Phra Somdej Orahang

Although the Phra Somdej amulets first created by Somdej Phra Buddhacharn Toh may be the best known and some of the most expensive amulets in the market, they are not as some believe the origin of this style of pim. Actually the first prototype was the “Phra Somdej Arahung amulet” consecrated by Somdej Phra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn at Wat Mahathat.   Nowadays these amulets are exceedingly rare and expensive, (Typically between 100,000 - 200,000 Baht for the larger pims and in excess of 75,000 Baht for the smaller pims)  We are pleased to provide you an opportunity to acquire  a genuine example at a reasonable price.     Pim Lek   In fact this legendry monk was also the teacher of Somdej Toh and King Rama II, III, and IV.   It was recorded that the sacred monk was born, according to the Thai lunar calendar, on the Friday of the second month of B.E.2276 during the reign of King Boromkote of Ayudhaya ’s dynasty.   In B.E.2310, when Somdej Phra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn was 34 years of age, the Burmese army invaded Thailand and destroyed Ayudhaya. Somdej Pra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn moved to Thonburi, then the new capital of Thailand, and was appointed as the abbot of Wat Tahoy.   King Rama I, also born during the period of King Boromkote in B.E. 2279 established Bangkok as the new capital of Thailand in B.E.2325 he invited Somdej Phra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn to take up residence at Wat Rachsittaram.   In B.E.2363, he was appointed as the fourth Supreme Patriarch of Thailand (then known as Siam). He became resident at Wat Mahatat for around one year before he had passed away at the age of 90.   Somdej Phra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn was respected as an important living witness to Thai history as he was the only Supreme Patriarch to have seen, during his lifetime, the Burmese destruction of Ayudhaya City and three separate Thai  dynasties including, Ayudhaya, Thonburi and Rhattnakosin.   Somdej Phra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn was highly respected for his sacred power, many people having experienced his miracles, most of whom became his faithful devotees.   Popular legend says that this great monks could even call wild hens and cocks from the forests into the temple through his sacred spells. So it was that he became to be known as Kaiturn  which lireally translated meant “wild hens and cocks”.   Birth of Phra Somdej Arahang It was also recorded that during his stay at at Wat Rachsittaram (Wat Plub), Somdej Pra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn dedicated his life to develop the temple. He was highly respected for his devotion by many Kings of Rhuttanakosin dynasty including King Rama I, II, III, and IV, particularly King Rama II, III, and IV who often visited his temple to listen to his teachings and Lord Buddha’s Dharma.   Because of his fame and sacred power, many devotees had asked him to create a series of  sacred amulets, and in B.E.2360, the first series of Phra Somdej Arahung  amulets were created, known as “Pim Kesplaewplerng”.   These amulets were created during his residence at Wat Plub. After the first series he was asked continually to create more amulets which he did and were generally distributed free to both the poor and the general public.   It wasn’t until the time that he was appointed as the Supreme Patriarch  and relocated to Wat Mahatat, that he actually retained many of his  “Phra Somdej Arahung amulets” in the temple’s cells.

Styles & Sacred Materials

In total there are known to be five Pim(s) of the Phra Somdej Arahung amulet.
 

1.Pim Sangkati
 

General aspects: The amulet is sized 2 x 3.5 cm and the Buddha Image sits on a three-level base. On the reverse of the amulet is engraved with the word “Arahung”. These amulets were divided into two further groups, namely:
 

1.1.Pim Siarnto (or big-head Buddha Image amulets)
 

1.2.Pim Siarnlek (or small-head Buddha Image amulets)
 

Notes: The most distinguished aspect of the Pim is the piece of monk rope, which is called Sungkati, because the end of the rope is clear and beautifully detailed (and that’s why the amulets were called Pim Sungkati).
 

Sacred material: The amulets were made of Somdej Pra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn ’s white sacred powder.

2.Pim Tankoo
 

General aspects: The amulet is sized 2 x 3.5 cm and the Buddha Image sits on a three-level base.

Notes: The most distinguished aspect of this Pim is the two laps of the Buddha Image, which are slightly wider than those of Pim Sungkati.

Sacred material: The amulets were made of Somdej Pra Sangkharach Suk Kaiturn ’s white sacred powder.
 

3. Pim Kesplaewplerng
 

General aspects: The amulet is sized 2 x 3.5 cm and the Buddha Image sits on a three-level base, but without the word “Arahung” on the back.

Notes: The most distinguished aspect of this Pim is the topknot of the Buddha, which appears as a  “burning flame”. The Pim is called “Kesplaewplerng” as this literally translated  means “burning-flame hairs”
 

Sacred material: The amulets were made of Somdej Pra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn ’s white sacred powder.
 

4. Pim Toh Kung
 

General aspects: The amulet is sized 2 x 3.5 cm and the Buddha Image sits on the three-level base, and the word “Arahung” was embossed (not only carved) on the reverse. 
 

Notes: The most distinguished aspect of the Pim is the colour of the amulet, which is quite red in appearance due to the fact that they were made from red sacred powder as opposed to white as used in the other pims.

Notes: The amulets were made of sacred red powder that was ground from various kinds of auspicious Thai plants.

5. Pim Lek

General aspects: This amulet is only 2.3-cm high and the Buddha Image sits on the three-level base, and the word “Arahung” was carved on the reverse..

Notes: The most distinguished aspect of the Pim is the size, which is clearly smaller than the other Pims.
 

Sacred material: The amulets were made of Somdej Pra Sangkharach Suk Kaiturn ’s white scared powder.
 

There were two important cells:
 

1.Wat Mahatat
 

Three Pims were discoverd at this temple, namely Pim Tankoo, Pim Sungkati and Pim Lek.
 

Some of the amulets were also covered with gold leaf and the word “Arahung” on their back was slightly larger than that of the amulets found at the kru in Wat Sroi Tong.

2. Wat Sroi Tong

There’re also only three Pims discovered at this temple, namely Pim Tankoo, Pim Sangkati and Pim Toh Kung.

Though some people believed that all amulets found at this temple were made by Somdej Phra Sungkharach Suk Kaiturn, it was revealed by a senior monk of the temple that they were actually created by Luang Por Kui, who was the close follower of the patriarch.

Interestingly it was also recorded that the Pim Toh Kung amulets were actually created by a Chinese millionaire, who had wanted to devote the amulets. The Chinese believe that “red” is the color of prosperity, therefore they had chosen the red sacred powder to create their amulets.

Today most of these amulets are priced in excess of 100.000 baht.
 

Many accounts exist of the power of these amulets such as Mr.Chalerm Kaewsiroong, a fruit trader of Nontaburi Province, who said that one day in B.E.2508 he was called to receive Durian fruit and had rushed to the market forgetting both his Phra Somdej Arahung amulet and 8,000-baht in cash on the table
 

After Three hours when he returned, he found that his house had been ransacked, but strangely both the amulet and cash remained. He strong believes that a miracle had occurred, blinding the thieves