Somdej Pra Bhuddhachara Toh Prohmarangsri 圣僧 阿占多

Somdej Pra Bhuddhachara Toh Prohmarangsri 圣僧 阿占多

2010年10月4日星期一

马来西亚吉兰丹佛庙(WAT UTTAMARAM) TOK RAJA

马来西亚吉兰丹佛庙(WAT UTTAMARAM)


 (巴西馬三日訊)「九五之尊」的氣派,未必便是堂皇炫目,而是來自那份就算沉積內歛,也讓人深深感受到的超凡脫俗;就像雄獅隨意躺、臥或坐,都那麼有力的展現王者風範!

在偏遠的吉蘭丹,歷代來皆出產過無數高僧及奇僧,他們這種「入地獄」式的存在,照耀了丹州這個被外人視為「蠻荒」之地,也因為他們努力不懈帶動,丹州建立了無數富有傳奇色彩的巍峨佛寺。

著如早期著名的臥佛寺及站佛寺(其實是行佛寺),及後期崛起的坐佛寺、雙龍寺及龍船寺,往往教首次膜拜的善信,對其龐然堂皇的建築咋舌不已,嘆為觀止!

但有言道,山不在高、水不在深,有仙則靈;原來威望駕臨丹州大小佛寺的,並非來自上述「五指佛寺」中任何一間,而是知名度遠遜的「僧王寺」!

僧王寺名氣不夠上述佛寺響亮,主要是該寺並沒被刻意發展成為著名的旅遊勝地,加上低調作風及長期來沒甚獲傳媒及當局關注,僧王寺對外州人而言,可說是「默默無聞」。

但這種說法,肯定不包括對本地佛寺有認識者及泰國的善信,對他們而言,僧王寺才擁有至高無上地位,以及威名赫赫代表性佛寺。

其中奠定該佛寺地位的便是一代神僧--朝坤克隆(CHAOKHUN KHRON)。朝坤意為眾僧之首,克隆是人名;大馬歷史上,首位獲得泰王賜封為一州僧首的神僧,他也是當時並非泰國本土和尚的泰國十大神僧之一!

賜封他的是拉瑪五世泰王,即續襲後來被拍攝成電影「國王與我」拉瑪四世泰王蒙谷的王位者;僧王寺之名就由他而起。

受封後,上世紀初可說是僧王克隆的「神話」時代,威望如日中天,聲名遠播海外,無人不知;甚至丹州境內的友族,也尊稱朝坤克隆為「Tok Raja」。

朝坤克隆後,續承其位的分別是朝坤張及朝坤密,他們也各別獲得泰王賜封,成為統領丹州境內眾佛寺及僧侶的僧王。

三代各富神奇色彩的僧王,已使得僧王寺奠定王者地位,牢不可動,也使善信心中,永遠緬懷僧王時代。

住持:法力非正信之道冀注意佛法精微

在遠古荒蠻的時代,村人更在意的是神僧的法力,但實際上,神僧們雖都「身懷絕技」,甚至擁有通靈力量,但這始終並非我佛的正信之道。

因此,目前掌寺的年輕住持曇文,瞭解到時代進步,正是時候擺脫善信們對高僧必須擁有神奇力量要求,他以身作則,努力擺脫這種非份要求及期望。

他說,神怪力量始終不是佛法中所著重之處,儘管必然會有許多善信會對他沒懷神力而感失望,但他更希望,善信注意的是佛法精微。

本身受過高等教育,甚至曾經隻身遠赴斯里蘭卡修讀佛經,而且早前若非師父朝坤密要求,他早已到印度深造更高境界佛法。

曇文是本地泰裔;為人隨和,說得一口流利英語、國語及福建話,與他談天,往往可查覺到他那不經意流露出來的智慧及抱負,記者有感於如此人中之龍,何 以淺擱鄉野?針對記者所問,他直指在這裡並不快樂,他的理想仍舊是到印度修習佛法,但持著師父去世前的要求,他只好留下當僧王寺住持。

詢及在他之前的三代僧王都擁有深厚法力,他笑說,先修習佛法吧,等以後老了看看有沒有時間,也許會學一些。

其實,佛法並沒要求僧人必須修習蠱術或解降術,但鑒於早期的丹州及泰南,充滿蠱毒降害事件,因此德高望重的僧人往往出於慈悲之心,才會通過神力救人,但也無意顯露奇異力量,久而眾人推崇。

他指出,早期的僧侶因「市場需求」而必須修習天文地理、蠱術降頭及各類草藥的運用,這叫做「方便法」,只是藉此在醫藥設備落後,甚至於近乎零的村落裡行醫救人,吸引善信接受教化。

