Wednesday 29 May 2013

The CKN Set of Amulets from Wat Wiwek Wanaram.


Dhan Chao Khun Nor never made amulets by himself, but just blessed them. The major maker of amulets was Chao Khun Udomsarasophon, a former high-rank monk of Wat Dhepsirin. On Dec 5th, B.E.2513 was the greatest and final blessing ceremony, a lot of amulets from other temples were also brought in for blessing such as Wat Kao Bang Sai, Wat Silakhan, Wat Wiwek, Wat BodhiEn, Wat Saan Petch, Acharn Thong Jua's amulets,  and  Prok Jalay medal.  
Dhan Chao Khun NoraratRajManit or popularly called in short " Dhan Chao Khun Nor" was a close royal servant of King Rama VI. He had ordained a monk at Wat Dhepsirin in B.E.2468, and never left his monkhood until he passed away in early B.E.2514 at the age of 74. In his long years of monkhood, he ate only one vegetable and cereal meal a day and never stepped out of the temple even in the WWII period.
In the war time, Bangkok railway main station just few Km away from the temple was intensively bombed by the allied force, but the bombs missed the target and hit the temple. Almost all monks left the temple for safty, but he was still living there. Dhan Chao Khun Nor was a strict Dhamma practicer. He practiced advanced Dhamma, devoted all his monkhood life to follow Lord Buddha's teachings, and never missed the morning and evening chant at Ubosoth until the end of his life.
Dhan Chao Khun Nor could detect the thinking and mind of anyone who is speaking to him. He had pre-cognition mind power, and correctly foretold major events including his own death. This is so he well prepared everything before he left this world, by telling his nephew never offer him the food box anymore and also telling the next-room young monk that the day he did not go to chant means the day of his death. Then he went to sleep within a mosquito net, his two hands joined together on his chest--paying the last respect to Lord Buddha...he passed away with that beautiful posture on January 8, B.E.2514.   

  Amulets from Wat Wiwek Wanaram

The batch of somdej is one of the best amulet to be made by CKN

Due to Dhan Chao Khun Nor’s fame & popularity, there were many lay people & temples who made amulets for him to consecrate. CKN blessed all the amulets due to his kindness for all living beings. It is widely believed that the amulets blessed by CKN are very efficacious & thus highly sought after.

There is one particular set of amulet, which were made by layman Mr. Sakul Sirirat & Mr. Keaw Sirirat.
This set of amulet gained popularity because of the good faith & its clean intention. This is among the most popular & sought after range of CKN amulets.

                The purpose for making the amulets
           

                In BE2511, Mr Keaw Sirirat and family comprising of Mrs Prak Sirirat (his mother),

Mr Supot Sirirat, Mr Chouw Sirirat, Mr Dacha Sirirat (his son) decided to build a new sermon hall for Wat Wiwet Wanaram. It was very old but yet remains an indispensable part of the temple as it was mainly used for making merit & for educational purposes. Mr. Kaew & his son decided to approach CKN & seek his approval to help in the incantation of the Special Powder ( Phong Pi Set ). They also made clear their intentions of having the amulets distributed to people who intend to make a donation to fund the building of the new sermon hall.

Mr Kaew Sirirat has also made a solemn pledge in front of CKN that all funds generated from the merit making ( Tamboon ) will be solely at the disposal of Wat Wiwet Wanaram .He will not make any profit from it & if there were to be any remaining amulet, all of it will be packed & placed inside the base of  the biggest Buddha in Wat Wiwet Wanaram.   

CKN did not reply after the pledge & closed his eyes for 15 minutes in deep meditation. After that, he told  Mr. Kaew never to place any remaining amulets inside the Buddha. He furthered mentioned that when this batch of amulets becomes famous, thieves will damage the Buddha when trying to steal the amulets. He said all remaining amulets should be distributed for free to the layman. He then instructed Mr Kaew to have the Phong Pi Set brought to the front of the touw moo boo cha  ( set of altar table ), which is in front of CKN’s seat where he prays in the bosth. He continued to say that the biggest Buddha in the bosth together with all the monks will help to create magic by praying every morning and evening. The conversation lasted for about an hour before it ended.

                The Holy objects used for making the amulets.

Mr Kaew Sirirat saved & collected a lot of broken old amulets during the years BE2505 to BE2511. The amulets consisted of have both Powder ( Nua Phong ) & baked clay (Nua Din Pouw) material. Some of the amulets were:

 

1.Fragments of Phra Somdej Wat Rakang & Bang Khun Pom, Phra Kru Kao ( amulets placed in chedi ) made by Somdej Phra Phuttha Charn To.


2.The broken amulets of Phra Somdej Kru Wat Sam Pluem amounting to about half small container and  Phong Ta Bai.

3.The broken pieces of Somdej Krom Loung Chin Wa Ra Siriwat ( 2 pcs ) make using big white powder signs. The amulets were blessed at Wat Ratchabopit in BE2484 by a lot of famous monk like Somdej Pra Sangkara Pae Wat Sutat, LP Kong Wat Bang Ka Pom, LP Chong Wat Natang Nok, LP Jard Wat Bang Krabao, LP Prink Wat Bang Prakok, LP Puerk Wat King Kaew etc. 

