Freud had talked about penis envy, but have you ever been to a place where the penis is not only longed for, but actually worshiped? Welcome to the fertility shrine in Bangkok!
The entrance to the shrine has quite a number of these laughing children, another sign pointing to the purpose of the small shrine. There’s a small altar right at the path, with the (more) interesting objects placed just around it.
Strictly speaking, it’s actually not the penis, but a Goddess called Mae Tubtim who’s being worshiped in the shrine.
Legend has it that the Goddess lived inside a big tree. A developer named Lert Sreshthaputa (“Nai Lert”) who was also a nature lover built a spirit house near the tree, where worshipers brought their offerings.
From the usual incense sticks, white jasmine flowers, and lotus buds, worshipers also brought hundreds of phallus-shaped objects, which, in Thailand, is a good luck symbol.
There are rotting wooden ones…
…polished ones…
…and a rusted one that resembles a cannon, with two cannon balls symbolizing, well, the balls.
There’s a “gem-encrusted” penis…
…while lots were made of stone or concrete.
There are penises resembling pigs…
…and one that looks like it had grown a monkey with it.
There are realistic-looking objects, too…
…as well as double-headed ones.
Aside from the penises, there are food offerings and a lot of these small figurines, which are said to symbolize protective spirits brought there to keep the area safe.
As soon as I had heard of this shrine, I made it a point to go visit, not because I wanted to avail of the Goddess’s blessings, but to appreciate all the offerings. After all, these objects are a work of art, right?
How to go to the Fertility Shrine:
It’s very easy to find the Fertility Shrine (others call it the Penis Shrine) in Bangkok. Take the BTS and get off at the Phloen Chit station. Walk towards the Wave Place Shopping Mall and turn right. You can walk all the way to the Swissôtel Nai Lert Park (7 minutes) or take the motorcycle taxi.
When you arrive at the Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, just go inside the compound. The shrine is at the back of the hotel, right by the river. It’s free.
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By looking at your photos, looks like some of these were missing when I visited the shrine last month. Will have to dig my pictures.
Agreed, it’s so hidden that nobody visits it.. at least not the locals. 🙂
I should give it a heads up (pun intended) when I go back to Bangkok the next time. Thanks for the big tip (another pun?). Incidentally, about that monkey with the humongous dick, I saw a similar one in a museum in Puerto, created by the Aborlan out of school youth group of artists. It was a fascinating bracelet, a wooden sculpted man carrying his own phallus like a cannon. I bought it intending to give it to a gay friend but opted to keep it instead. It’s still in my drawer because I didn’t know how to wear it without attracting so much attention. So… thanks for bringing up memories. 🙂
I was dumbfounded. The shrine has shocking work of art, really controversial but educational too! This place is something …something worth visiting. Great post Ms. Aleah 🙂
@ Lisa Imogen Eldridge: I imagine I’d be embarrassed too if I were with male friends. But there was no one there when I went. I think it’s a forgotten site.
@ Dana Carmel: Now, a vagina museum would be something else. I think though that given the society we have, we won’t ever see it being built!
I’ve seen posts about other phallus-centric shrines in Asia, and I’ve also seen a lot of phallus-centric souvenirs for sale in Jamaica. I wonder if there are any shrines dedicated to the vagina! 😉
That is so funny. I wouldn’t know where to look in the Fertility Shrine. I really thought I had seen it all but this is a totally new one for me! Thanks for your post.
@ Iza: Yeah, it’s pretty weird, isn’t it? LOL
@ Kay: I’ve heard about the Icelandic museum too. Can’t wait to go there and see it hehehe
Hahahah wow! Reading this I also thought of the Iceland museum – I’ve never been but I’ve heard stories. These kinds of places really throw me for a loop, but it’s entertaining at the very least!
another great article aleah! i love your work. I hope I can visit Bangkok, next year and this will definitely will be on my attractions list. The monkey phallus tops them all.
@ Mary: I understand why you can’t take your kids there. I wouldn’t either hahaha I would love to go to that museum in Iceland! So far, I’d only been to this shrine in BKK and to the sex museum in China. Interesting stuff.
Wow..I thought I’d seen some pretty interesting art and shrines but this sure tops the list. I can see why you made it a point to visit and I would too. How interesting and bizarre and certainly unforgettable. I wonder if men are a little uncomfortable visiting this place 🙂 I think I’d be smiling and laughing my way through. I’m not sure I can take my kids here if we ever make it to Bangkok. BTW, there’s a Phallological Museum in Iceland that we passed up on which goes very well with this post 🙂
@ Photo Cache: I agree. The shrine is so tucked away that I never did see anybody else visit it when I went there.
@ Mike: That monkey was a really cute one, except for his huge phallus hahaha
I could come up with several of my own possible conclusions to the different phallic representations. And I would likely be far off the true answer! But, the monkey baffles me! This is definitely off the beaten path from most posts and actually a fascinating new enlightenment and education for me. Thank you so much for sharing, Aleah! 🙂
if there is a list of weird travel destinations, this should land in the top 10.