他說,目前醫學昌明,僧侶無需再扮演解降及土醫的角色,而他本身也樂得如此,集中精神修讀佛經及到處講解佛經,他曾到過台灣、香港及新加坡等地舉行佛法講座。

「我努力修習英文,不是為了要做『西方和尚』,而是要方便通過英文,與世界各地善信溝通及藉此讀取英文版佛經,目前我也通過電腦網絡來學習。」

逾十村落居民 分批建誡律院

王寺本身並沒號召眾佛寺的權力,卻因為三代僧王都住在該寺,加上目前主持也是位甚具威望的高學問僧侶,無形中使該寺有超然地位。

更多時候,僧王寺在丹州被當地人習慣叫作「僧王廟」,也許這比較順口,事實上泰式佛寺叫做樾(WAT),泰式名稱為 WAT UTTAMARAM,佔地約十英畝,範疇甚廣及建有多座建築,包括大雄寶殿、誡律院、主持院、僧侶院及骨灰塔等。

相信早在十九世紀前(丹州曾是泰屬地)的僧王寺原寺並非在現址,而是魯伯仲(LUBOK JONG),後來當時的僧首曇范喇阿巴查叔於一九二五年遷寺至目前村落甘榜克默昔(KG KEMESEK)。

在僧王制由泰王拉瑪五世開始前,統領眾僧侶者僅叫做僧首,後來才改用更完善的僧王制,僧王受泰王承認及賜封代表權威的扇子。

第一代僧王朝坤克隆是從一九二五年始擔任至一九六二年去世,他之前的紀錄大多不詳。

據知,該寺是由遠近十餘個村落(該區村民多達八十巴仙是泰裔)村民,分批輪流為該寺建上最有代表性的誡律院。

據知,該院是繪圖師遠到泰國曼谷根據泰皇某座建築設計而建,深具泰國傳統建築的精緻及典雅,並有龍、虎、象等吉祥物圍寺,以示護佑。

僧王職權如同州務大臣,處理及決定州內各佛寺諸類事件,包括擇日為高僧遺體火化。

僧王遺體留寺內

第二代僧王為朝坤張(CHAOKHUN CHAN)及第三代為朝坤密(CHAOKHUN MIT )。

朝坤密於五年前去世,遺體經過防腐留存在寺內供善信膜拜敬仰。

目前該寺住持是巴拉克魯文曇(PHRA KHRU BOON THAM),巴拉克魯是職位,低於僧王,文為人名,曇在泰文是和尚之意,簡叫曇文。

曇文也是丹州僧團理事會秘書及僧王秘書。他說,僧王的封賜來自兩方面,即丹州蘇丹封為「和尚首領」(ketua sami);而另一則來自泰王的封賜。

因此,僧王通常必須獲泰王及丹州蘇丹封賜後,才名正言順成為僧王,僧王是由僧團理事會所推薦。

現任僧王曇裕並沒住在僧王寺(他將於今年杪獲泰王封賜正式僧王號),而是在道北縣另一佛寺;但每當重大會議,仍習慣性選擇在僧王寺進行,偶爾才到其他佛寺進行。

 
  
 
    
 馬來亞僧王 督拉惹 TOK RAJA
鑾波昆榜錫 หลวงพ่อครน บางแซะ Luang Por Kron Bang Sae

在馬來亞佛教界裏,曾被泰國覲選一百零八位頂尖兒高僧裡,唯一不屬於泰國境內的高僧,就是是信徒尊稱為“督拉惹”的高僧,也是唯一被回教蘇丹王室御封為“督拉惹”的高僧。

“督拉惹” (Tok Raja),意譯為“督,馬來語是公公、法師、村長及長輩等的意思。“拉惹” 意譯為蘇丹王室,結合起來“督拉惹”應該是,王室僧簡稱為“僧王”

更有人稱鑾波為馬來亞“必打王”ปิดตา(Pitta),可想而知,他所鑄造的“必打”是多麼出名的。但簡稱鑾波為“阿祖”或“阿公”,較為有親切感。泰族人稱鑾波為鑾波昆榜錫หลวงพ่อครน บางแซะ (Luangpo Kron Bangsae)。

鑾波昆出生於1876年(佛曆2419)11月2日,星期四屬鼠年,當時還是暹羅管轄時代的吉蘭丹,父親名叫乃村,母親叫喃喬,姓氏為叻乍倫(Rajcharuen)。

鑾波昆十二歲時,父親才帶他去越烏塔瑪喃 วัดอุตตมาราม(Watutamaram),也稱越榜錫วัดบางแซะ(Wat Bangsae),隨寺院主持學習泰文,過後又學會了巴利文,而能朗誦經文。鑾波自從進入寺院,學習語文後,就非常喜愛研讀經書,甚少遊樂,與其他孩童性格絕然不同。住持在觀察下,就覺得此孩童,似乎前世曾修過梵行,看他的一舉一動皆有僧侶的風範,他日必為僧中之尊呀!