                4. Phra Nua Phong Kao ( White Powder material ) for other famous monks..
               
5. Phra Kru Nua Din Paow ( Baked Clay material ) which consisted of Khun Pan, Phra Kam Paeng Ka Yeng & Phra Kru Ayutthaya.

                6. Phra Kru Nua Chin from many Kru Kao  from all the different provinces..

                7. Pong Na from LP Cheen Wat Thar Lad, Chacherngsao Province & LP Khai Wat Bopitpimuk.
               
                8. Bagasse ,(Charn mak) of LP Tharn Kry

9. Lipwax (See poung) and Kindness powder (pong metta mahaniyom) for LP Kom Wat Pairongvour, Supanburi Province.

10. Phong Metta Mahaniyom blessed by CKN.

11. The leaf from the pipal tree beside the Wat Thepsirin Bosth that was blessed & sprinkled with holy water by CKN.
               
                12. The gold pipal leaf  made in Wat Sothorn.

                13. Left over gold foils ( Kim Mo ) meant to cover the body of Phra LP Phuttha Sothron at Wat Sothron.

                14. The old Phayant‘s for other monks (like LP Pan Krong dan, LP Jad Wat
                Bang Ka Bouw, LP Jong Wat Natang Nok, LP Krai Wat Bopitpimok etc.

                15. Soil from Sang Watneyasathan a place in India.

                16. The Wan ( sedges ) like Wahn Sa Boo Loued, Wahn Kouep etc.,

                17. Lotus ( Dok Bour ) and dry jasmine ( Dok Ma Li ) flower from Touw moo boo char (altar) from numerous temples.
 
Mr Keaw brought the above mentioned sacred objects & had them ground to powder & pack it into a big jar.

The paragraph below was an account given by Mr. Chouw Sirirat.

The 1st Blessing
 In the year BE2511, Mr Chouw Sirirat (Son of Mr Kaew) was ordained as a monk in Wat Thepsirin. Mr Kaew had brought the jar of holy powder to attend the ordination ceremony just like he was instructed by CKN. The jar was wrapped in white cloth & the words Wat Wiwek Wanaram was written on the top & side of it. The bottle was also tightly wrapped in white strings (Sak Sin) so that the meditation power of all the monks in Wat Thepsirin will be transferred to the holy powder. From the time Mr. Chouw Sirirat was ordained, he said to the author that he clearly remembers that when CKN was praying in the Bosth he gazes at the glass jar every day sending his kindness & mental power to enhance the magical properties of the powder throughout the rainy season (Trai mas).  

After the rainy season, Mr.Kaew seek permission from CKN to use the holy powder that was blessed by all the monks of Wat Thepsirin for the whole rainy season to make the Wat Wiwet amulets. Once the amulets were made, he will bring the amulets back to Wat Thepsirin for CKN to bless it one more time before distributing to the people who did their part building the new hall. CKN informed him that there is no need to bring the amulets for reblessing as this sacred powder is already very special. However, if there is any other incantation ceremony in other temples, Mr. Kaew can bring them there to join the ceremony.

The 2nd Blessing
In BE2512, Mr Kaew separated the powder into 2 big bottles. The 1st bottle was given to Tharn phra Koo Piboon Wat Lam Toy Ting, Amphur Nong Jog, Bangkok for incantation. The 2nd bottle was given to Phra Ku Udom Pawanapiwat Wat Phuet Udom, Amphur Lamlookka, Patumthani Province & blessed till the end of the rainy season.

In BE2513, CKN informed Mr Kaew to expedite the process of making of amulet & try to make them more beautiful & have them brought to the temple upon completion. It was believed by many that CKN knew his date of passing on was near & wanted to bless the amulets once again & leave something invaluable for the people. The amulet manufacturing process was started & it consisted of quite a few phims.

Phra Phim kry Somdej Than Sam Chan (Phim like Somdej 3 tier base ) was Phra Nua Phong Kaow Aom Loueng ( Yellowish white ). There was no uniformity in the material & some appeared lighter while other have a darker tone due to the Kae Wahn ( dark sedges ).

For Phim B-E, some of the item has got the following characteristics on the back :

1) Yant Nam Tow with the letter Uk at the bottom which is deeply pressed

2) Lang Yant Noon ( Back with swollen cabalistic wordings )

3) Yant Nam Tow without the Uk with an ink stamp below. The wordings are : Thamma wittakko Boorana Wat Wiwek Wanaram.






The total quantity made are 30,000 pcs consisting of 10 phims but the most popular are accredited to the 6 standard phims stated below:

1). Phim kry ( like ) Somdej Than Sam Chan

i) Somdej Phim Yai 
Differentiated into 2 phims Phim Kaow Rieb ( Plain Knee ) and Kaow Koung ( Bent Knee )

Phim Kaow Rieb ( Plain Knee )

For this series, some of the back are plain, some have a Yant Nam Tao on the back while others have Yant Nam Tao with ink stamp with the wordings at the bottom reading :

                 Thamma Wittakko
                 Boorana Wat Wiwek Wanaram

Phim Kaow Koung ( Bent Knee )
For this series, all amulets behind have Yant Nam Tao & have a large sized Uk (deep press) below.

