Moulds of Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang
Among all the Buddha amulets, Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang made by ChaoKhun Somdej Budhhachan Toh Promrungsee is believed to be the most sought after, not only in Thailand but also elsewhere in the world. It is also the highest valued of all Buddha amulets.
Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang amulet was made from five kinds of sacred powders namely Pattamung, Itthijae, Maharaj, Buddhakhun and Trinisinghae. This five sacred ingredients were added into the substance with incantations of holy-scripture, writing of sutras and holy symbols (yantra) with chalk on a board, erased and rewrite them several hundred time over. The dust gathered thus signifies the sacred power of the ritual. This first collected powder is Pattamung.
Pattamung powder is then mixed with water and mold into pencil shape, sun-dried and then use in writing of another chapter of sutras. The process of writing down and erasing is repeated as many times as stipulated in the holy sutras. The dust gathered from the second ritual is ittijae. The same process is performed until all of the five ingredients have been collected. The ingredients are then mixed together and added to the bulk substance which consists of ground shells as main part, others includes cooked rice, talc, crushed banana with Tang Eiw oil as cementing agent. When all the ingredients are well mixed, the derived substance is taken in small parts and pressed into a mold made by a man from Ban Changlor. Each making without storing them sealed inside a brick structure. The total number of amulet made is said to be 84,000, equaling the number of the holy scriptures.
Somdej Phra Buddhacharn Toh Promrungsee was born on April 17, 2321 (1778) in Ayuddhaya province. He was ordained as a novice in 2413 (1807). At the age of 21 years, he was granted Royal Patronage and took up residency at Wat Phra Srirattana Sadsadaram in Bangkok. His clerical name is Promrungsee. In 2407 (1864) he was bestowed the title “Somdej Phrabuddhacharn", a very prominent clerical status in Rattanakosin City (the predecessor of Bangkok). His tenure in the monastery began in the reign of King Rama 1 and lasted until the reign of King Rama 5, a total 65 years until his death at midnight of June 22, 2415 (1872) at the age of 84 years.
Somdej Phra Buddhacharn Toh was highly revered for his Kantathura (Preaching ) and Vipassana (Meditation) skills from laymen to royalties alike. He was often invited to preach in the palace. It was in 2410 (1867) that he began making Somdej Wat Rakhang amulets as a mean for people to continue upholding their religious allegiance. This lasted until 2414 (1871). Somdej Wat Rakhhang is well known for it’s devine blessing powers in bring good-will, and amity form encountered people as well as warding-off harms and all maliciousness.
Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang
The amulets made from 5 moulds. There are
1. Pim Phra Prathan or Pim Yai
2. Pim Kes Buatoom
3. Pim Song Chedi
4. Pim Thansaem
5. Pim Prok Bodhi
