Phra Phrom (The four-faced Brahmā Sahampati) 四面神
Brahmā Sahampati is an early Hindu religion dating back some 5,000 years. This religion is mainly symbolized by a trinity of Gods, namely; Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. It is believed that this Brahmanical triad combined their powers to create the Buddhist world.
One of the earliest iconographic descriptions of Brahma is that of the four-faced god seated on a lotus. In Thai Buddhism this Brahminist 4-faced god is known as "Phrom Sie Nah ", but it often referred to by others as the 4 faced Buddha.
Thai Buddhists highly respect many Brahminist gods including the 4-faced Phrom Buddhism grew out of a culture which believed in many levels of gods, called devas. There were also the highest level of gods, the Brahma gods, and Maha Brahma, the highest God.
Indeed many Thai religious ceremonies are heavily influenced by Hindu ritualistic practices even amulet consecrations. Buddhism as a religion is deeply rooted in early Hinduism from which it developed.
The description of Brahma like other deities of Hinduism bears a mystic symbolism. The lotus represents the Reality. Brahma sitting on the lotus indicates that he is ever-rooted in the infinite Reality. Reality is the foundation on which his personality rests. The four faces of Brahma represent the four Vedas. They also symbolise the functioning of the inner personality (antahkarana) which consists of thoughts. They are the mind (manas), the intellect (buddhi), ego (ahamkara) and conditioned-consciousness (chitta). They represent the four ways in which thoughts function. They are the manifestations of the unmanifest Consciousness
The significance of the 4 faced God from the Thai perspective is that the Great Brahma is able offer help to the people who cry to him from all directions, granting wishes to those who ask. It is widely thought that Phra Phrom offers protection from danger and prosperity in business.
The most famous image of Brahma or Phra Phrom is located at the Erawan Shrine which can be found at the intersection between Ratchadamri Road and Ratchaprasong Road in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is a popular tourist attraction and often features performances by resident Thai dance troupes, who are hired by worshippers in return for seeing their prayers at the shrine answered.
Interestingly Lord Brahma is not popularly worshipped in India. This is so, because the idea of creation is repugnant to seeker of Truth since the creation of thoughts has veiled the infinite Reality. The attempt of all spiritual seekers is to destroy the existing thoughts and maintain the state of single pointed thought until the Reality is revealed. Hence, Siva (god of destruction) and Vishnu (god of maintenance) are worshiped more than Brahma.
Phra Phrom will save you from black magic and the evil ones, brings you happiness, money and prosperity, help to make your good wishes come true, providing protection from danger, and endow the wearer with good luck and and fortune.
The significance of the the various objects held in the hands are:
1.Book signifies wisdom (Panna) leading to the right path to success
2.Chanting Beads signifies cultivation of good karma in the cycle of birth and death (Samsara)
3.Jug signifies ample water (wealth) where one would not be out of thirst opportunity to earn a living
4.Baton is used to discard all obtacles created by the evil ones
5.Shell signifies bringing luck and obtaining precious ones
6.Hand on the Chest signifies protection and safety
(The information about Phra Phrom is from others website. Just used for reference.)
