Wiki Phra Somdej International
维基顺德瓦拉康寺佛牌 by Lek Watruak


Somdej Wat Rakang, Phim Yai, Nua PoonPetch
God Indra's image on the backside




A fragment of jade
A fragment of a holy white opague stone (left) and a silvery metalic material (above right)
A fragment of holy translucent stone
A fragment of Kampaengpetch amulet


A fragment of Kampaengpetch amulet
A fragment of holy white opague stone

 Siddhartha ascetic (Buddha) while on self mortification and God Indra
God Indra, 13 Century AD, Konark Temple, India


Thai-version Indra, Wat Arun
Somdej Toh (B.E.2331-2415)

 HTF Somdej Wat Rakang
Phim Yai, Lang Phra Indra,
Nua PoonPetch,
B.E.2405-2411

Read: Why must PAG Somdej Wat Rakang ?



Dimensions: 2.4 X 3.6 cm
Material(s): seashells burned & ground powder, kaolin clay, Somdej Toh's blessed materials

This is a PAG Somdej Wat Rakang, Phim Yai, Lang Phra Indra, Nua PoonPetch, created and blessed by Somdej Toh, during B.E.2405-2411.

The Somdej mold was carved by a royal artisan, the God Indra filigrees are exquisite and nice.

Lang Phra Indra = God Indra back

Nua PoonPetch = a mixture of burned & ground seashells mixed with kaolin clay

Nua PoonPetch has its specifical physical characteristics. It's rather hardly to make a fake for this kind of content/texture.

Nua PoonPetch has very fine grain and white color like milk.

Generally, Somdej Nua PoonPetch have less or hardly to find holy materials, but this piece have some appearing on the surface.

Enlarged pics of the surface from microscope, we will see Somdej Toh's holy materials:

- a green fragment of jade
- red-brown fragments of Kampaengpetch amulets
- a translucent holy stone
- white opague holy stones
- silvery magnetic metalic fragments

These are authentic features of the PAG Somdej amulet.

Somdej Toh had known the goodness of God Indra, so he created a Somdej amulet with the image of Indra on the backside.

GOD INDRA & LORD BUDDHA:

Stories of God Indra are found in Brahmanism's scriptures. In Brahmanism (ancient Hinduism), God Indra is regarded as the chief deity of the heavens, possessing great power, and being the one who bestows rain and weather to people of the world.

In Buddhism, the belief in God Indra is influenced by Brahmanism. The legends of God Indra in Buddhism are closely related to his role in upholding and preserving the Buddhism for a span of 5,000 years.

These legends highlight the connection between God Indra and Lord Buddha, starting from before the birth of Lord Buddha until the time of his Nirvana.

According to Buddhism's legends, God Indra reverences Lord Buddha and provides support to him in various ways, including:

- suggesting and inviting Bodhisattva SandusitDevaraj's advent to the womb of Queen Maha Maya. And the Queen gave birth to a great Bodhisattva known as Prince Siddhartha Gautama

- leading the horse Kanthaka while Prince Siddhartha renounced the worldly life.

- Siddhartha practiced his ascetic dhamma by holding his breath and fasting, finally he realized that extreme austerity was not the path to enlightenment.

God Indra played a significant role in helping Lord Buddha understand the Middle Way by playing nice music sound with a middle string of a lute that's not too tight or too loose.

- celebrating the enlightenment of Lord Buddha by leading all of divine beings to express their joy and admiration for his accomplishment.

- escorting Lord Buddha back to Earth from the celestial realm after preaching to his mother in the Tavatimsa heaven.

- offering unwavering support and care to Lord Buddha while he was ill and approaching his final Nirvana.

These stories clearly illustrate God Indra's role as a protector and supporter of Lord Buddha and Buddhism.
Copyright © Lek Watruak

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