Luang Phor Kram was the former abbot of the temple, along with a number of other temples including Wat Kampang and Wat Saluktai.
Luang Phor Kram is known to have been a student of many famous monks such as Luang Phor Boon of Wat Klangbangkaew, Nakon Pathom Province and Luang Phor Parn of Wat Bangnomko, Ayudhaya Province.
His amulets are highly distinctive, stylised and very beautiful making most of them instantly recognisable. Although he passed away over 40 years ago these amulets are still in great demand and are highly collectible.
VIEW AMULETS BLESSED BY LP KRAM
Some of his most popular pims are made from sacred black powder called Phong Phayataoreun, composed of baked soil and bailarn powder.
You will also note that many of his pims are heavily influenced by those created by his sacred teacher LP Parn.
However the most unique feature is often the turtle or Phra Phya Taoreun on the reverse.
It was said that if a worshipper writes their name and birth date on a piece of paper and place the amulet upon the paper they would easily win disputes or court battles.
Another popular application of his amulets is the creation of sacred water to increase charm when meeting a prospective lover, applying the water to the face.
Luang Phor Kram created many different amulet styles, including Pim Khun Paen, Pim Luang Phor Toh, Pim Kru Wat Bang Krating, Pim Buddha Prokbhoti, Pim Somdej etc.
Phra Phaya Taoreuan
According to the Chinese traditional Feng-Shui 風水science “Tao” or turtle is a kind of good-fortune animal because they just kept on walking forward and onward and never backwards, a sign of prosperity, fertility, and long life.
Feng Shui is a discrete Chinese belief system involving a mix of geographical, religious, philosophical, mathematical, aesthetic, and astrological ideas
Moreover, it was believed that Lord Buddha was previously born as a Turtle called Phaya Taoreuan, and he had helped protect the lives of other turtles.
Therefore some senior monks created Phaya Taoreuan amulets to help their worshippers call upon good fortune and at the same time dispel all evil dangers, and troubles.
It is generally believed that this kind of amulet are ideal for anyone who wants to succeed in businesses.
These amulets were originally called “Phaya Taoleuan amulets”, because the Thai word “leuan” means “erasing”, and it was believed that these amulets could help worshippers “erase” or “win” their cases in the court, one of the many reasons they are popular with lawyers and other members of the legal profession.
Latterly it has become more popular to call these amulets as “Phaya Taoreuan amulets”, because the Thai word “reuan” means house or building a more apt description which fits the popular belief that they will bring good fortune into the house or building.
There’s also other beliefs associated with this amulet and in particular that during Lord Buddha's life as a turtle it was said that his body was as big as a house (or “reuan”), another reason why the amulet is now known as Phaya Taoreuan.
In general there is no precise naming convention for these amulets, other than that they are popularly known as Phaya Taoreuan amulets.
Most of Phaya Taoreuan amulets that you are likely to see are made of wood, ivory, coconut shell, soil, sacred powder, metal or in some cases the corpse of an actual turtle.
The legend of Phaya Taoreuan
It was said that Lord Buddha was born as Phaya Taoreuan, and that he lived on the top a mountain. One day a group of hungry merchants who had been travelling for many days without food reached the mountain.
Phaya Taoreuan rolled down from the top of the mountain and donated his body as sustenance for the merchants. That unselfish donation helped Lord Buddha eventually achieve enlightenment after his 10th reincarnation as Prince Pravessandorn, the great giver.)
After the merchants ate the meet of the Phaya Taoreuan body they were satisfied and saved form a sure death. They brought the back shell of the giant turtle to their house to worship and ultimately were blessed with great wealth. Since then it was believed that Phaya Taoreuan would bring good fortune, fertility, and getting rid of troubles.
A part of Lord Buddha’s legend called “Prachao 500 Charti”, it was said that Lord Buddha told his followers about his birth as Phaya Taoreuan who had given his own flesh to save the merchants’ lives, that was a birth of Lord Buddha, who was reborn many times to achieve the highest merit succeeding in his enlightenment.
It was also recorded that when Lord Buddha was born as Phaya Taoreuan, he had practiced meditation on the top of the mountain until his magic power increased and his body became as big as a house.
It was during his meditation that he came to know of the famished merchants. At the time Phaya Taoreuan was determined to create a great merit with his own life, therefore he prayed before his death
“I do not have anything to help save these hungry men, except my body, therefore I would like to donate my life and body as their food to help save them from death. And in return for my merit, I would like to achieve enlightenment in the future.”
