LP Thuad M16

Note: This article was extracted from news source for the benefit of readers without any motive linking to any political parties in Thailand.

Thai PM protected  by amulet shield Source: Sun, Dec 13, 2009 The Nation/Asia News Network Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva can boast of only one notable piece in his Thai amulet collection - the Luangphor Thuad M16 - while the other prized specimens are "on loan", an expert says. Following speculation that he was wearing light armour for  self-protection under his shirt due to the political turmoil, Abhisit  unbuttoned his shirt to show journalists 10 amulets around his neck. The public especially amulet enthusiasts wondered what was in the  premiere's collection. Abhisit reportedly had been given several  outstanding examples, so his collection could be worth an eight-digit  figure. However Democrat MP for Bangkok, Thana Cheeravinij, who frequently visits the Sunday Moradok Thai amulet club at Pantip  Plaza's Mall Ngam Wongwan branch, said Abhisit was  Western-schooled so he was not into Thai amulets. When Abhisit first took the top job, he had none of the  highly-regarded Benjapakhi amulets, but only the "Luangpor Thuad M16" anointed at Pattani's Sai Khao Temple in 1991, which was the only one that could impress enthusiasts,  he said. Other significant amulets the premiere obtained later on were " ones that people lent to him to wear for a period of time". They include the Jatukham Ramathep amulet's Lakmuang 1st edition  anointed in 1987, which Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong  lent to Abhisit, and the Luangputhuad Wat Changhai clay amulet anointed in 1954. Law expert Sukit Pulsrikasem said amulet lending needed to take  into consideration the period of time because an indefinite lending period could be the equivalent of giving as a gratuity. Thanadech Rakchucheep, an expert in Jatukham Ramathep amulets,  said the Jatukham Ramathep amulet's Lakmuang 1 edition anointed  in 1987 at Nakhon Si Thammarat's Phra Mahathat Temple was  highly valuable.   Especially those with a black colour body and tints of silver could  have fetched Bt1.8 million (S$75,600) each during the  Jatukham Ramathep craze of 2007, he said.  Even with the price  dropping to Bt800,000 (S$33,600) to Bt900,000 (S$37,800),  most of those obtaining this edition would not want to part with it  because it was regarded as the "super Jatukham Ramathep amulet",  he said. Chainarit Panthong, an expert on Buddha statues and amulet  enthusiast association's Phra Luangporthuad amulet, said the Luangputhuad Wat Changhai clay amulet anointed in 1954,  especially the "large A Hua Khid print edition" amulets in  good condition, could be worth Bt5 million (S$210,000) each. The "large B print edition" amulet was worth about Bt2 million  (S$84,000) to Bt3 million (S$126,000), while the "large C print  edition" was worth about Bt1 million (S$42,000) to Bt2 million  (S$84,000), he said. The Luangputhuad Wat Changhai clay amulet anointed in 1954  could appreciate in the future because it was regarded as a highly revered talisman among people, especially Trang residents, he said. As for the Luangpor Thuad M16 that the premiere owned, many  southern amulet collectors agree that it was "highly experienced"  and "believed to bestow on the wearer the outstanding feature  of immortality". It was nicknamed "M16" because of a story in  which the amulet wearer was shot at with a M16 assault rifle until all of his shirt was torn but the bullets could not penetrate his skin. This amulet anointed by Phra Ajarn Nong Thammaphuto was worth from hundreds of baht to over Bt1,000. Chainarit said the low price was because the amulets were mass made. The amulet's reverse was printed with "Nor 72", meaning that Phra Ajarn Nong made them  when he was 72 years old. The giving of a Buddha amulet as a souvenir and for self-protection  was reportedly popular among Thais from the past until the present  time. Some villagers offered them as a gift to Abhisit on several  occasions. Ajahn Nong's classic Lang Taolit LP Thuad On January 2, during Abhisit's visit to the Tha Chin riverside  community in Nakhon Pathom's Nakhon Chaisri district,  Lor Khiewkhramchin, 79, presented him a Luangpu Boon amulet and a Luangpu Pherm (First Edition) amulet from  Klang Bang Kaew Temple, both worth over Bt100,000,  to show moral support. On March 20, while Abhisit was conferring awards to the outstanding health volunteers of this year at Muang Thong Thani, one of the recipients, Payom Kaewwongchan, handed him  a Buddha amulet. She said in an interview that she gave the premiere the  Luangputhuad clay amulet from Pattani's Changhai Temple as  a sacred gift that would protect him from all harm and let him  serve as the prime minister for a long time. On November 23, Democrat MP for Bangkok Samart Maluleem invited venerated Thai tattoo master Ajarn Noo Kanphai to meet  the premier at Government House. The master also gave the  premiere and his bodyguards a medallion inscribed with five lines of sacred Thai scripture and a Luangputhuad clay amulet from  Pattani's Changhai Temple.  "Luang Pu Thuad Yim"   The Smiling Luang Pu Thuad In the year of BE2534, His Holiness Phra Achan Nong -  the chief abbot of Wat Saikow was in the process of making  some amulets.  His holiness disciples were around and asked  about the amulets Achan Nong was making.  Suddenly Archan  Nong asked them a question as to what shall he name this batch of amulet?  His Holiness disciples took a closer look and examined the amulets which Phra Acahn Nong was making.  They noticed  the big smiling face of Luang Pu Thuad amulets and they all  loved the beautiful smiling face of this particular amulet.  Achan Nong acknowledged and replied by saying  Smiling Luang Pu Thuad! Good Name. We shall call it Luang Pu Thuad Yim.  Not many pieces of this smiling Luang Pu Thuad were made back then in BE2534.  According to information only about 2000 pieces were made.   Miracles happened involving this amulet changes everything.   Around the same year in BE2534, bandits in Southern Thailand shot a pick-up truck driver with M16 machine rifles while he was travelling along the notorious Yala-Bentong stretch of road. The truck driver survived the insurgents attack. It was reported that the truck was ridden with many bullet holes but the driver survived. After the incident, the truck driver went to Wat Saikow to pay his respect, he reported  the whole incident to Phra Achan Nong telling that he was wearing the Phra Luang Pu Thuad Yim at the time of the bandits attack. The news then spread and the original Phra Luang Pu Thuad Yim starts to have a new nickname the M16. Miracle stories about amulets in Thailand spread very fast like wild fire. There was a rush for Phim Phra Luang Phor Thuad Yim a.k.a. M16. The compassionate monks at Wat Saikow and Achan Nong consecrated at least 4 more Luang Pu Thuad M16 using the original mould design to meet with the rising demands from collectors, disciples, visitors and devotees. Music Playing Now Next Article Story