“The Science of Phra Somdej”

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The origin of Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang

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A term used to classify clay Buddha amulets from the "Triyampawai" recipe.

“Cracks, cracks, worms, crabs, algae, pores, needle tips, shallow tears, ripples, ripples of water.”

*Triyampavai – He is the one who laid the foundation of

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Achan Triampawai studied Phra Somdej in great detail. He delved into the creation process, distinguishing the differences in the mold, blemishes, and traces of the Buddha image that occurred over time, until he discovered points of observation based on the natural transformation of the soil and materials. He studied the origin of the creation, the crypt where it was discovered, and raised many questions in his study, such as:

What are the factors that led to the creation of the Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang amulets? What were the ideas of His Holiness Somdej Toh in creating them? And what types of amulets are available? Achan Triampawai's analysis of the "Science of Phra Somdej amulets" has drawn the following interesting conclusions.

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The reason for creating the Phra Somdej

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จากThe first volume of the Pariyamvai Amulet Explanation Book was first printed in 1.

Ajarn Triyampawai referred to the memoirs of Mr. Kanok Satchukorn, former Assistant Inspector-General of the Ministry of Finance, from an interview with Phra Thammathawon (Chuang Chantachoti), a close disciple of Somdej Toh, in 2470 (at the time of the interview, Phra Thammathawon was 83 years old). He stated, “The reason Somdej had the idea to create his Phra Somdej amulet was because… once he was inscribed in Battambang, a Khmer prince who was close to and deeply respected him requested that he create his amulet for worship to protect him from danger and also as a reminder of him. Consequently, after Somdej returned from Battambang, he created his first Phra Somdej amulet.”

("The Science of Phra Somdej" may be interpreted as meaning that the term "Phra Somdej" in this latter interview likely does not refer to the square-framed Phra Somdej of His Holiness Somdej Toh, but rather to a Buddha amulet with no fixed form.)

*(It is recorded that some types of amulets, such as the Luang Pho To type, were created by His Holiness Somdej Phra Buddhacarya during his travels to Ayutthaya. He later created these amulets again at Wat Rakhang during his time as a high-ranking monk with the title of Phra Thammakiti (between 2395 and 2397).

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Print of the shape of the Phra Somdej amulet

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The textbook of Achan Triampawai also mentions the types and numbers of Somdej amulets created by Somdej Toh during his two major creations. The details differ from those of Phra Maha Heng's textbook, citing the words of Phra Achan Khwan "Wisittho" of Wat Rakhang, a disciple of Phra Thammathaworn (Chuang Chantachote), who stated that he had learned from his teacher that... "In the creation of Somdej amulets, 84,000 amulets were created, but in the later creations, that number did not reach that level. Somdej mentioned to Nai Ted that he felt that he would not be able to create the full 84,000 amulets. Therefore, he ordered the collection of the first generation Somdej amulets, selecting only the 5-tiered, 6-tiered, and 7-tiered molds, together with the new generation Somdej amulets, until the total number of 84,000 amulets was complete. They were placed in the crypt of Wat Chaiyo, Ang Thong, to dedicate merit to his mother... As for the original 7-tiered mold from Wat Rakhang that was placed together with the new generation amulets, The Buddha image has ordinary ears that reach to the shoulders. The later seven-tiered mold, which he intended to enshrine specifically, has ears that extend higher, which is called "Hoo Bai Sri".

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What kind of amulets did Somdej Toh create for the square-framed Phra Somdej amulets?

In the two major creations of Phra Somdej (it may be considered that the creation of Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom was the third major creation), it can be concluded that... the first generation of Phra Somdej (probably created around the year 2 or not long before that) consisted of 3-layer, 2407-layer, and 5-layer molds (at least).

And there should be a number of other Buddha amulets in the same shape as the Phra Khanen. As for the second major creation, His Holiness should have focused on creating the 2-layered Phra Somdej amulets to be placed at Wat Chaiyo to dedicate merit to his mother. However, during the final period of the creation of the Phra Somdej amulets,

Reliable texts say that a royal goldsmith assisted Somdej Toh in creating the Phra Somdej amulets at Triampawai District, which were known as standard-shaped amulets. For this reason, the Somdej amulets intended to be placed and distributed at Wat Chaiyo likely included some of the standard-shaped amulets, as evidenced by them.

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Achan Triampawai defined nine standard Phra Somdej amulets, consistent with the information of Phra Achan Kwan “Wisittho” in the first volume of his book “Pari Atthābhai Haeng Amulets,” which also distinguished between Wat Rakhang and Wat Bang Khun Phrom. Later, he also published images of Wat Ketchaiyo amulets in the 9-tiered, 1-tiered, and 5-tiered styles in Achan Triampawai’s own book, “Phra Khrueang Prayut,” published in 6. This also aligns with the information of Mr. Kanok Satchukorn, who stated that His Holiness’s Phra Somdej amulets also had 7-tiered, 2507-tiered, and 5-tiered styles. Achan Prakit Limskul, or Plai Chumphon of Thai Rath newspaper, kindly provided information that the 6-tiered Phra Somdej amulets in the aforementioned book were similar to the 7-tiered Phra Somdej amulets of Wat Intharawihan.

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The textbook of Achan Triampawai also mentions the records of Phra Achan Khwan "Wisitto" who said, "From what I have learned and seen from Phra Thammathawon, there are many different types of Phra Somdej amulets. If we are to mention only the rectangular types, there are many types, such as the Buddha image type, the pagoda type, the base type, the lotus bud type, the Bodhi leaf type, the Garuda head type (Kaiser type), the Sanghati type, the thread type, and the double base type.

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Adapted from an article by Police Lieutenant Colonel Khomsan Sanongphong (former forensic police officer)
Facebook page – Phra Somdej Sastra

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Thanks for the information and pictures from…

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Google

Th.wikipedia.org

thairath.co.th/

Studying Phra Somdej in the 4G era requires seeing with the naked eye.

Phra Somdej Sastra Phrasomdejsart Research Center