鑾波讀完寺院裏的經書後,他也不願回家,繼續留在那裡,幫忙做個方面之事,同時也教村中的小孩們學習泰語。

到年齡二十一歲時,鑾波要求父母給他籌備出家之事,父母也和親友們為他剃度受戒為僧人。於1895年(佛曆2438)6月15日,為受戒的是柏巴叻差法師,鑾波的法名柏昆普納蘇瓦若(Pra Kron punasuwano)。

起先鑾波昆用兩年的時間深入的研習大藏經,過後他覺得自己應該出外走走,尋求更高一層的佛學知識。就毅然此外了住持,步行出發去修苦行戒律。但是當時沒有良好的道路,只好翻山越嶺,當然得徒步行走。整個月後來到了一個村莊,有間寺院越蓮乍(Wat Leamchak),得知有位法力高強的高僧,叫做鑾波瑪哈蕾(Luangpo Mahaloi)。

起初鑾波瑪哈蕾將一本法術秘笈交與督拉惹,他得花上兩年時間方能背誦通笈交裏的經文,接着更深的修禪定法門。其後他也各地去尋訪名師讚研各門法術,而且還在泰南各府,當了多間佛寺的主持。督拉惹多住在宋卡府和高頭廊府一帶,也曾在越考烏(Wat Kao-or)修習多種信物的獨特法門。

在1925年(佛曆2468)督拉惹辭去越邁考嶺的主持職位,決定回到家鄉,接任越烏塔瑪喃的住持方丈。

他準備大肆修葺寺院。當時周圍都被膠園團團圍住,寺院的地大約二十多英畝。居民多是以割膠為生,過的生活的相當辛苦,不過每逢節日卻都非常誠心的前來獻僧供佛,有者今天看他們歡天喜地的來獻僧,明天卻穿來他的惡訊,說是被蛇咬死了!因為樹膠園裏毒蛇叢生,尤其是眼鏡蛇,在攻擊人的時候,豎起起來像人一般高。

鑾波看到這種情景,非常難過,就將以前修苦行戒時所收集的聖土,用來製造避險的信物,這就是初期鑾波製造掩面佛的心意,製成後派發給信徒,信徒佩帶後果真一路平安無事,更奇怪的是毒蛇遇上有佩帶必打佛牌的村民,都會掉頭而逃,不敢接近,甚至碰上老虎、熊也會出現相同的情況,信徒們一傳十,十傳百,鑾波的必打佛像就慢慢的火紅起來。

從前要去寺院很艱難,因為交通很不方便,只有從水路和火車才能達到寺院,有些信徒甚至跟隨火車鐵軌走了十多哩才到達寺院,因為哥打峇魯到蘭斗班讓間是沒有火車站的,有些信徒都是去到蘭斗班讓在走回頭,但路程也要數哩之遙。

曾經有比較熟的信徒,要到鑾波昆寺院之前,就會先買了煙。然後才上火車;在火車上,就會走到車頭,找駕駛員打交道,順便送上煙給他,要求火車經過寺院時,儘量放慢車速,好讓他們有機會從火車上跳下去,如此一來就節省了很多時間和精力。

信徒一到寺院,一般先回和鑾波閒談,鑾波是一位很健談的僧人,不會難以相處,而當信徒要求必打佛時,鑾波就會記錄下他個人的行業和需要,如果是做生意者,鑾波就會多下人緣咒。然後才然後再擇日鋳造制模,集會聖土、經水和石灰等,放進模型裏印出了一枚必打佛牌。

鑾波才利用小刀片,慢慢的雕出完美的曲線,然後以畫圖的鐵筆,一邊唸經,一邊將符咒寫在必打的身上,再放入法壇上,日夜誦經,直至兩三個月後,信徒才可以奉請佩戴。

所以每一枚必打佛牌,都是鑾波要每枚佛牌都呈現最完美的形象,讓人看上去,就非常渴望將之擁有。這就是督拉惹必打佛牌最獨特之處。

關於督拉惹的必打佛牌威力,是不可置疑的,而且為信徒們所公認的,就連暹羅的佛牌收藏家們都會來尋找這塊寶物,現在此必打佛牌,在市場價值大約處於五十萬株左右。即使鑾波昆生前鋳造的銅佛牌市價都值越十萬銖左右呢!

鑾波昆所住的吉蘭丹州,鑾波在這裡卻沒有受到回教徒的排擠,鑾波有高深的法力,時常幫忙這些馬來同胞解決一些玄難雜症,如中邪、中降、小孩子哭個不停等的問題。

鑾波昆也常常唸一些經水讓他們帶回去飲用或洗澡,一般可以解決一些玄妙的問題。甚至連吉蘭丹蘇丹也親自覲見鑾波,並向鑾波談起說:他每次去舉行王室儀式時,都會感到頭頂有撕裂頭痛的感覺,因為其中有一點血統奧妙的差距。鑾波就說沒有問題,走入佛舍裏,拿出長約一尺多的手杖。

此手杖泰語成為“邁古魯”ไม้คูรู(Mai Kru),意譯是師父杖或權杖。此杖的功能是增加權威,避一切的邪惡。鑾波昆就把它交給吉蘭丹蘇丹王。而蘇丹王從此每次開王室大會時,再也不會發生頭痛的問題。而蘇丹永遠手不離此權杖,時常緊隨於身。

