in cultures and philoso-

However, he preferred this three-headed

phy, Mr. Viriyahbhun also owned two other construction sites that hold world records_

elephant to symbolise the centre of the

Muang Boran (Ancient City) which is

represent the spiritual heart of the lands.

universe and, as such, the building would

believed to be the world’s largest outdoor

Mr. Viriyahbhun had designed the

museum, and Sanctuary of Truth on the

building and had passed on the plan to his

beach of Pattaya Bay which is the world’s

eldest son, Mr. Pakpiern Viriyahbhun, before

most gigantic wooden edifice.

he passed away.

From a little clay elephant, the

The building is divided into two

model was scaled up to become a 43-meter

parts. Above stands the gigantic three-

tall construction, as high as 14-storey build-

headed elephant sculpture. It was built

ing (including the museum part). Only the

with more than a hundred thousand small

elephant itself weighs nearly 300 tons. As

copper pieces of 4x8 feet on average. Some

a non-commercial antiques collector,

was as small as human palm. Each one

Mr. Viriyahbhun wished that this construction

was crafted and shaped by hand. It

would be a place where sacred objects of

required 270 craftsmen to assemble these

Thai and foreign cultural heritage from his

small copper pieces into a massive elephant

collection were housed and revered.

statue, the first of its kind and the world’s

The first idea conceived when a

greatest manually crafted copper sculpture.

westerner paid him a visit and suggested

The elephant’s trunk is made hollow and

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decorated to portray as heaven in Thai

ask for blessings and favours from this

mythology. Its four legs are cleverly designed

colossal elephant statue.

to hide electrical wires, water pipes, elevators and other mechanical instruments.

This museum also stands as a tribute to the affection and gratitude that a son,

Below is a round building painted

Mr. Pakpiern Viriyahbhun, has towards his

in pastel pink like an old stone edifice, which

beloved father, Mr. Lek Viriyahbhun and

is used as museum. Inside the museum hall,

his commitment to make his father’s

not only are valuable antiques of ancient

dream come true, although it has taken

Thai culture preserved, but it is also deco-

more than 10 years to complete. It shows

rated with many alluring objects of contem-

that, with the power of their dreams, faith

porary arts. The highlights are a world map

and gratitude, they can do what most people

made of stained glass by a German artist

think impossible. As a visitor said, “what

on the ceiling at the entrance, handmade

they built today will in the future become

stuccos by Thai artists from Petchaburi,

a masterpiece of art that the world will have

and decorative ornaments furbished with

to observe. No one would ever dare or be

polychrome chinaware from both Thailand

crazy enough to build these things.”

and China. The hall is supported by four pillars covered with tin plates on which stories of the four major religions_Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism _ are embossed. Exhibitions of philosophy and history of the Erawan Museum are displayed in the basement. As a result of the strong Hindu influence in Thailand’s Buddhism, the massive three-headed Airavata sculpture has inevitably become an object of worship and homage among Thai people. The name “God Elephant” has also been given by those who have come to pay respects and

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The iron beams which support the stairs are made into Ananda Fish according to Tribhum, a Buddhist literary work which says that this fish is under the world and there will be an earthquake if it turns its body.

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The combination of Eastern and Western arts is used to decorate the abdomen of the Erawan. One can see the universe drawn according to the western art and Sumeru Mountain and heavens drawn according to Tribhum.

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Mr. Lek (furthest left) and Mr. Pakpiern Viriyahbhun (left) who materialized their dream. (opposite page) The museum which looks like a city hall was built according to Mr. Lek’s wish. There is a three-headed elephant which seems like it is moving its heads standing on a dome-roofed building. It seems that this elephant is standing on the world.

Driving towards Samut Prakan Province and

advisor of Muang Boran, said that about a

over Samrong Bridge as far as 3 kilometers,

decade ago Mr. Lek Viriyahbhun, founder of

one will see enormous fort-like walls on the left.

Muang Boran, planned to build a cultural center

Behind the walls stands Airavata or Erawan, the

and a school for ten kinds of craftsmanship on

three-headed elephant of Hindu mythology, on

an area of 1,000 rai on the Bang Pakong River,

a circular structure.

Chachoengsao Province. The height of the

At the onset of its construction, people

planned structure was 210 meters which was

in the vicinity thought that just another tall build-

as high as a 70-storey building and on top

ing would be built there, not being aware that the

of it would be a 90-meter (30-storey building)

structure which took ten years to finish would be

three-headed elephant. In addition, there were

a three-headed elephant.

numerous buildings in the compound and the

“I was amazed when I first saw it. When-

model and the landscape were developed. Even

ever I drive pass it, I think it’s very big already

though everything looked set to go as planned,

but when I came here and had a closer look, it’s

they could not begin the construction as there

gigantic! I was puzzled at how it was built,” said

were some squatters settling in that area

a woman who came with her daughter to pay

who did not want to move out. Not wanting to

respects to the elephant.

cause a conflict, Mr. Lek decided not to carry out

Professor Srisakara Vallibhotama,

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the plan.


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Before Being the Erawan Museum

Knowing one’s goal is essential. But more importantly we have to move forward to achieve that goal.

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The Erawan in the Real World

What I do today is very important because I pay back by sacrificing a day of my life.

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Because of the belief that the Erawan is Indra’s means of transportation and its gigantic size, a lot people came to pay respects to it.

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The Erawan Museum: Convergence of Dreams, Faith and Gratitude The Erawan Museum: Convergence of Dreams, Faith and Gratitude


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