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