After that Phaya Taoreuan jumped from the top of the mountain, he died as his body collided with a boulder at the base. His body became food for the hungry merchants.
On returning home home the merchants never forgot Phaya Taoreuan’s mercy and they created a statue in honour. The story was passed down through the generations and Phaya Taoreuan became synonymous with mercy and safety in life.
An alternative account of this story is that which is often depicted in Buddhist art. Buddha in a previous life is a Bodhisattva-turtle (that is: a turtle who has vowed to save all sentient beings).
A group of merchants were sailing, when a storm hit. The giant Bodhisattva-turtle saw the shipwrek and saved the merchants by letting them climb on his back. He brought them safely to land. Tired from the long swim and heavy load he fell asleep on the sand.
The merchants were hungry and thirsty and after the ordeal were still not sure of their lives. They discussed amongst themselves how to find food. One of them said that they should kill and eat the turtle.
The Bodhisattva-turtle heard this and out of compassion for the merchants, decided to stay put and be eaten.
Creation of Phaya Taoreuan amulets in Thailand
There have been several discoveries of Phaya Taoreuan amulets in Thailand such as a gold Phaya Taoreuan amulet found in a chedi dating back to the Ayudhaya period. Furthermore it was recorded in Thai history that several Phaya Taoreuan amulets were made in the Krungthonburi period and at the beginning of Rhattanakosin period.
Most of the modern day Phaya Taoreuan amulets were made of wood or stone and they were originally created to help worshippers win legal battles and court cases..In that case there’s a record saying in evidence as follows;
“If anyone was accused unfairly, Phaya Taoreuan amulets would help erase that wrong accusation. ”;“If anyone was accused unfairly, Phaya Taoreuan amulets would help erase that wrong accusation. ”
Amulet for permanent wealth!
It is also generally believed that Phaya Taoreuan amulets possessed magic qualities that would help worshippers win cases in court.
According to this belief, the worshipper must sit on the back of the Phaya Taoreuan amulet and a monks would sprinkle sacred water onto his body.
In addition to that the worshipper must write his rival’s name onto a piece of paper and finally the sacred spell of Phaya Taoreuan is overwritten.
Then the piece of paper must be placed under the Phaya Taoreuan amulet where it should remain until the court hearing was completed. The power of the amulet would cause the rival to communicate his thoughts in a confusing manner. This clearly would be to his detriment and the result would favour the worshipper.
Monks preferred to use trees or plants with auspicious names to create these amulets such as Ma-kham tree, Ma-yom tree, Ka-noon tree, Song-badal tree, because the Thai words “kham” meant “revered”, “yom” meant “popular”, “noon” meant “support”, and “badal” meant “render good fortune” respectively.
Monks who have created Phaya Taoreuan amulets in Thailand
Historically Phaya Taoreuan were created either from cloth, upon which the sacred spell was written, or from auspicious trees. Both would be chanted using a sacred spell to activate the amuet which would call upon good fortune and protection from danger and evil.
Although the small-sized wooden Phaya Taoreuan amulets were popular amongst experts, they were not particularly popular until Luang Phor Sanit of Wat Lumbualoy, Nakorn Nayok province, created them from stones. people adored these amulets and the popularity has grown ever since.
Laung Por Sanit had created Phaya Taoreuan amulets in various sizes, some with appearance of a giant turtle and others small enough to be hung from a chain around the neck.
Moreover, Luang Por Liew of Wat Raitangtong created Phaya Taoreuan coins which were embossed with an image of him sitting on Phaya Taoreuan ’s back. These sacred coins were believed to possess magic power that could help protect from dangers and at the same time attract good fortune. Luang Phor Liews amulets are now by far the most popular and best known amongst the younger generations and collectors alike.
Luang Phor Suk Phaya Taoreuan amulet
There is also a story about the Phaya Taoreuan amulets created by Luang Phor Suk of Wat Klong Makhamtao, Chinat province. During the ceremony in which he was creating these sacred amulets it is said that many of the turtles climbed from the lake the was adjacent to the temple. Not only that these turtles actually headed towards the ceremony itself within the temple.
Not surprisingly Luang Phor Suk’s Phaya Taoreuan amulets are scarcely found nowadays. They are made of lead and Shina.
Apart from that Luang Phor Ngern of Wat Bangklan also created Phaya Taoreuan amulets with mixed gold.