For Phim B-E, some of the item has got the following characteristics on the back :

1) Yant Nam Tow with the letter Uk at the bottom which is deeply pressed

2) Lang Yan Noon ( Back with swollen cabalistic wordings )

3) Yant Nam Tow without the Uk with an ink stamp below. The wordings are : Thamma wittakko Boorana Wat Wiwek Wanaram.


B Phim Song Chedi Mai Mee Karn  ( Phim pagoda shape with no ears )

C Phim Song Chedi Mee Karn ( Phim pagoda shape with ears ) Your piece

D Phra Phra Than Lek ( Phim Biggest Buddha small version )
   ** mimic Somdej Wat Sutat

E Phim Lek

2. Phim Nang Phra Ya ( Phim Queen )

There is only one design with a plain back stamped with ink. There are 2 materials namely :

a)       Nua Din Paow
This has a mixture of Wahn & the appearance will look reddish brown ( Se Nam Tarn Aom Daeng : brown cover red colour )

b)       Nua Sam Kasat
This mixture is predominantly red with other either colours like white, black or gray.
                   
3. Phim LP Phra Phutta Sothorn.
This is triangular in shape & the material appears pinkish.

4. Phim Kam Paeng Kaew ( Phim the low wall surrounding a pagoda )

5. Phim Pid Tar ( Phim Close Eyes)
The material appears a bit whitish & the back is plain with an ink stamp Yant Nam Taow.

6. Phim Phim Phra Roop Muen Dhan Chao Khun Nor ( Image of CKN )
This material for this type appears mostly whitish grey in color.

7) Miscellaneous Phims
There are other miscellaneous phims such as Phim Thar Ma prang, Phim Kry ( Like ) Somdej See Liam,
( Somdej Square) small size & Phim Phong Supan.



The 3rd & 4th blessing
On 25th April BE2513, CK Udom Sarasophom from Wat Thepsirin ( CKN’s Disciple ) had perform a incantation ceremony when the amulet were transported to the Bosth of Wat Thepsirin led by CKN. After the blessing by CKN, Mr Kaew bought this group of amulets to Wat Pak Nam Pasee Charoen for blessing ( together with WPN amulets, possibly the 4th batch ) by LP Joue.  The amulets were then kept at Wat Thepsirin after that.

The 5th & Final Blessing
CKN blessed the amulets once again on 5th December BE2513 after CK Udom Sarasophon performed a ritual. This was the last blessing this group of amulets received in the biggest ever blessing ceremony performed by CKN. Thereafter, Mr Kaew gave some of the amulet to CK Udom for distribution to the student and respected people before the amulets were put out for rent in Wat Wiwet Wanaram.

Note: This was also the blessing ceremony that the candle flames flicker wildly believed to be caused by CKN meditative power even though all windows & doors were shut as witnessed by many & recorded in the hardcover book.

The Magical Katha of CKN Amulets and Ar Ratthana,
Mr Kaew asked CKN what was the katha that he used to blessed all the amulets & how should a devotee chant this katha. CKN said that one should have the Buddha , Dharma , Buddhist priest (PhraPhut Phratham Phrasong) and CKN in his mind when reciting the katha. One should also be compassionate & remember we are not an enemy of others & others not our enemies too. In critical cases, just think of CKN and pray the katha Thammawittakko.

                Virtues of the Buddha (Phra Phutta Khun)

CKN said that due to the mixture of various ancient types which has the best magical properties ( which he intensely felt during blessing ) since the old days of Krung Rattana Kosin, all the amulets carries the following properties :

Phutta Khun Mettar Mahaniyom (Loving Kindness)
Udom Larp , Maha Larp (Luck & Great Fortune Properties)
Maha Sanae (Attractiveness to the Opposite Sex)
Maha Aood , Klaew Klaard (Elude & to be free from all forms of dangers)
Kong Gra Phan Chartee ( invunerbility against weapons)
Long Hon (invisible to the people intending to cause harm)

The destroying of the mould.

The CKN Wat Wiwet amulets is quite expensive & is one of the most popular amulets that were blessed by CKN during his lifetime. They were made having the cleanest intention, the holiest of materials & blessed for a long period of time in 5 incantation ceremonies of which two lasted more than 3 months.

This group of amulets are not as beautiful as compared to other’s because the people involved in the making process consisting only of Mr. Kaew and his immediate family. To ensure secrecy, no one else were allowed to participate in the process. They were afraid an employee or volunteer may change or divulge the proportions of the powder & other sensitive information.

To further prevent fakes & unofficial remakes, Mr Kaew and family destroyed the mould and discarded them into the Bang Pa Kong river once the project has been completed.




The passing of the Great CKN



This batch of somdej even its not made in lp's official temple but this is 1 of the greatest amulet CKN made during his life time.
today this batch so somdej is very rare and not commonly seen or ppl have even not heard of it as this batch of many was sould out not long after release.