蘇丹為了感謝鑾波昆的恩典,就第一次封泰族高僧為僧王,馬來語就是“督拉惹”(Tok Raya)。

據說鑾波昆在修苦行戒律時,去到一座山洞,見到一位修行老僧在裡頭居住,鑾波就朝拜此老僧,並向他學習禪定法門。

過了三個月的守夏節。

有一天老僧叫鑾波昆來到床前,這時候老僧已病倒再創了,老僧將一支拐杖狀的木棍交給鑾波,說是當年他年輕時候有位高僧交給他的,並吩咐他說他日得遇見有慧根者才傳交於他,並傳授口訣以及製造邁古魯的秘訣,鑾波昆就是從此處學來的。

鑾波得到邁古魯後,就日夜擁帶在身旁,連睡覺也相隨,覺得得到邁古魯後,自己的法力也隋着增長。不久之後傳邁古魯於他的老僧也圓寂了。

後來鑾波昆製造了數支邁古魯給有需要的人士,吉蘭丹蘇丹的就是其中一支。這隻邁古魯現在還供奉在蘇丹宮裏哪!

自從鑾波昆回到家鄉主持寺院,首先就是着手發展教育、建設校舍,並由柏嗎哈曾當老師。接着還籌建了一間全馬甚至暹羅所無悟的,與眾不同的是和大雄寶殿。四方有門進出,前門的十二支大柱子有祥龍盤捲的雕刻,更有許多奇珍異獸的雕像團團圍繞,計有龍、象、獅、虎、鹿、鷹及牛等等。進口處兩旁築了兩座神龕,分別供奉大伯公與觀音大士的聖像,蔚為奇觀。

從此這裡就變成好像少林寺一樣,有許多僧侶和法師紛紛前來拜在鑾波昆的門下,不是學武術,而是學法術。學成之後可以籍着法術救人於苦難中,這也是鑾波教授法術的宗旨。

在1962年(佛曆2505年),鑾波昆剛由新加坡回來之後,就不舒服臥病在床,吉蘭丹蘇丹也親自前來探病。鑾波年事已高,終於在11月19日圓寂,享年88歲,入戒68年,一代聖僧從此沉寂了 .....
吉兰丹州吧西吗 呼达吗兰佛寺(僧王庙)昙召坤僧王(阿公)
PHRA MAHA CHAN KESARO (昙召坤)出生 1909 年 4 月 5 日 (星期一)在 Pasir Mas, Kampung Teresek 的一个泰裔农村里。父亲名乃叔(Nai Su), 母亲为南娟(Nan Thiak)。兄弟姐妹共七位,排行第三。


年方十五岁跟随已故第一任僧王銮婆坤(呼达吗兰佛寺第五任方丈)研习佛理。於1931年年方22出家。拜师三位老銮婆(僧王及另两位高僧)学习佛理,法号为昙真勒沙喏(Phra Chan Kesaro)。

1933年北上泰南北大年(Pattani)修行佛法数年,后再回呼达吗兰佛寺协助僧王銮婆坤处理一切寺务。

1962年任僧王銮婆坤(呼达吗兰佛寺第五代主持)圆寂,昙真被委任为呼达吗兰佛寺第6任主持。同年再受吉兰丹苏丹殿下及泰国僧王封为丹州第二任僧王(召 坤),据知行愿未圆,竟於1992年11月30日(星期一)早上6.05分入寂归西,享年83岁。兹定於1995年3月9日至12日一连四天举办茶毗仪式。

金19尊

银29尊

帕必達
พระปิดตา(譯音)帕必達,其中ปิดตา泰文的意思是閉眼或遮眼的意思因此可以稱之為閉眼佛或是遮眼佛,而泰國的遮眼佛有很多種類型有雙手遮眼的法相,也有四臂、六臂、或是佈滿經咒文如同皺紋般的法相都是屬於遮眼佛(必達佛),不同的譯音只是外在的法相特徵不同而已而必達佛的佛牌,是泰國民眾普遍喜愛佩帶的佛牌之一,據說佩帶遮眼佛可以幫信眾擋掉很多不好的事情、麻煩、避災擋險,能夠保信眾的平安也能夠幫信眾招來很多很好的財運,因此必達佛也是泰國的致富佛像之一書中寫著,當帕必達在世時,幾世之前就已經不斷累積很多的福德資糧在其中一世,有許多僧侶與帕必達一起修行,結果沒想到在某天夜晚時,發生了洪水,眼看就要將他們滅頂。此時,佛陀趕緊命令帕必達前去將水阻止不動,以免這些僧侶滅頂。因此當時有許多的天人和凡人們,都因此信服他的能力,並對他非常敬仰。此外,在帕必達之前的一世中,他常常用鮮花供養佛陀及許多的高僧。接著帕必達轉世在另一世之後,則生為一戶養牛人家的孩子。早晨的時候,他常常看到高僧沿街托缽化緣後,會在一個空地修行打坐。由於他看到高僧總在烈日下修行,想到這必然非常辛苦,因此趁高僧不在時,為高僧搭起簡單的棚子,讓高僧在打坐時可以遮陽避雨,他也因此累積很大的福德。因此在臨命終時,得升天道;但他在生為天人後,並未耽溺於天道的逸樂,反而常常廣行佛事,不斷地累積福德資糧。此後,帕必達的法像就被製作為如今所看到的樣子,象徵祂用手將六根遮住,即眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意皆被遮止;以免受到這六根所對應到的六塵所擾,此六塵則為外界的色、聲、香、味、觸、法,讓人能謹記佛陀的教誨因此佛子佩帶必達佛牌的時候,無論是在修行佛法或是行事思考之時,都能夠讓心念更加全心專注,提昇自己的思考層面;此外,在世俗上,帕必達的法像亦被一般大眾認為是擋災避險的姿勢,讓人可以免於危難.



