The most important votive tablet for all private collectors in Thailand is none other than Phra Somdej from Wat Rakang consecrated by Ajahn Toh or Somdej Phra Putthajarn Toh Prommarungsi. These Phra Somdej masterpieces are well known for its magical potents and protective power dating back to early era between A.D.1850-1872. There has been various intricating issues in authenticating a real piece of this highly valuable amulet let alone a very rare chance of seeing or owning a genuine piece of this classical masterpiece that has high protective power with the ability in securing blessings from deva angels.
From a hobbyist viewpoint on collecting Buddhist talismans, amulets in this Phra Somdej category had always gained recognition with popular demand from all collectors of all ages. All Phra Somdej votive tablets are represented by the image of Lord Buddha sitted on the 3 levels of conditioning representing Dukkha (suffering), Anicca (impermanence) and Anatta (non-self). This is what Gotama Buddha and all other previous Buddhas since time immemorial had taught all human beings. Hence, the image of a Phra Somdej design is already representing victory for the owner of this amulet by having the image depicting Lord Buddha conquering all the 3 elements.
In this article, we shall reveal the appearance and characteristic of each individual Phra Somdej after preserving for more than 150 years that have never been publish before. It is in our hope that this article will bring significant benefits to all avid collectors and for those who have high respect for Ajahn Toh. This article will serve as an important reference point for those whom wanted to gain a deeper study on this highly valuable votive tablet.
Based on text books, it is true that some genuine pieces contained a high concentration of lime powders thus making the appearance looked white overall. The photographs featuring some of these Ajahn Toh's Somdej comes in various colours and uneven cracks on the surface. With the natural ageing process, most of the Phra Somdej Wat Rakang and Wat Bangkhumprom being featured here mostly revealed their asthetic beauty despite its age. All the Phra Somdej by Ajahn Toh are arranged in exhibit order for easy referencing.
Wat Rakang's Commemorative Amulets
Below are some fine examples of Ajahn Toh's commemorative amulets in later years produced by Wat Rakang in tribute to this great Buddhist monk.
To mark 100th year death anniversary of Somdej Pra Buddhachan Toh on June 22, BE 2515, the known Roi Phee (or 100 years batch) ingredients content is listed here;
- Holy powder crushed from Pra Somdej Wat Rakang of Somdej Pra Buddhachan Toh
- Holy powder crushed from Pra Somdej Bangkhunprom of Somdej Pra Buddhachan Toh
- Holy powder crushed from Pra Somdej Wat Ketchaiyo of Somdej Pra Buddhachan Toh
- Holy powder crushed from Pra Somdej Pilan of Somdej Pra Buddhachan Thadt
- Holy powder of LP Nak, LP Hin and Chao Khun Tiang
- Holy powder of LP Sod of Wat Paknam Pasrrichareon
- Holy powder of LP Toh of Wat Pradoochimplee
- Holy powder of holy guru monks in Thailand
- Flower pollen
- Sacred herbal powder
- Fragments of fallen pieces of cement that coated temple of Wat Rakang buildings and chedi
- Poon Pleuak Hoi (plaster cement made from seashell)
- Namman Tang-eww (tung oil)
The Blessing Ceremony was on June 22, BE 2515, blessed by 108 guru monks for instance:
LP Toh of Wat Pradoo-chimplee
LP Tay Kongthong of Wat Sam-ngam
LP Pare of Wat Pikulthong
LP Seng of Wat Kanlayanamit
LP Tiam of Wat Kasattra-thiraj
LP Moom of Wat Prasart-yua
LP Neuang of Wat Chulamanee and many others.
JINAPANJARA - The Buddha's Mansion
This stanza recital is frequently used by Ajahn Toh and it is very well known that this stanza is recited onto Phra Somdej issued by Wat Rakang. Ajahn Toh induced Jinapanjara (or called Jinabanchon in Thai) to serve as a potent magic entity into most of his amulet creations to make them powerful. Perhaps not many of us may know that the original use of this stanza is to overcome Sickness and Disturbances.
All Wat Rakang's amulets since Ajahn Toh's era until today are formulated with Jinapanjara which serves as a potent magical spell apart from other traditional ingredients such as herbs, flowers, holy water, etc. This had clearly demonstrated the power of Jinapanjara stanza.
Here is a version of the stanza that was collected from Sri Lanka which served as an important Buddhist sanctuary where all the stanzas taught by Lord Sakyamuni Gotama Buddha had been preserved. If you are used to listening or reciting Ajahn Toh's Jinapanjara katha, you may find a lot of similarities with this Sri Lankan version. However, the difference maybe found in the vowels and consonants in pronouncing the Pali recitation and a slightly longer stanza to capture the dispel of dangers/misfortunes/ill-omens/evil planetary influences/fears/undesirable dreams in this Sri Lanka Jinapanjara discourse.
Below is the Buddha's Mansion (Jinapanjara) recital for your reference. May you too be free from sickness and disturbances after recitation.
Jayasana-gata vira - Jetva maram savahinim
The Heroes, having defeated the Evil One together with his army, mounted the seat of victory.
Catu saccamata rasam - Yepivimsu narasabha.
These Leaders of men have drunk the nectar of the Four Truths,
Tanhankara-dayo Buddha - Attha visati nayaka
May all the twenty-eight chief Buddhas, such as Buddha Tanhankara
Sabbe patitthita mayham/tuyham - Matthake me/te munissara.
and all other noble sages, rest of my/your head.
Sire patitthita Buddha - Dhammo ca mama/tava locane
May the Buddhas rest on my/your head, the Dhamma on my/your eyes
Sangho patitthito mayham/tuyham - Ure-sabba gunakaro.
and the Sangha, the abode of all virtues, on my/your shoulders.
