If there is one venerable monk that has even more followers than all the other monks – it is Thailand’s most respected monk, Phra Somdej Toh.
HERE are our SOMDEJ TOH Petrified Wood Amulets (nobody else has – unless we sold to them!)
Phra Somdej Toh is from a temple called, “Wat Rakhang Kositararm” His Thai amulets are so revered that nearly everyone that takes amulets seriously in Thailand has one good one – meaning, one expensive Somdej amulet that is full of power and good luck, protection for the wearer of this amulet.
In full, this monk’s name reads – “Somdej Phra Puttajarn Toh Phrom-rangsri” and some people for short will call him “Somdej Toh” which is also respectful (and easier to remember). Somdej Toh is a son of one of Thailand’s royalty, King Rama the 2nd and mother, Nang Ngud which lived in the Thailand province of Kamphangpet.
Somdej Toh was born before his father became the King of Thailand. At the early age of 13 Somdej took the vowels of monkhood and became a monk (boo-ut, in Thai). At the age of twenty-one he became a senior monk who was very keen with Buddhist teachings. He was given the name “Maha Toh”, or, “King’s monk”. Some people still refer to his sacred Thai amulets by this same name.
After his father was King he received the wat Rakang Kositaram during King Rama IV. Somdej moved up through the ranks and finally received the ultimate title of Somdej Phra Puttajarn Toh in the year of 1872. This meant he was at the highest level of monkhood.
Soon after this Phra Somdej began making his own style of Thai Buddha amulets during year of the Buddha 2406 for about nine years (1863 to 1872 in western years). These amulets became very famous and were called “Somdej Wat Rakhang” Buddhist amulets. Today these amulets fetch extremely high prices in the millions of Thai Baht.
Originally the Somdej amulets were made by hand by this respected monk. Eventually molds were made for the amulet styles and the first batch were not that well made so a goldsmith for the King created new molds which worked much better and became the standard for all the amulets.
In his life time, Somdej Toh made around 84,000 Phra Somdej amulets.
There are many varied substances that went into making these famous amulets. Some of them were: lime (from crushed seashells), Phong Vises (sacred powder of unknown origin), flower leaves, rice bits, luts, ashes from cremated urns, honey, and later – tang oil on the advice of a palatial goldsmith- which made the surface beautiful.
Phra Somdej was and excellent orator and with high intelligence. He was a very compassionate monk, and was known to go out of his way for people that he could help. Phra Somdej didn’t stop at just the one version of Thai amulet – he created 73 different styles of amulet!
As far as Thai amulets go in Thailand there is none more famous, more widely known across the globe, and none more powerful than the Somdeg Wat Rakhang amulets he originally made so many years ago. There are whole businesses in Bangkok built around these amulets and nearly every Thai Buddhist that wears amulets has a Phra Somdej replica at least because it’s the most respected and powerful of all the clay, metal, or any substance amulets.
Somdej’s amulets were given greater power by the recitation of chants he said while in the presence of the amulets he made. The chants he used were enormously powerful and he learned them from the great Buddhist monks of the past.
It is said that Phra Somdej’s amulets are very powerful – and keep their power forever because of the technique he learned for filling them with power…
First the sacred yan numbers were applied – then the katha (chants) were said over and over and the last part is the meditation – which many monks neglect to do n these times. These amulets hold their power nearly forever – it is very hard for them to lose their strength and virility.
It is said that Phra Somdej Toh made the amulets to help the world come to know Buddhism and to give good karma for the world, not himself. Keepers of the amulets today receive many blessings because Somdej didn’t act selfishly when making the amulets.
If you can find yourself an original Somdej amulet today you are assured great fortune and protection from every evil. These are the highest class amulets that exist in Thailand today. Some of the amulets are for sale at the amulet market by the river in Bangkok. Others are held by private interests and are not for sale. High level politicians, policemen, and movie stars in Thailand own original Phra Somdej Toh amulets.
We hope you enjoyed that overview of the highest class amulets you can buy in Thailand.
Read about SomDej by clicking the link below.
Click one of the below Buddhist figures to learn more and find amulets:
The Buddha – Happy Buddha – Jinaraj Buddha – Somdej Buddha
Kwan Yin – Ganesh – Nong Kwak – Luang Phor Tuad
Jatukam Ramathep – Thai Black Magic – Buddha Relics
