As students and teachers arrive at school one of the first things they do is pay their respects to the spirits of the land. They do this by either raising their hands together in a 'wai' or by making an offering. This usually involves placing flowers and lighted incense sticks in front of the spirit house. Also every day, the owners of the school make their own offering of food and water asking the spirits to protect them and everyone in the school.
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For anyone who has traveled in Thailand, spirit houses and brahmin shrines are a common sight in gardens and outside large office buildings. Nearly everyone has at least one. They look like miniature temples set atop a tall pedestal. Inside are miniature figures representing the guardian spirit and its servants. There are also miniature horses to represent its mode of transport.
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Next to our spirit house is a shrine to Brahma. This four-headed diety is the Hindu god of creation. Many people believe that success and good fortune will be brought to anyone who pays respect to it.
Spirit houses cannot just be put anywhere and at anytime. A Brahmin priest has to be consulted and proper ceremonies need to be performed.
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