Devasathan

13°45′9.1368″N 100°30′2.1924″E / 13.752538000°N 100.500609000°E / 13.752538000; 100.500609000ArchitectureTypeThai ArchitectureCreatorRama ICompleted1784WebsiteDevasthan

Devasathan (Thai: เทวสถานโบสถ์พราหมณ์; RTGS: Thewasathan Bot Phram; meaning 'the abode of the gods') or Royal Brahmin Office of Thai Royal Court (Thai: สำนักพราหมณ์พระราชครูในสำนักพระราชวัง) is a Hindu temple near Wat Suthat in the Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple is the official centre of Hinduism in Thailand. The temple is the home of the Court Brahmins, who are descended from an ancient lineage of priests from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. The Brahmins perform many important royal and religious ceremonies for the Monarchy of Thailand every year. The temple was founded in 1784 by King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty.

Structures

The temple is enclosed by a white wall. The temple is dominated by three large rectangular buildings, on an East to West axis. Each of the three white structures is a shrine dedicated to a particular Hindu deity.

• Phra Isuan Shrine (สถานพระอิศวร) – Shiva. The largest shrine is located to the south and is the centre of Shaivist worship. In the western end is an altar. Under a white canopy stands a large bronze statue of a blessing Shiva, on either side are statues of dancing Shivas. Other figures include those of Uma (Shiva's wife) and Nandi (Shiva's vehicle). In the middle stands two upright posts to which a small swing-seat is suspended on certain ceremonial occasions.^[1]
• Phra Phikkhanesuan Shrine (สถานพระพิฆเนศวร) – Ganesha. The shrine is the one in the middle. The shrine contains five statues of sitting Ganesha, made of granite, sandstone, bronze and two of green stone.^[2]
• Phra Narai Shrine (สถานพระนารายณ์) – Narayana or Vishnu. The shrine is located in the north and is the centre of Vaishnavist worship. The shrine contains a large statue of Vishnu and a smaller statue of Lakshmi and Bhūmi^[3] (Vishnu's wife).^[4] In the middle stands two upright posts to which a small swing-seat is suspended on certain ceremonial occasions.
• A small outdoor shrine to Phra Phrom Shrine (ศาลท้าวมหาพรหม) – Brahma. Similar in appearance to the Erawan Shrine.^[5]
• The Giant Swing, is located outside in front of the temple, it was once used for a ceremony called the Triyamphway Ceremony (Triyampavai-Tripavai). The ceremony was discontinued in 1935.

See also

Places of Worship

Buddhist temples (Wats)	Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple) Wat Bowonniwet Wat Champa Wat Chana Songkram Wat Hong Rattanaram Wat Ko Wat Kalayanamitr (Big Buddha) Wat Mahathat Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen Wat Pathum Khongkha Wat Pathum Wanaram Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha) Wat Prayurawongsawat Wat Rakhangkhositaram Wat Ratchabophit Wat Ratchaburana (Wat Liap) Wat Ratchanatdaram Wat Ratchapradit Wat Saket (Golden Mount) Wat Suthat (Giant Swing) Wat Suwannaram Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) Wat Yannawa
Churches	Holy Rosary Church Assumption Cathedral Holy Redeemer Church Immaculate Conception Church Santa Cruz Church
Other religious buildings	Bang Luang Mosque (Kudi Khao) Devasathan Erawan Shrine Giant Swing (Sao Chingcha) Guan Yu Shrine Guanyin Shrine Kian Un Keng Shrine Lak Mueang (City Pillar Shrine) Leng Buai Ia Shrine Mariamman Temple Tiger God Shrine Ton Son Mosque Wat Dibayavari Vihara (Kham Low Yi) Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Leng Noei Yi) Wat Bamphen Chin Phrot (Yong Hok Yi)

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