My Thai friend asked me if
I am interested in buying a house in Thailand. Well, I told her as a matter of
fact that I don’t have money to buy a second house in Thailand … But I can still
spare some dollars to purchase a Thai spirit house J!
A spirit house or san “phra
phum” is a shrine to the protective spirit of a place that are found in the
Southeast Asian countries of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Most houses
and businesses have a spirit house placed in an auspicious spot, most often in
a corner of the property.
The location may be chosen
after consultation with a Brahmin priest. Usually the spirit house will occupy
one corner of the house compound - the shadow of the main house should never
fall on the spirit house. This would court disaster and entice the spirit to
move from its residence into the main house. But the art of placing the spirit
house goes much further than just keeping it out off the shadow of the main
house and is akin to the Chinese art of geomancy or feng shui. Often, when
misfortune strikes a family, one of their first actions is to refurbish and
move the spirit house.
There is a story told by my
Thai friend about the power of the spirit house:
Many years ago, a poor
young man travelled from Northern Thailand to Bangkok to look for job but was unsuccessful.
As he has no money he was forced to seek shelter in a recreational park. There
was a spirit house set up near where this young man was sleeping. So out of
desperate, he prayed to the spirit house and made a vow on the event that he
can find a decent job, he will refurbish the spirit house. Well, as what he had
wished for, he really got a job as a transporter the next day. After a few
weeks he already has a saving of 5000 Thai Baht! So he went back with some
offering and fulfilled his promise.
In the normal run of events
through, the spirit merely needs placating with food, incense, flowers, candles
and other offerings. Each has its own character and tastes: one family, facing
serious difficulties, employed a medium and to be told that, as their spirit
was a Muslim, he had been offended by being offered pork. The family changed
the spirit’s diet and the difficulties melted away.
Guests who stay at night
should ideally ask the spirit for permission and then visit the shrine again
before leaving.
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