Hadaye Anuruddho ca - Sariputto ca dakkhine
May Anuruddha rest on my/your heart, Sariputta on my/your right,
Kondanno pitthi bhagasmin - Moggallanosi vamake.
Kondanna on my/your back and Moggallana on my/your left.
Dakkhine savane mayham/tuyham - Ahum Ananda Rahula
On my/your right ear are Ananda and Rahula,
Kassapo ca Mahanamo - Ubhasum vamasotake.
on my/your left ear are Kassapa and Mahanama.
Kesante pitthi bhagasmim - Suriyo viya pabhankaro
On my/your back at the end of my/your hair
Nisinno siri-sampanno - Sobhito muni pungavo.
sits the glorious sage Sobhita who is radiant like the sun.
Kumara Kassapo nama - Mahesi citra vadako
The fluent speaker Venerable Kumara Kassapa,
So mayham/tuyham vadane niccam - Patitthasi gunakaro.
the abode of virtues, ever rest in my/your mouth.
Punno Angulimalo ca - Upali Nanda Sivali
The five Noble Elders : Punna, Angulimala, Upali, Nanda and Sivali
Thera panca ime jata - Lalate tilaka mama/tava.
rest of my/your forehead like tilakas.
Sesasiti mahathera - Vijita jina savaka
The other eighty Noble Elders, the victorious disciples of the Conqueror,
Jalanta sila tejena - Angamangesu santhita.
shining in the glory of their virtues, rest on the other parts of my/your body.
Ratanam purato asi - Dakkhine metta suttakam
The Jewel Discourse is in my/your front,
on my/your right is the Discourse of Loving-kindness,
Dhajaggam pacchato asi - Vame Angulimalakam.
the Dhajagga (Banner Discourse) is on my/your back,
on my/your left is the Angulimala Discourse.
Khanda Mora parittanca - Atanatiya suttakam
The protective Discourses Khanda, Mora and Atanatiya
Akasaccha-danam asi - Sesa pakara sannita.
are like the heavenly vault. The others are like a rampart around me/you.
Jinana bala samyutte - Dhamma pakara lankate
Fortified with the commanding power of the Buddha, and decked by the wall of the Dhamma,
Vasato me/te catukiccena - Sada Sambuddha panjare.
ever engaged in four duties do I/you dwell in the Buddha Mansion.
Vata pittadi sanjata - Bahirajjhattu paddava
By the power of their infinite virtues, may all internal and external troubles
Asesa vilayam yantu - Ananta gunatejasa.
caused by wind, bile, etc. come to naught without exception.
Jina panjara majjhattham - Viharantam mahitale
May I/you who are dwelling in the centre of the Buddha Mansion
Sada palentu mam/tvam sabbe - Te maha purisa sabha.
on this earth be protected by all those great personages.
Icceva maccantakato surakkho
Protecting myself/yourself thus in every way,
Jinanu bhavena jitu papaddavo
overcoming all troubles by the power of the Conqueror.
Buddhanu bhavena hatari sangho
By the greace of the Buddha
Carami/carahi saddhamma'nubhava palito.
may I/you always live guarded by the sublime Dhamma!
Icceva maccantakato surakkho
Protecting myself/yourself thus in every way,
Jinanubbhavena jitu papaddavo
overcoming all troubles by the power of the Conqueror.
Sanghanu bhavena hatari sangho
By the grace of the Sangha,
Carami/carahi saddhamma'nubhava palito.
may I/you always live guarded by the sublime Dhamma!
Saddhamma pakara parikkhito mi/si
I am/You are surrounded by the rampart of the sublime Dhamma.
Atthariya attha disasu honti
The eight Ariyans are in the eight directions.
Etthantare attha natha bhavanti
The eight benefactors are in the intermediate directions.
Uddham vitanam va jina thita me/te.
The Buddhas stand like a canopy above me/you.
Bhindanto marasenam mama/tava sirasi thito
The Buddha who defeated the army of the Evil One
Bodhi maruyha sattha.
at the foot of the Bodhi Tree stands on my/your head.
Moggallano'si vame vasati bhujathate
The Venerable Moggallana is on my/your left shoulder
dakkhinhe Sariputto.
and the Venerable Sariputta is on my/your right shoulder.
Dhammo majjhe urasmim viharati bhavato
The Dhamma dwells is my/your heart's core.
mokkhato morayonim.
The Boddhisatta, who was born a peacock
Sampatto bodhisatto carana yugagato
and who shines as the sole Benefactor
bhanu lokekanatho.
of the world, shields my/your feet.
Sabbhava mangala mupaddava dunni-mittam
All ill-luck, misfortunes, ill-omens,
Sabbiti roga gahadosa masesa ninda
diseases, evil planetary influences, blame, dangers,
Sabbantaraya bhaya dussupinam akantam
fears, undesirable dreams -
Buddhanu bhava pavarena payatu nasam.
May they all come to naught by the power of the noble Buddha.
Sabbhava mangala mupaddava dunni-mittam
All ill-luck, misfortunes, ill-omens,
Sabbiti roga gahadosa masesa ninda
diseases, evil planetary influences, blame, dangers,
Sabbantaraya bhaya dussupinam akantam
fears, undesirable dreams -
Dhammanu bhava pavarena payatu nasam.
May they all come to naught by the power of the noble Dhamma.
Sabbhava mangala mupaddava dunni-mittam
All ill-luck, misfortunes, ill-omens,
Sabbiti roga gahadosa masesa ninda
diseases, evil planetary influences, blame, dangers,
Sabbantaraya bhaya dussupinam akantam
fears, undesirable dreams -
Sanghanu bhava pavarena payatu nasam.
May they all come to naught by the power of the noble Sangha.
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
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