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Pra Somdej Bang Khun Prohm is one of the classic Pra Somdej amulets available and is along with Pra Somdej Wat Gaes Chaiyo perhaps the next in line to the Pra Somdej Wat Rakang amulet as far as popularity, beauty, sacredness of Puttapisek ceremony and price range.
Pra Somdej Bang Khun Prohm Gru Pra Chedi Yai (Large Chedi Gru amulets)
The Pra Somdej Bang Khun Prohm amulets classified as Gru Pra Chedi Yai, have 9 different Pim Song, and were made in the period between 2411 and 2413 BE
These 9 Pim are; Pim Yai, Pim Sangkati, Pim Song Chedi, Pim Prok Po, Pim Gaes Bua Dtum, Pim Thaan Koo, Pim Sen Dai, Pim Ok Krut.
The Pra Somdej Bang Khun Prohm (Wat Mai Amataros) amulet.
This example Of a Pra Somdej Bang Khun Prohm Pim Sen Dai (Gru Chedi Yai), is entirely void of Kraap Gru, for which reason it indicates that this particular amulet was never placed in Gru storage chambers, and was dried through natural atmospheric conditions.
This results in a very smooth surface, which reveals the various characteristics, tonal qualities and markings as well as particles of Muan Sarn present which are in extreme visible evidence. It could also be from the top of the pile which recieved less moisture from the Floods, and thus has a cleaner surface.
Ru Khem are visible, as well as ‘Sanim Grapong’ – the red rust particles. The hardness of the amulet to the touch reveals its age to reach the Era of Somdej Dto. The downward curving lines of the lower double ‘Thaan Saem’ (split Dais) are a perfect example of the features sought after in a reference model. The cracks are like deep crevices, showing the shrinkage factor of drying over long time periods. “Phiw Jantr’ – Moon surface.
Not all of the Pra Somdej Bang Khun Prohm made by Somdej Dto were placed in the Gru, it took him many years to create and press them and many would be in a receptacle in the Kuti and would be handed out by him during the time he created and empowered them. This explains the absence of Kraap Gru, as well as being purely logical and the most probable chain of events to have occurred. The Thaan Saem is one of the 5 Pim Song of Pra Somdej, which exist in both the Gru Wat Rakang and Gru Bang Khun Prohm amulets. Pra Somdej Wat Rakang have Five major category of Pim Song, whereas the Pra Somdej has four more Pim Song, making it nine major Pim in all.
History records that, in the year of the Dragon 2411, Samian Tra Duang Tongoses made restoration work Wat Bang Khun Prohm Nai (Wat Mai Amataros), and renewed the temple along with the building of a new Chedi Stupa, in order to place Pra Somdej amulets, which Samian Tra Duang invited Jao Prakhun Somdej Pra Puttajarn (Toh) Prohmrangsri, of Wat Rakang Kositaram to place there, as well as to empower. The amulets were made in the Somdej Traditional formula of 84,000 pieces (same as the number of suttas of the Pra Tammakhant).
After Somdej Toh had blessed and empowered them, Samian Tra Duang was allowed to place then in the Gru hiding place within the Chedi Stupa behind the Upopsadha shrine room. During the time from then, the Chedi was sometimes accessed and amulets were removed from time to time, and even some thieves dug holes and stole some. This became so bothersome that the Gru had to be broken open officially on 24th November in 2500 BE. The opening took all day, until at approximately 8pm, the very last Pra Somdej amulets were removed. Many of them were very thickly coated with ‘Kraap Gru’ (residues and growths).
Above; Scenes from the Opening of the Gru ceremony at Wat Bang Khun Prohm
- 1.Pra Kroo Amaratajarn (Seng) Abbot of Wat Bang Khun Prohm chats with Pon Aek Prapas Jarn Sathiarn.
- 2. The Large Chdi at Wat Bang Khun Prohm
- 3.Opening the Gru Chamber where the amulets were stored
- 4.Pra Kroo Boriharakunawat – assistant to the Abbot performs the Piti Buang Suang (ask the Devas and pay homage) before opening the Gru
- 5. and 6. The removal and transportation of the Pra Somdej Bang Khun Prohm amulets from the Gru Chamber
The amulets were allowed to be rented out by devotees, until the year 2509. The total amount of money raised from the rental of these amulets amounted to about 4 Million Thai Baht.
This money was used to construct the new Uposadha shrineroom, and the renovate and restore the old Chedi Stupa, as well as making a bronze statue of Tan Jao Prakhun Somdej Toh, which was completed and celebrated in 2509 at the same time as celebrating the building of the Putta Sima (temple walls), and the burial of the ‘Look Nimit’ (all Uposadha shrine rooms must have a Look Nimit ball buried under it).
Pra Somdej Bang Khun Prohm 2509 BE Masterpiece amulet
In that year of 2509, a new set of 9 different ‘Pim’ (models) of Pra Somdej amulets were created and released. In addition, a special Pim was released too, namely ‘Pim Saiyaas’ (sayasana Buddha in laying down position). These 2509 edition amulets were made using broken pieces of original Somdej Toh Bang Khun Prohm amulets, as part of the Muan Sarn sacred powders. Once again, according to tradition of Pra Somdej making, 84,000 amulets were made.
Apart from the Somdej Toh amulet pieces, broken amulets of Somdej Luang Ta Pan 2502 BE were also added to the mixture, and also from Luang Por Lampu, who both had used pieces of the 2500 BE Gru opening of the Somdej Toh Prohmrangsrit amulets to make their own Pra Somdej.
After the Puttapisek empowerment ceremony, the amulets were rented out to devotees at a price of 10 baht each. The remaining amulets which
were not rented after the ceremony on that day were then buried in the Chedi Stupa again. Because of the presence of Muan Sarn sacred powder from both original Somdej Toh amulets, and those from Luang Ta Pan and Luang Por Lampu, this edition recieved immense interest and popularity. This edition of Somdej Bang Khun Prohm, are considered to have extremely powerful Buddha magic in them due to the richness of sacred powders from great masters, and the fact that they are almost purely made from ancient Somdej Toh amulets. They thus carry Somdej Toh’s powerful blessing, just as if he had made them.
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