Your participation encouraged me to increase my knowledge of this subject. I even called one of the local Monks for some insight of why the Buddhist Monks are sometimes involved with Brahmanism. Thank you for the kudos!
Originally Posted by
El Gibbon
In neither location where I've lived did the spirit houses face north. Actually in Phuket it was west and here in Chantaburi it is ENE. I don't suppose the orientation is that important.
North or Northeast is what is recommended for a residence or commercial building. As long as it does not fall into a shadow from the main house or the other way around, you are OK. There is another thing I should mention, do not face it toward the bathroom, or be next to it.
Originally Posted by
Sir Burr
If a four rai block of land has a guardian spirit and then the land is subsequently sub-divided into four one rai plots and has houses build on them, and if each owner puts up a spirit-house, where do the extra spirits come from?
ie. If our own spirit is a Muslim spirit (so we were told), yet, still needs a ladder to get in and out of the spirit-house, how does he perform the Haj like all good muslims should?
As you can see in my previous post, it does not matter how many houses you want to build on your 4 rai. It is a single (omnipresent) spirit of "PhraChaiMongKhol", even if four shrines are build for him. You need to understand that there could be a spirit called "ChaoThee" living on that property also. This spirit originally died on that piece of land, and has not moved on. But if he/she is Muslim, I have no idea what the Muslims believe.
You will find different stories from different places in Thailand. People in each region have beliefs according to their parents, grandparents, great grandparents and personal sphere. The best advice from me would be a "monkey see - monkey do" attitude. To have harmony in your household, you should follow the traditions of your area.