2010年10月2日星期六

Identification Technique Baked Clay 25 Buddha Sattawas Leela


Real Piece  Front side image face:
1. Curved line
2. By side viewing, a sharp straight edge seen at the upper ear
3. A straight line turned edge

 Real Piece Front side image body:
1.**** Steep edge like high wall and the "wall" base is SHARP and CLEAR. For the copied fake piece, the wall base is blurred and the amulet size is slightly shrunken.
2. Slight slope basin
3. An extra cloth line

 Real Piece Backside:
1. A circle marking caused by the mold itself.
2.**** Sharp & clear letter base for the genuine piece. For the fake piece by full imprint copying, the letter base would be blurred and the amulet size would be slightly shrunken.

Note:
There are various fakes:
1. by new carving mold, this kind of fake is easy to examine
2. by full imprint copying technique, this kind of fake looks like the real piece but:
a. the amulet size is slightly shrunken
b. the eyes, nose and mouth look blurred
c. the Buddha image's wall base all around is blurred
Texture:
The real piece, the texture is densed, fine and strong. For fake piece, the texture looks rougher and not as strong as the real one.

 25 Buddha Sattawas Leela
Left: Lead/tin Right: Baked clay

 Medal with ribbon, gifts for committee who help work on 25 Buddha Sattawas celebration.
Monk bag and chanting fan for a Guru who was invited to join the great blessing ceremony.
Left: Original authentic box          Right: A sample of new box

Essential Information:25 Buddha Sattawas Leela
Black
 On the celebration of 2500 years of Buddhism in B.E.2500, the Thai government by Prime Minister P. Phiboonsongkram ordered the creation of the 25 Buddha Sattawas Leela to raise fund for the construction of Buddha Mondhon (Buddha Precint/ BKK suburb). The amulet creation on that occasion has been recorded as the biggest ever in quantity and a country greatest blessing ceremony by 108 great Guru monks.
Chairman Of The Committe: Prime Minister P. Phiboonsongkram
President For The Working Committee: Pol Gen Pao Sriyanondha
Vice President For The Working Committee: Pol Maj Gen Nuang Akhubutra
Number of creation:
1. Baked clay : 2,421,250 pieces
2. Lead/Tin : 2,421,250 pieces
Grand Total: 4,842,500 pieces
Donation Rate for 1 & 2: 10 Baht per each
3. Gold: 15 pieces
4. Nak (Alloy of Gold + Copper): 30 pieces
5. Silver 300 pieces
Place of manufacture: Wat Suthat
Twice blessings: February 9, 10, 11 and May 2,3,4, B.E.2500 by 108 Guru monks at Wat Suthat
After blessing the baked clay and lead/tin amulets were sent to all district and provicial offices across the country as gifts for donors to help construct the Buddha Mondhon. Due to a very hugh number of creation, the amulets were unpopular among the people at that time. Many years passed by, only a little number of amulets were distributed. And the hugh number of the amulets of millions were later returned to Buddha Mondhon office.
The country BIGGEST ever and only ONCE manufactured amulets of 25 Buddha Sattawas Leelas of nearly 5 million pieces were just run out --no more left-- in these RECENT YEARS. The 25 Buddha Sattawas Leelas took very long time of 40 years to distribute until the last piece was sold out. Before the running out time, many collector investors donated for thousands of amulets each, all are unused with NO BOXES. Some collector investors have ordered new plastic boxes to contain them. A lot of amulets with new plastic boxes were laterly transacted for profit. This might cause a misunderstanding that they were remaking amulets.
Due to the old amulets running out from the market in these recent years, and due to the public revelation of a country biggest blessing ceremony that cause the 25 Buddha Sattawas Leelas gainning high popularity at present. The market price trend of the amulets are now gradually increasing. The FAKE MAKERS are now producing the FAKES especially the color pieces due to their high prices, The fake makers arrange the mold by copying from a beautiful piece with sophisticated equipment. Even some details are similar to the original authentic pieces but it is noticeable that the FAKE SIZE are shrunken and their letter grooves at the back is narrower and shallower.
Some BY-EAR COLLECTORS have clung to a rumor that there might be a remaking version.This rumor is entirely quite IMPOSSIBLE because the amulets were made ONCE in a very hugh number of nearly 5 millions pieces by the order of the government, and they just ran out in these RECENT years after a long marathon distributing for around 40 years. This means the 25 Buddha Sattawas Leelas were manufactured with OVER SUPPLY quantity. By common sense, no trickery merchants would invest in the over-supply MERCHANDISE. Moreover, the molds--the goverment properties-- were reportedly buried in Buddha Mondhon at the early stage of the construction many ten years ago. And I have never heard of such the remaking rumor in Thailand, but have seen many ghost-produced FAKES. And a lot of those FAKES have been exported to neighboring countries by the cooperation of the two-sided unscrupulous dealers. And possibly, SOME GUY who stands behind the dark curtain and PROCLAIMS none of interest involved might have shared secret benefit-- WHO KNOW??!!.
The 25 Buddha Sattawas Leelas are very good great, invaluable amulets because they were blessingly finished by the great 108 Gurus of around 45 years ago. Whoever would like to have one should purchase from the TRUSTABLE dealers only because there are so many FAKES spreading around in the amulet markets, otherwise you will get a FAKE. As mentioned above, the FAKES have same details as the real ones but the size is shrunken and the letter grooves on the back are narrower and shallower.


