Phra Phrom : The Protector God

Phra Phrom is the Thai representation of Brahma, the creator god of Hindu mythology. He is considered the god of good fortune and protection in Thailand and is known to exist with both the Buddhist and Hindu belief systems in the country. Another goddess of luck and good fortune is Nang Kwak who is also an important deity for the Thai people.

Brahma or Phra Phrom is also known as Mahabrahma, the lord of Brahmaloka, in Buddhist cosmology. In China, this god is referred to as the Four-Faced Buddha or Simianshen. His faith has spread in the country in the past few decades.

Most statues of Phra Phrom are cross-legged and have eight arms and four faces. They are arranged in cardinal directions, each representing a different aspect of luck. The first face is responsible for work and study, while the second and third are responsible for romance and money, respectively and the fourth is for health and family.

Some people believe that the face of the god should be centred on the west, while others think it should face the centre of the most populated area in Thailand to spread the blessings to as many people as possible.

Being the supreme god in Thai mythology, there is no lineage that can be drawn to Phra Phrom. Legend has it that Brahma lost a bet with Shiva in India and Brahma moved to Thailand. He is also sometimes represented as being the husband of the Thai god Saraswadi.