First discovered at Sukhothai approxinmately 25 years ago. Highly popular amulet, known as Phra Leela Kru Larn Dok Mai.
With the Sukhothai Leela amulet Kru refers to the fact that these amulets were placed in a pagoda and Larn Dok Mai, loosely translates as flower garden. Amulet is approximately 700 years old. Thai collectors believe that these amulets offer luck and protection.
The history of Thai amulets can be divided into a number of important periods and particularly the Sukhothai period. Amulets from this period are better known as 'Phra Kruang' by amulet collectors and are very popular, and in many cases even more so so than their better known modern counterparts.
Individual types have such nicknames as 'Phra Ruang', a term derived from the names of Sukhothai kings, and 'Phra Ruang Perd-Lok', where perd-lok means 'open the three worlds (i.e. heaven, earth, and hell)' .
Collectors believe that most Sukhothai votive tablets, large or small, were made during the reign of King Luthai in the latter half of the fourteenth century.
The king was an avid Buddhist who towards the end of his reign, abdicated the throne to become a monk. It is likely that amulet dealers created this story about the production of tablets to increase their desirability.
The majority of Sukhothai votive tablets portray standing and walking attitudes. Standing Buddha tablets are portrayed in two types: either with one hand in abhayamudra or with both hands on the sides with the palms facing outwards (Phra Poet-Lok).