
FAQ About Thai Amulets

An amulet is an object usually worn and considered to have the powers of protection; it is the same as a talisman or takrut. In Thailand, things are made from white, yellow, or red cloth, paper, gold, copper, or zinc parchment foiled with specific protective magic words or number combinations characters written on it and rolled up and inserted in small metal or acrylic plastic tube containers. These sacred objects would have to be treated with respect, for they continue bestowing their blessings upon the wearer and protecting them from evil spirits, harm, and danger. Many wearers have great faith in the protective ability of such objects, which they wear close to their hearts. For blessing and protection, Thailand is probably the first choice for all sources of amulets and talismans. It has been many generations in history that the charms made by famous Thai guru monks who had chanted and given the power of help and protection. If you are a believer, you might have encountered some of these experiences in your lifetime.
FAQ About Thai Amulets
Amulets from Thailand were created many centuries ago and considered by cultures around the world to protect some form of evil spirit and as a good luck charm for believers, and in stock at present. In the old days, Buddha amulets in Thailand were purely hand-made at the current time and have been renowned worldwide for their powers in protection. Due to the high demand, most of the amulet is made of mold pressed into a figurine image of the Buddha, great monks, or famous saints and then chanted and blessed with a spell by guru monks in the temple at a certain period. It has been said that people are wearing these amulets as pendants to protect themselves from harm, obstacles, and disaster, as well as for better health. Often we can hear people wearing them have experiences of overcoming obstacles in business or career and avoiding severe accidents or injuries. It can repel bad luck and evil spirits surrounding the house or workplace. It is known that Thai amulets have been rented (sold) for centuries and handed down over generations to people who believe in their power.
Many people who started to wear an amulet will usually ask. Which types of charms are right for me? What are the dos and don’ts when wearing an amulet? In the following, we provided some information and explanations to correct some of the most common mistakes and misunderstandings about carrying Buddhist amulets.
Questions & Topic which are most often asked:
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1. What to do before wearing the amulet?Wash your hands before taking the amulets to wear and follow the following steps. • Make your mind calm and focus your faith to the amulet’s • Put your amulets onto your palm and press both hands together • Then chant the Katha slowly as stated below with the text in bold: The translation of the meaning is: I pay homage to the Blessed One. The one who is free from defilements. One Perfectly Enlightened by himself. The chanting verse means we are now paying respect to the Lord Buddha, who has done the great goodness. Then request your language for his help. I, your name, invite the Lord Buddha and Guru Monks to bless me and protect me from harm, danger and bring me luck and fulfill me with my wishes. One should encourage practicing this: Invite the Lord Buddha, Guru Monks, and his blessings to be with you before wearing your amulets. Hold your amulets in your palm in the Praying position and start reciting the following: Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sam Buddhassa (x 3) and recite the following Putthang Arathananeng, Dhammang Arathananeng, Sangkang Arathananeng (x 1) Putthang Passitimay, Dhammang Passitimay, Sangkang Passitimay (x 1) The meanings of this Katha is: May Lord Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha or Triple Gems bless my entire request successfully. And then wear the chain of amulet’s onto your neck or put it into your handbag.
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2. Any restriction when wearing the amulet?Yes, there are some restrictions as the following: • Don't wear the amulets with you when you are going to engage in any immoral activity. • Don't wear amulets when making love.
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3. What to do when taking the hanging amulets off our neck?Before taking off the amulets from your neck, make sure you washed your hands. Then take off the amulet out of your neck, place the amulets in your palm, and hold both hands together. Trust the amulet of Lord Buddha and Guru Monks with all your heart; say it from your heart. Thanks to Lord Buddha and Guru Monks that keep you safe and protected. Then put them on a clean and higher place or better to place them on an altar.
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4. Where is the place to put the amulet?Do not put the amulet on the top of your bed, unless there is no sexual activity. If you want to keep them in your bedroom, put them on a higher shelf or drawer. Do not leave your amulets on an improper place like on the floor, inside your trouser pockets, or hang it lower than your waist.
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5. Do we need to re-bless our amulet after some time?No, it’s not necessary. But it is okay to let the monk’s chant prayer of blessing over the amulet’s for purify, or do you have any idea that having the brief blessings to the amulet’s could recharge its power? Usually, we saw people’s taking off their amulets and let the monks chant and bless when they go to the Thai temple on their holiday to pay respects to the monks. The brief blessing is usually a general blessing for all amulets and not for the particular amulet itself. The Monk or Archan, who create the amulets will only know the unique knowledge to bless the amulets that they created. When one visiting the temple, I believe that no monk will ask for your amulets for blessing “unless you handed it to them,” or they will only bless you and sprinkled holy water on you to bring you luck. However, if your amulet has been touched by someone else’s, it might be useful for you to take a ritual bath to purify the amulet over an incense smoke.
