The Trimurti Shrine - in the quest for true love at the Lovers'
Shrine
The Trimurti Shrine is located at the busy Ratchaprasong
junction in downtown Bangkok at the corner of the Central World
Plaza, (former World Trade Centre) across the road from the
famous Erawan Shrine.
Though less hectic than the Erawan Shrine, the
Trimurti Shrine has an aura of its own. Legend has it that those
who pray here for true love will have their dreams fulfilled.
Worshippers are mostly local who normally come in the evenings
to make their offerings of garlands and joss sticks.
Trimurti refers to the Trinity of Hindu
Gods consisting of Brahma the creator,
Vishnu the sustainer and Siva the
destroyer, the three most important gods in Hinduism.
The deity is a gold statue of a human body with two heads and
four arms. The heads are one on top of the other; the lower head
has four faces.
Built in 1989, the Trimurti Shrine is on a raised platform,
sheltered by a dome on four pillars with elaborately carved
gables at the four sides. There's an open area around the shrine
with a ring of seats for worshippers to sit and reflect.
Crafted in classical Indian sculpture with a Thai touch, the
statue is a replica of the original from old Ayutthaya. Like
other shrines in Bangkok, the Trimurti Shrine was built to
answer the prayers of people seeking success, prosperity and
happiness.
The shrine somehow acquired the reputation of granting happiness
in romance, as it's very popular with young Thais who associate
the shrine with the god of love.
Legends build upon themselves and as the fame of the shrine
grew, so did the flock of faithful. Such is the renown of the
shrine that it's sometimes referred to as the Lovers'
Shrine.
There's an air of peace and serenity around the Trimurti Shrine
and the place just has a natural draw to people. There's a small
but steady flow of worshippers, young couples, pairs of women,
single men and women, some after work. It's not just limited to
the young though; elderly people have been seen there too.
As with the Erawan Shrine, the origin of the god in the
Trimurti Shrine matters not to the worshippers who are steadfast
in their faith that the shrine will meet their quest for
happiness.
On Valentine's Day each year, the Lovers' Shrine is decked with
red roses. Flickering red candles cast shadows in the night as
worshippers flock to the shrine.
Young women with eyes closed, kneel before the Trinity of Gods,
clasp joss sticks and pray with an intensity that's etched in
their faces. Will their prayers be answered?
The next time you're in Bangkok, drop in at the Lovers' Shrine
and say a prayer for true love. Are you feeling lucky?
The Trimurti Shrine has moved
The Trimurti Shrine has been moved from the corner of Central
World Plaza at the Ratchaprasong junction (near the Erawan
Shrine) to the far end that's nearer the Pratunam junction. The
shrine now stands next to the Ganesha Shrine.
This move was due to the construction work that's going on at
the Ratchaprasong end of Central World Plaza.