Phra Pong Suphan - LP Mui
It is believed that Wat Pra Srirhattanamahtat, Supanburi Province, was built more than 600 years ago during the reign of King Utong, the first king of Ayudhaya Kingdom.
Locals refer to the temple as Wat Prathat because “Prathat”, a chedi containing sacred relics, was located within the temple.
In Be 2546 this chedi was discovered by a local farmer who was know to have stolen many precious artifacts including gold and gems.
During the same year the chedi was officially opened, and fortunately the Kru still contained a large quantity of amulets of different classical styles, such as Lopburi, Sukhothai and Utong.
King Rama VI had visited Supanburi Province and on the occasion Praya Sunthornburi gave him some of the sacred amulets.
It was recorded that more than three carts of sacred amulets were found, and as such qualified it as the largest Kru within the province.
Prapong Supan amulets
Amongst those sacred amulets, Prapong Supan was one of many amulets that formed part of the Benjapakee set.
The Prapong Supan amulets are known to be made of several kinds of auspicious materials such as:
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Clay |
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Wan powder |
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Pollens |
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Bailarn powder |
The amulets were designed in the Utong classical art style and are highly respected for their sacred power that it is believed would protect life and increase fortune and charm.
It is believed that these amulets were created by Pra Maha Piyatutsisalibutr and an ascetic named Pra Reussi Tiwalai,.
Nowadays it is almost impossible to acquire a genuine pim, and most amulets that you see in the market are almost undoubtedly fakes.
Because of the immense popularity of the Pra Pong Supan amulets many sacred monks created these pims using the original as the prototype. Probably one of the best known are the pims created by Luang Phor Mui of Wat Donrai and Luang Phor Dee of Wat Praroop.
In B.E.2510 the abbot of Wat Pra Srirhattanamathat decided to create a series of sacred amulets at the request of the many devotees. This new series was designed in the style of the original Prapong Supan but differed slightly so as to make them easy to distinguish.
1. The Buddha Image on the original Prapong Supan amulets is gesturing Maravichai or Conquering Evil, whereas the image of the face of the B.E.2510 Prapong Supan amulets was designed in meditation style.
2. An image of the sacred chedi was embossed on the back of each amulet. This makes them quite easy to identify.
It was at this time that many soldiers were conscripted to join the Vietnamese War. These amkulets were distributed to the soldiers and they were from that day known as “Pra Utong Oksuk amulets”.
(Note: Utong referred to the classical art style of the Utong Dynasty, and Oksuk meant to enter the war.)
Sacred Materials of Pra Utong Oksuk amulets
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Sacred powder of several famous senior monks |
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108 sacred powders made of 108 species of Thai plants |
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Pollens |
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Debris fro many damaged ancient sacred amulets such as Prapong Supan, Pra Khunpan, Pra Gimtung, Pra Wat Tumsur, Pra Tamaprang amulets, etc. |
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Soils collected from many sacred places such as Wat Pra Srirhattanamahathat, Wat Praroop. Wat Ban-grang, Wat Lumpachew, Wat Tumsur, Wat Ga-rong, Wat Chumnumsong, Wat Laotong, Wat Huakoh, Wat Nongjang, etc |
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Sacred water from many temples in Thailand. |
Although this amulet is associated with Luang Phor Mui, amny other monks participated in the blessing ceremony.
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Luang Phor Mui of Wat Donrai |
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Luang Phor Tira of Wat Parlaylai |
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Luang Phor Plerng of Wat Supanbhumi. |
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Luang Phor Renrg of Wat Maipinsuwan |
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Luang Phor Dang of Wat Tungkok |
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Luang Phor Sumrit of Wat Tao Utong |
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Luang Phor Som of Wat Donbupparam |
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Luang Poo Jai of Wat Wung Yai Hun |
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Luang Phor Tam of Wat Pra La-or |
These amulets have been duplicated by many unscrupulous individuals, but the fakes are very easy to identify because the images on the front and reverse are not are keen and clear as the originals.
Sacred Power
Pra Utong Oksuk amulets have been respected for sacred power that could protect people from danger, accidents, etc. It was said that a man was shot while driving a motorcycle but saved from injury due to this amulet.