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6. Does an amulet lose its power after wearing for some time?No, of course not! While wearing your amulet’s you need to remain focused on your purpose for carrying it. Your energy and intent are vital to the success of the amulet. The combination of personal and universal energies will create spiritual power, and making the amulet even more useful. Our beliefs always manifest themselves in our lives. If you believe in your heart that you will always be poor, for instance, you will develop a poverty consciousness that ensures that your belief becomes a reality, and you will remain poor. Belief in your amulet becomes reinforced every time you see or touch it. It affects your subconscious mind, which then attracts to you whatever you believe.
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7. Is it possible to wear several amulets at the same time?Yes, there is no problem in doing so, as one feels comfortable. Most Thai peoples wear amulets in odd numbers such as one, three, and five, and so on. Most amulets can be combined freely with no risk of their effects negating each other or creating trouble for the wearer. It is not necessary to wear an amulet with an odd number on the neck. This is for balance purpose but not necessary. For example, if you are wearing two different types of Phra Khun Pean from two different temples, there will be no problem of conflicts in energy for this combination. The protective effect of an amulet will not negate the impact of a Metta (loving Kindness) amulet. Based on legendary, Phra Khun Paen and Khun Chang are considered as a mortal enemy to each other with their passionate courtship. So we avoid not to wear them together at the same time.
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8. Can I put the amulet in my trouser pockets?Here are a few general answers. It depends on what type of amulet you are wearing. Different kinds of amulets had different purposes in protecting the wearer, and have to be worn differently, and the following is some general view. All Buddha images should always wear higher than the waist level as a mark of respect. This including Takrut that has a Buddha image on it, even if the image cannot be seen clearly because of the nature of the Takrut talisman. (Takrut are mystical yantras inscriptions written on gold, silver or bronze foil sheet, and rolled up in a tube form which one blessed by the monks). Traditionally, Phra Rahu amulets are worn at the back of our body. Some people say it is because he can protect the attackers from harming you from your back and drive away black magic. Let’s say, for example, Phra Ngang is allowed to be put inside your trouser pockets. But not all amulets can act the same. If you have no idea about it, you should get the information's from the seller, temple, or the master who created it.
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9. Can I wear an amulet while going to the toilet?It often heard that if you are wearing a Thai amulet, you cannot go to the toilet? Many peoples felt that a toilet is a dirty place for the amulets as one used for urination. Some peoples remove their amulets before they enter the toilet. Going to the toilet in nature and does not say that it is an unclean or dirty place. When Lord Buddha was preaching during his lifetime, he also had to use the toilet. Besides this, which monk doesn’t go to the toilet? If you wear the amulet with confidence and without any doubt, you do not have to worry about wearing the amulets to the toilet.
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10. Can a lady wear Phra Khun Pean amulet?There is no prejudice by the holy monks and master’s when they are making and consecrating the amulets. For Khun Paen amulet, legend has it that Khun Paen is a brave and charming Thai warrior who stole the hearts of many ladies during that time. In a long time past, masters create amulets with the image of Khun Paen on it and hope that it will imbue the wearer with courage in the battlefield, which the amulets provide. Naturally, ladies will be so impressed by the heroic deeds and will flock to them. This is how it gets started. After some time, some of the masters make and consecrate the Khun Paen amulets intending to make it an amulet for good Metta charm. (Loving-kindness)
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11. Can a lady wear amulet when her period comes?Yes, you can wear it, just treat it with due respect. Before wearing the chain or hold the amulets, always wash your hand when you are wearing or taking it off. You need to clean your hands after you engaged with your sanitary napkins, or if you feel it is uncomfortable wearing the amulet with you during the period, you may keep them in your handbag or purse, it will still give you the same protection. If you have full faith and trust in your amulets, you will be blessed.
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12. Is an expensive amulet better than a cheaper one?No! It not true, a lot of cheap amulets do work very well. The price doesn't matter; the power in the amulet does not base on the price. It depends on the creator, if the amulet is created by the great guru monk who has spiritual knowledge skills, he would invite the Buddha’s and deities, and perform blessing ritual with chanting making the amulets holy and potent. If you would like to collect the newly-made amulets, you should know some of these questions: who create it, from which temple, who are invited to perform the blessing ritual ceremony, and what is the purpose of creating the amulet, etc. In the old times, actually, amulets were created to devotees as a gift in exchange for their helped and supported on their temple development.
