|
1 |
To promote Buddhist
ancient legends amongst
the Thai people. |
|
2 |
To worship Buddhism. |
|
3 |
To remind the Thais of
the legend of the
ancient city of
Suwannabhumi |
|
4 |
To reward the senior
monks, who helped create
the series of sacred
amulets called Phra Pong
Wan 8 Arahun Suwannaphum
amulets. The funds for
which were used to
renovate 163 small
chedis surrounding the
sacred chedi of Nakon Si
Thammarat Province. |
|
5 |
To reward the 20 temples
throughout Thailand that
donated sacred materials
to create the Phra Pong
Wan 8 Arahun Suwannaphum
amulets. |
|
6 |
To support Anubal School
of Nakon Si Thammarat
province. |
| |
|
Chairman
Lieutenant Police General
Nattapong Wattanasukon, Royal
Official to HRH the Crown
Prince.
There are many legends about the
origins of Jatukham Rammathep,
but it is generally agreed that
it goes way back in the mists of
time, long before the northern
kingdoms emerged.
According to historians and
anthropologists, old Nakhon Sri
Thammarat was a part of
Srivijaya, a maritime kingdom
incorporating Sumatra, the Malay
Peninsula, mainland Indochina
and western Borneo that
flourished from about 500 CE
until the late 11th century.
History also tells us that the
Vajrayana sect of Mahayana
Buddhism had a strong influence
over Srivijaya and the ruler
considered himself a
bodhisattva. It is said that
King Chandrabhanu, who was also
known as Pangpagan, had black
skin and was a brave warrior who
could fight every evil. This is
why Pangpagan and Rahu (a black
deity who inspires terror)
amulets are included in the
group of Jatukam talismans.
After many years of war,
the King finally
conquered and managed to
secure Sri Lanka into
part of his Kingdom.
There was a saying that
the King possessed a
sacred treasure, this
was none other than the
Holy relics of Lord
Buddha. Before the King
began his journey to the
newly conquered land, he
tasked the protection of
the Relics to his two
princes,
Inthara Sairen and
Inthara Khao Kheo
and ordered them to
guard it with their
lives.
The Sri Thammasoke realm
began to degenerate as a
result of their father’s
absence of 20 years
during which he expanded
his dominion to as far
as eastern India.
Some time later, the
princes received
information of a plan by
the enemy to capture the
Relics. They immediately
informed the King who
instructed them to
quickly bring the Relics
via sea and head to the Lanka
Isle. Halfway through
the journey, a
thunderstorm stroke and
their ships were sunken.
Except the two princes,
the rest of the crews
did not survive.
The two princes were
washed ashore, unable to bring the Relics
to Sri Lanka they
started praying
sincerely to the Relics
“Dear Enlighten One! If
this land we step upon
is a holy piece of land,
then please guide us let
us live a new life here.
With our people, we
shall guard and protect your Relics
forever.”
The brothers founded a
new capital at Chang
Khom Sirithammarat
(present day Nakhon Si
Thammarat), and renamed
the realm Srivijaya
Suvarnabhumi,
building a sacred chedi
to house the relics in
BE 1040
Several ancient stones have been
discovered in many provinces
including Nakon si Thammarat,
Petchburi and Rachburi Provinces
on which the legend of the
sacred chedi is related. |
