It is belived that a righteous spririt in the from of a big man of sturdy build always accompanied King Vajiravudh to keep him and his entourage from harm from the time he went on trip to the northern provinces in 1886.

    At that time he was Crown Prince. When he was traveling in the northern jungle, his attendants were afraid that he would come to some harm. He allayed their fears by saying that whenever eoyal personages traveled, deities and righteous spirits accompanied them to protect them and their attendants from all danger. Then it seems that one of the prince’s attendants saw a big, strong man in a dream. This man told him that he was an asura (spirit) of the forest who had been accompanying the Prince to keep him and his attendants from harm. When the Prince learned of this, he ordered offering of incense, candle and food to be placed next to his pavilion. Moreover, in the evening the Prince would set aside a portion of his dinner as an offering to the spirit. After this trip, Whenever the Prince had to leave Bangkok, his attendants would pray to Hiran Asura to accompany him, and the Prince continued the practice of making offerings to the spirit as he had done during his trip in the North.

    When the Prince ascended the throne, he had images of Hiran Asura cast and bestowed on him the name Tao Hiran Phanasun. The King had each image wear a traditional headdress and carry a staff showing his rank. At first four images twenty centimeters high were made. The first one was placed at the King’s bedchamber and is now at Ruen Rudi Palace, The residence of his only daughter, Princess Phercharatana Rajasuda. The second image was placed on bonnet of one of his automobiles; it is at present enshined where the royal vehicles are kept. The third on was placed in the Royal Pages Department and is now in Karunyasapha Hall in the Grand Palace. The last one has been kept at the residence of Phraya Anirut Thewa, a high-ranking officer of the Royal Household, at the mouth of Khlong Thewet.

    After the construction of Phya Thai Palace, in 1922 the King had a craftsman cast a large bronze statue of Tao Hiran Phanasun wearing a traditional Thai headdress and carrying a staff. It was placed at the northern end of the Roman garden and a ceremony was held to invite Tao Hiran Phanasun to dwell in the Bronze statue and become forever the guardian spirit of the palace.