legend about how the god created the world. Outside shops, particularly in towns and rural areas, statues of Nang Kwak as the deity of wealth, fortune and prosperity (version of Lakshmi) are found. The elite, and the royal household, often employ Brahmins to mark funerals and state ceremonies such as the Royal Ploughing Ceremony to ensure a good harvest. The importance of Hinduism cannot be denied, even though much of the rituals has been combined with Buddhism. Thai Brahmin community Thailand has two ethnic Thai Brahmin communities-Brahm Luang (Royal Brahmins) and Brahm Chao Baan (folk Brahmins). All ethnic Thai Brahmins are Buddhist by religions, who still worship Hindu Gods. The Brahm Luang (Royal Brahmins) mainly perform royal ceremonies of the Thai King, including crowning of the king. They belong to the long family bloodline of Brahmins in Thailand, who originated from Tamilnadu. The Brahm Chao Baan or folk Brahmins are the category of Brahmins who are not from a bloodline of priests. Generally, these Brahmins have a small knowledge about the rituals and ceremonies. The Devasathan is the centre of Brahmin activity in Thailand. This is where the Triyampawai ceremony is conducted, which is a Shaiva Hindu ritual. It was built more than 200 years ago. Apart from this there are also Indian Brahmins from India who migrated to Thailand more recently. Brahmins once conducted the royal ceremony in other South East countries also. The rituals were reinstated in Cambodia after the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge. The Brahmins of Myanmar have lost their role due to the abolition of monarchy. Prince historian Damrong Rajanubhab has mentioned about three kind of Brahmins, from Nakhòn Sī Thammarāt, from Phatthalung, and those who originated from Cambodia. Indian Hindus During the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods, evidence of the presence of sizable number of Indians in the Thai court is described by a number of western travelers. However most of the contemporary Indians came to Thailand after 1920, and during the first half of the 19th century. The Mariamman Temple, Bangkok is the first temple built in the South Indian architecture. It was built in 1879 by Vaithi Padayatchi, a Tamil Hindu immigrant. Demographics According to the Thai Census of 2005, there are 52,631 Hindus living in Thailand, making up just 0.09% of the total population. According to the 2010 Thailand census there are 41,808 Hindus in Thailand constituting 0.06% of the population. In