 Gray
 Brick Color
 Cream Color
Pikul Color ( pale brown)
25 Buddha Sattawas Leela of Various Colors
Dimensions: 1.4 X 3.8 cm
Material: Baked clay
Colored Leela 25 Buddha Sattwas was accidentally occurred due to different heat areas in the furnace chamber. The black is the piece that received the top most heating and became the most strongest piece. If the temperature go far more than that, the amulet will be broken off with no cohesion in its mass anymore. The gray is second top most receiving the heat after the black one. They are very rare-to-find items but please realize that a lot fakes have been spreading over amulet markets.

2010年9月23日星期四

The Story of Maha Sivali Thera

The birth of a Sivali
At the time of Gautama Buddha, there reigned a righteous king and queen named Koliya and Suppavasa. After some time Queen Suppavasa became pregnant. And the unborn child brought great fortune to the kingdom. Not only did the queen receive many gifts from friends and relatives, but the entire realm became prosperous. Crops grew in abundance, and everyone was well-fed and healthy.

The queen grew heavy with child but when the natural time for the birth arrived (10 lunar months), she failed to deliver the baby. She grew uneasy as time passed without sign of the birth. She asked the king to invite the Buddha and his Sangha for a meal. After the meal the Buddha said:

“May Suppavasa, daughter of the Koliya Clan,Be happy, healthy, and give birth to a healthy son.”

After the Buddha departed, the queen gave birth to a beautiful, healthy son. As a mark of respect for the Buddha, who had eased the queen’s heavy burden with his blessings, he and his retinue were invited to receive alms at the palace for seven days.

The prince was named Sivali, since from the time of his conception, the people’s hardships were alleviated by virtue of the rich and abundant crops.
Previous life of Sivali
One day when Sariputra was on his alms round, he visited the prince and informed him of the suffering that he and his mother had undergone because of the delayed pregnancy.

Sariputra went on to explain to the prince the unwholesome karma that his mother and he had performed and the resultant effects of their actions:

In a previous birth Sivali had been born as the king of Benares (Varanasi) and had waged war on a neighboring kingdom in collaboration with his consort, his present mother. He had surrounded the kingdom and told the citizens to surrender or fight. When they refused to surrender, together they decided to surround the city and hold the citizens hostage.

The citizens, who neither wanted to fight back nor live under the rule of such a king, had refused to surrender. As a result they suffered greatly without food for a very long period. Many of the sick and the elderly had died. Yet, the arrogant king and his queen had not given in. Many months later the king withdrew his troops and released his hostages, but he paid dearly for the suffering he had caused.

When he died he was reborn in Avici, an infernal world of torment. The delayed pregnancy and the suffering he and his mother had undergone as a result of the delay were the residual effects of this karma.

Ordination & immediate Arahant attainment of Sivali
After illustrating the first noble truth of suffering, Sariputra asked the prince if he would like to join the Noble Order so as to pursue a path to the end of all suffering. The prince was overjoyed at this invitation and agreed to join the Order with his mother’s permission.

The queen, who was a devoted follower of the Buddha, agreed. She escorted Prince Sivali in a procession to the monastery to be ordained. On the day of her son’s ordination, when his hair was being shaved, Sariputra advised Sivali to meditate on the impurities of the body. Sivali was spiritually advanced as a result of previous wholesome actions and was therefore able to focus his mind as instructed. Before the shaving was completed, Sivali attained the supreme wisdom of nirvana.

Miracles of Sivali
The monks soon noticed a strange phenomenon when they were with Sivali. He always seemed to have an abundance of rich, fragrant food and the other requisites (robes, shelter, and medicine). And monks who were with him had the opportunity to share in the bounty. Wherever Sivali went, people flocked around to prepare food for him. Sivali was indeed blessed with all the requisites of a monk. And wherever Sivali traveled, he was well taken care of.

