The shrine housing the damaged Brahma statue is covered with white cloth after the revered statue was smashed by a mentally ill man early

A decision has yet to be made about the material to be used to build a new Brahma statue - to replace the old one destroyed early yesterday morning by a mentally-ill man.

Plaster will keep its essence, but nine types of metal mixed with some surviving pieces of the old statue will ensure its durability. Those fragments include the face, head and weapons, said Preecha Gungeeya, director-general of the Religious Affairs Department.

The new Brahma statue for the Erawan shrine will be completed and replaced within two months. The shrine will be open for the public to pay their respects from today with four photographs of the statue facing out from the shrine.

Srislang Sooksomstarn, the Maha Phrom Foundation's managing director, said it was likely metal would be used for the new statue.

While the original design of the statue would be followed, its foundation and the surrounding fence would be raised to protect it from possible attack. Moreover, the four sides of the statue would be shielded by glass; the old version was an open shrine surrounded by a low metal fence.

"The fragments will form part of the new statue because we want to keep its soul intact," Preecha said.

Srislang was certain the new statue would attract a crowd, despite the different materials.

The damaged statue was yesterday embraced by the Royal Brahmin. When the new one is finished a ceremony will be conducted again to "bring it home".

Surakiart Sathirathai, acting deputy prime minister and culture minister, said the damage affected people badly, so the statue needed to be replaced as soon as possible. Once the renovation was complete, he said the ministry would celebrate with a suitable ceremony.

Meanwhile, Sathienpong Wannapok, an expert on Buddhism, said: "What's happening is crazy", because the shrine was only a result of current culture and social practice.

"If you are a Brahma, you don't need to pay homage to the Brahmin statue," he suggested. He referred to the Pramwiharn 4 (unbounded states of mind) practice of goodwill, compassion, sympathetic joy and neutrality. He also said people in the city lacked neutrality.

Believing more in Buddhist teaching than being attached to a man-made image, Sathienpong said such a shrine was only for people with vulnerable minds. "It's only a symbol. It's like a toddler who needs something to depend on while taking its first steps."

The shrine was attacked yesterday morning by a man who was later beaten to death.

Sirinya Wattanasukchai,

Pakamard Jaichalard

The Nation