Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Spirit House







Spirits in Thailand

Spirits are all over the place in Thailand. They live in rivers, trees, the sea, mountains, on boats, in cars and anywhere else you can think of. When a house is built, it has inevitably displaced the resident spirit that lived on or in that land. This is not good! Obviously the spirit needs to be appeased. This is achieved by providing a Sahn Phra Phum (spirit house). A spirit house does not need to be a big structure for a house but it does have to be beautifully and ornately made. Also, the Sahn Phra Phum must be cared for on a daily basis with offerings of food, flowers, incense and prayers.
When the Spirit House first arrives it must be correctly positioned so as to enjoy the 'best aspect' and the correct offerings (food, flowers) in exactly the correct way must be made. This can only be done, of course, by a Holy Man or 'Phram' who presents all the intitial offerings in the appropriate manner. Prayers are then offered and the Sahn Phra Pum is ready to move in and adopt its role as Guardian Spirit or Phra Phum Chao Tih.

This tradition has its roots in Hinduism. If you've ever been to India or Thailand (and many other Asian countries) you may have seen some massive Sahn Phra Phum's specially if there's a major business involved. Inside these large 'spirit houses' you may see a four faced, eight armed Guardian Spirit who is Toa Ma Ha Phrom. Being able to look in four directions at once, he is able to foresee anything potentially harmful affecting the business he protects and thus prevent misfortune....only the good things get through!

So, now we have a properly installed Sahn Phra Phum erected and blessed, we are expecting good fortune to befall all who come to stay in the house!

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