Luang Phor Liew Phaya Taoreuan amulets
Luang Por Liew of Wat Raitangtong created Phaya Taoreuan coins which were embossed with an image of him sitting on Phaya Taoreuan ’s back.
These sacred coins were believed to possess magic power that could help protect from dangers and at the same time attract good fortune. Luang Phor Liews amulets are now by far the most popular and best known amongst the younger generations and collectors alike.
Luang Por Sanit’s Phaya Taoreuan amulets.
Luang Phor Sanit was the first senior monk since B.E.2500 who created the highest quantity of Phaya Taoreuan amulets in various sizes and styles;
Shrine-top size: These Phaya Taoreuan amulets were designed to be worshiped on shrines, all of them were made of stone and were carved with Phaya Taoreuan ’s sacred spell.
Small size: These Phaya Taoreuan amulets were designed to be hung on the worshippers’ neck to help protect them from danger and calling good fortunes. Some of them were made of stone others of mixed metals. The buyers were issued with the sacred spell of Phaya Taoreuan.
Lunag Phor Liang - Phaya Taoreuan Rien B.E 2510
Luang Phor Liang of Wat Panichdharmikaram, Lobburi province, was a disciple of Luang Phor Pan of Wat Bangnomko. His Phaya Taoreuan coins which were created in B.E.2510 and were highly respected for their magic power. Nowadays they are scarcely found and very expensive.
Luang Por Boonreun’s Phaya Taoreuan amulets
Luang Phor Boonreun of Wat Yang, Bangkok had learnt many magic sciences from Cambodia, and is one of the many reasons that his Phaya Taoreuan amulets were popular. Some of his Phaya Taoreuan amulets were made from pieces of cloth endorsed with the Phaya Taoreuan spell, and some were made of silver and copper. His first series of Phaya Taoreuan coins were embossed with both his picture and Phaya Taoreuan ’s image.
Luang Por Song’s Phaya Taoreuan amulets
It could be said that Phaya Taoreuan amulets of Luang Phor Song, Angtong province, Wat Saladin, are some of the most popular. At the initial release these could be purchased for 100 baht /each. Prices today bear no resemblance to that now.
There are several types of LP Song Phaya Taoreuan amulets that can be found in the iamulet markets including Phaya Taoreuan coins, Phaya Taoreuan lockets and there’re also some amulets made of cloth endorsed with Phaya Taoreuan’s sacred spell.
Wat Nongwanleuang’s Phaya Taoreuan amulets
Wat Nongwanleuang’s Phaya Taoreuan amulets were called Phaya Taoreuan Sedhi Pee-raka amulets because they were made to celebrate the “Year of the Cock” according to the Chinese belief of Naksatya, all of them were made of parasitic plants which would typically grow on Thai trees, such as the Rug tree, Loeng tree, Khanoon tree and Sak tree.
All of the parasitic plants were ground to a powder and mixed with Wan 108, incense powder, sacred water from Ayudhaya Wat Panuncheng and Wat Sa-tuer, sacred water from Angtong province’s Wat Chaiyo and Wat Pamoek, sacred water from Bangkok’s Wat Kalayanamitra, and sacred water from Samutprakarn province’s Wat Bangplee.
The Phaya Taoreuan amulets passed the sacred Buddhist spell ceremony, performed by Luang Por Ruay of Wat Ta-go, Luang Phor Perm of Wat Pomkaew and Luang Phor Poon of Wat Pailom.
Phaya Taoreuan amulets of Luang Poo Tong of Wat Jakawadirachawas, Bangkok
Luang Phor Tong’s Phaya Taoreuan amulets were called Tao-mahatong-maha-ngnern. These amulets were created according to the Chinese’s mythology and traditional belief. The Turtle represents longevity, strength and indestructibility and is said to live ten thousand years. The Turtle also symbolises immutability and can be used as a talisman for protection and stability. It also symbolises prosperity.
Picture: The sacred spell of Phaya Taoreuan, which often found on several types of Phaya Taoreuan amulets .
KATHA Phaya Taoreuan
Naa Gluean Kluean Sang Satuean Hwan Hwai Si Hlong Hlai Hai Hen Bprajaks Dtaa Moe Decha Pyaa Thao Luean Gor Hai Fan Fuean Gluean Bpai Tuk Kon Anijjaa Wadtasangkhara Anatta Suun Bplao Naasangsimoe Pa Ka Waa Kaa Toe Su Si Moe Put Toe Pa Ka Waa
