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The Guardian Demons
The portals in the Gallery of the Royal Chapel are guarded by six pairs of six-metre high guardian demons whose different features, colours and crowns mark them as different characters in the
Ramakian. Unlike guardian demons at other temples which always face outward to keep evil away from the sanctified area, these stand facing inward towards the Assembly Hall that enshrines the
Emerald Buddha, each holding a club in its hands.
Clockwise from the corner of Prasat Phra Thep Bidon the names and colours of these demons are:
Suriyaphop with red torso; Indrachit who is the son of Thosakan (Ravana), green; Mangkon Kan, green; Wirunhok, dark blue; Thosa Khirithon, terra cotta: Thosa Khiriwan, green; Chakrawat, green;
Asakaranamara, dark purple; Thosakan or Ravana, green; Sahassa Decha, green; Maiyarap; light purple; and Wirunchambang, grey.
These demons are said to have been erected during the reign of Rama III. They closely resemble the demon guardians of Wat Arun.
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