He and his large retinue of monks were once in an uninhabited forest for seven days. Nevertheless, they were not short of food. For the devas made sure that all of their requirements were met. Similarly when Sivali was traveling through the desert, his requisites were provided.
Declaration of Buddha on Sivali
The Buddha, noticing that Sivali was fulfilling a previous aspiration, declared him “foremost among monks in obtaining requisites.” He instructed monks who were traveling on long, difficult journeys through uninhabited terrain to be accompanied by Sivali to ensure that they would have their requisites met.

In fact, on one occasion when the Buddha and a retinue of 30,000 monks were traveling to visit the monk Khadhiravaniya Revata (Sariputra’s younger brother), they had to cross an uninhabited forest. Ananda, fearing that they would not be able to obtain food in the jungle for such a large number of monks, questioned the Buddha about the logistics of the journey.

The Buddha assured Ananda that they had nothing to worry about as Sivali was with them. With Sivali present there would be no shortage of food because even the devas reveled in donating provisions.

Why Maha Thera Sivali was blessed with such merits
To find the cause of this strange phenomenon, it is necessary to go back many aeons to the time of Padumuttara Buddha. Sivali had been born as a poor man at that time but had the rare opportunity to see that Buddha confer on a monk the designation “foremost among monks in obtaining requisites.” Fascinated by the way everyone desired to provide alms and robes to this monk, Sivali decided that he too would like to hold that position in a future birth.

He then performed many acts of generosity to Padumuttara Buddha and the Sangha in that ancient dispensation. Having done so, he made an aspiration. Padumuttara Buddha, foreseeing that Sivali’s aspiration would be fulfilled, prophesized that at the time of Gautama Buddha he would be foremost among monks in obtaining requisites.
From this point onwards, Sivali had started in earnest to work towards his aspiration. At death he was reborn in a celestial realm where he enjoyed many thousands of years of heavenly bliss. The next documented birth-story (jataka) took place at the time of Vipassi Buddha 91 world-cycles (maha-kalpas or “aeons”) before Gautama Buddha. Sivali was then born as a merchant in the city of Bandhumati. The city was preparing a great almsgiving for Vipassi Buddha and his Sangha.

They realized they were short on curd and honey, a dessert that was often served after the noonday meal. Word was sent all over the city to obtain the required delicacies. Unable to obtain the necessary items, the king’s men raised the price of curd and honey from one gold coin to 100 gold coins.

In the meantime, Sivali (a merchant who sold curd and honey) was approached and offered 100 gold coins for his merchandise. He was surprised at the unusually high price being offered and enquired for whose consumption they were buying the curd. On being told that it was for Vipassi Buddha and the Sangha, Sivali asked permission to donate his wares. He renewed his aspiration to be foremost among monks in obtaining requisites.

Vipassi Buddha, seeing that Sivali’s aspiration would be fulfilled, blessed him by saying, “May your aspiration be fulfilled!” Sivali then became a devotee of Vipassi Buddha and practiced the Dharma in that dispensation.

Resulting from this strong aspiration and the meritorious deeds and efforts performed in previous births, Sivali fulfilled his aspiration to be foremost among in obtaining requisites at the time of Gautama Buddha. Even now, some Buddhists venerate the saint (i.e., enlightened) Sivali and often keep a picture or this discourse in their home as a symbol of abundance of food and prosperity.

Dhammapada 414 about Ven. Sivali While residing in the Kundadhana Forest near the city of Kundakoliya, the Buddha uttered Verse 414, with reference to the Maha Thera Sivali.Princess Suppavasa of Kundakoliya was pregnant for seven years.

Thereafter, she was in labor for seven days. She continued to contemplate the rare qualities of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. And in the end she sent her husband to the Buddha to pay obeisance to him on her behalf and to inform him of her condition. When informed of the condition of the princess, the Buddha said, “May Suppavasa be free from danger and from sorrow; may she give birth to a healthy noble son in safety.”

As the Buddha spoke these words, Suppavasa gave birth to a son at her house. On that very day, soon after the birth of her child, the queen invited the Buddha and the Sangha to their home for alms. The newborn offered filtered water to the Buddha and the bhikkhus. To celebrate the birth of the child, the parents invited the Buddha and the recluses to their home to offer food for seven days.

 When the child grew up he was admitted into the Sangha and came to be known as the monk Sivali. As soon as his head was shaved, he attained enlightenment. He later became famous as the recluse who received the most offerings. As a recipient, he was unsurpassed.


On one occasion, the recluses asked the Buddha the reason for Sivali confinement in his mother’s womb for seven years although he had the qualifications to become an arhat. The Buddha replied, “O recluses, in a previous existence, Sivali was the son of a king who lost his kingdom to another king. In trying to regain the kingdom, he had besieged the city on the advice of his mother. As a result, the people in the city were without food or water for seven days.

This unskillful deed was the cause of Sivali’s imprisonment in his mother’s womb. But now, Sivali has come to the end of all suffering; he had realized nirvana.

The Buddha then uttered this verse: “Him I call a brahmin who, having traversed this dangerous swamp (passion), this difficult road (defilements), this ocean of life and death (Samsara) and darkness of ignorance (moha), and having crossed the fourfold flood, has reached the other shore (nirvana), who practices tranquility and mindfulness, who is free from craving and doubt, who clings to nothing and remains in perfect peace.

Sivali is worshiped by Thai people as the greatest fortune-fetching monk.
Sivali was an important disciple of Lord Buddha. He was praised by the Lord as the most miraculous monk for fortune.


Buddhist legend says the Lord and his large group of diciples made a pilgrimage to a jungle for meditation practices.There were no people but gods and the unseen creatures existed along the way they went by.The deep jungle really caused troubles, no people offered food to Lord Buddha and all his disciple monks.

How and where could they get food from? Had they anything to eat ?
The Lord's closest disciple, Anondha, was strongly worried about that. But the Lord soothed him to worrynothing because Sivali, who had also joined the pilgrimage group, could help bring food for everyone by his great miraculous power.That's true,all gods and unseen creatures in the jungle gathered to pay respect to Sivali and brought a great deal of food for all .

Small Sivali bronze statues have been widely made carrying the meditation umbrella tent. Sivali charms have also been made by Buddhist guru monks using various materials, such as holy-powder plaster,ivory tusk, wood etc.

The below paragraph is Sivali mantra praying for good luck and fortune. Scale of success is based on your mind-power or will; the more concentrated, the more successful you are!!
"Sivali ja Mahathero Devatanarapuchito Soraho Pajjayatimhi Sivali ja Mahathero Yakkhadeva Puchito Soraho Pajjayatimhi Ahang Wanthami Tang Sathatassatherassa Aetang Khunang Sotthilabhang Bhavantumae."

2010年9月19日星期日

Sangajayana

Sangajayana is worshiped by Thai people as a great fortune monk. His name emerged from a synthesis of Sang+Gajayana. Sang means conch while Gajayana was the name of an important disciple of Lord Buddha.
An old bronze Sangajayana with big round potbelly.
Buddhistic legend says Gajayana's physical body was so similar to Lord Buddha that many people frequently misidentified him as the Lord. Gajayana felt uncomfortable with that wrong identification. So he magically transfromed himself to be an ugly monk with a big potbelly, wishing to be looked different from the Lord.

An old wood-carving Sangajayana , Wat Bang Nam Won Temple.

He was applauded by people as a monk of humble consciousness with his high respect to the Lord. Then came the great fortune to Gajayana !! People gathered to make merit by offering him a great deal of food and many other needed things. Such the occurrence was called in Thai language "Mahalapa" or the unexpected great fortune.

Left : Bronze Sangajayana of Ayuthaya period brushed with black lacquer and gold leafs . Right: An old holy-powder votive tablet of Sangajayana,Wat Ngern  Klong Toey.
In the early of Ratanakosin Period about 170-180 years ago, a piece of ancient bronze "Sang" and a bronze figure of "Gajayana" were found in a monastery in Bangkok.The monastery was later called "Sangajayana" after the two good omen objects were found.The monastery and its name still exists nowadays.

Though the name "Sangajayana" was emerged from the two specific words,the name has later been practically called to any of big-potbelly monk figures. In Thai belief the big potbelly implies a depot for the coming fortune.The gilded bronze Sangajayana seen on the left is the early Ratanakosin period art piece.

Old antique Sangajayanas were made varied in sizes, the large sizes of 5 to 9 inchs height for house altar were normally made from bronze.The smaller sizes were made from various materials as amulets for good fortune. Some guru monks carved them with ivory tusk.The votive-tablet forms were also made from holy-powder plaster, both white and black colors.

善加財佛
善加財佛的法像是胖胖的,且肚子大大的,讓人看起來非常的討喜對泰國人而言,佩帶善加財佛的佛牌,可以令自己是受人喜愛的。

從泰國大城皇朝時期以來,善加財佛的法像,在每間佛寺皆會供奉及督造。據說善加財佛在世時,長相端正,皮膚呈現如黃金般的色澤,而且貌似佛陀,因而使得很多天人,和一般凡人皆會因為看到他,而將祂視為與佛無別,對待他如同佛陀ㄧ樣,而且甚至有些天女會貪戀其樣貌,而久留不走。

因而使祂非常困擾,因此他便運用神通力,將自己變為現今眾所看到的樣貌,以免有天人和人將其誤以為佛陀。善加財天資聰穎,非常擅於講經說法,並且非常生動有趣,常常會因此吸引許多人在旁聆聽,而且祂常常會幫助信徒,讓信徒衣食無缺。之後不知隔了多久,善加財尊者仍常常被信徒看到祂雲遊各地講經說法,使得信徒對他的神異深信不已。泰國人之所以會供奉善加財佛,是因為他們希望自己和家人都可以如善加財佛ㄧ樣,身體健康、財源廣進,而且也希望自己如善加財佛ㄧ般,是具有魅力且身形端正莊嚴的人,並且也是希望自己如善加財佛ㄧ樣,能夠得到廣博的智慧,辯才無礙。

善伽財(Sang Kat Chai KATHA
Om Mohi Mohi Maha Mohi Soha
Om Muni Muni Mara Soha