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13. Can I wear an amulet visiting Maternity Ward or Mortuary?A long time ago, the prohibition in visiting the Maternity Ward when wearing the amulet came from Chinese Taoism. According to the Chinese Taoist culture, all spiritual incantations are restricted from entering the Maternity Ward, because the place is full of blood during labor, which considered not favorable, and for visiting the Mortuary it was believed that the place is for the death by misfortune and the dead to the end of life to which also considered not favorable. For the Chinese Taoist culture, one who carries the spiritual incantation might endanger with mishaps, and therefore devotees would rather avoid such places. When devotees wearing such amulets, they are all with the hope of getting peace and avoid from evil forces. If they are prohibited from going here and there, what would be the point of wearing them? Especially in the Hospitals Maternity Ward and Mortuary where there are countless number of spirits. Devotees have high chances of afflicting with the spirits and suffer misfortune. So wearing the sacred amulet is to seek protection under such circumstances. If the devotees maintain faithful and beliefs, the spiritual effect of the amulet will always be with them.
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14. May I Consume Beef when wearing amulet?Monks in Thailand seek alms every morning. As the monks cannot choose the food they like and reject any food offered by the devotees. Hinayana Buddhism is not Vegetarianism; therefore, devotees may consume meats from slaughtered, including pork, chicken, beef, mutton &, etc. If the relevant monk does not like the foods from the devotees, they have to offer it to the others. Many monks in Thailand consume meat, unlike the Chinese Taoists and Buddhists in Southeast Asia who decline to accept. A long time ago, in India, where the bodhisattva Guan Yin lives, the life of the peoples was very poor. They depend on the cow for their living, and the cow has to support the whole family. They served as public transports or carriage “often have ropes tied through their nose so that they can be dragged off the trucks.” They typically go without food and water or taking rest for the duration of the journey. These are what they called the Holy animal, which also has to offer milk to all kids over the years. The lifespan of a cow is about 20 years. They have to do their job every day for as long as the lives; this is what they valued the appreciation of the Charitable Contributions of the Sacred Cow in return. This had caused many Buddhist devotees to refrain from taking beef.
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15. May I Consume Star Fruits when wearing amulet?Over centuries, Cambodians have endured of procedures to obtain mystical hand tattoos to devotees believed to give them magical powers. Still, the tradition appears to be fading in this increasing in today’s modern society. In the past magic, tattoos are believed to bring good luck or popularity but are mostly used by soldiers seeking to become invisible to enemies or repel bullets. A part of some people believed that Star Fruit is the heart of the Buddha and cannot be consumed in case of any offending to the Buddha. This is not true, and it is said that people who tattoo magical images on their body must refrain from eating Star Fruit, purple potatoes, and gourds to ensure the magic spells work. So many devotees in Thailand do not take Star Fruit because of the tattoo on their body. This has been passed down by the great master to avoid loss of their magical powers from consuming Star Fruit & etc. Ordinary peoples do not have to refrain from these fruits.
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16. May I walking beneath hanging clothes wearing the amulet?The question of right or wrong has to do with the origin of own belief, not the matter of it, not what it was, but how to avoid it, not whether it turned out to be true or false. Nowadays, numbers of high building owner rely on drying clothes at a high rise building are seen everywhere. Even in the luxury apartments, you’ll see the residents hanging their laundry outdoors from their balconies to their rear windows, and these have steadily decreased over the years. Almost among the Chinese people, they would find the ladies underwear hanging up for drying besides the high rise building to be the most taboo. This is an action based on the belief, in case the ladies' pants or underwear’s hanging above may remain unclean staining, which belief walking underneath the hanging clothes will affliction with the sacred amulet and will lead the amulet to lose it powers. However, in our modern society now a day, high rise buildings are seen everywhere, and it may cause unintentionally that a devotee may sometimes pass by the way where the clothes are hanged and also when one was walking through the narrow alleys or in the dark night. Try to avoid from hanging clothes, if you unintentional walks passed with lack of care under the hanging clothes, all you need to do is hold the amulet and apologize from your heart, apologize for having walked beneath the clothes’ If you had notice and deliberately walked under them intentionally, is a wrongful acts against disrespectful to the holy amulet.
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17. Why there is some amulet so expensive?Each batch of amulets produced by the temple has a limited amount made, and the original mold for producing that batch of amulets will be destroyed after the ceremony to prevent fake reproductions of the similar amulet in the market without engaging blessing ritual ceremony. As time passes, the amulets become famous, aged, or shortage occurs when there is excess demand for the public and become more rare and precious due to the limited amount produced where peoples started to look for. This will naturally make the price increase in the market based on the availability.
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18. Do I have to chant Katha over my amulet?Yes, if you are instructed to do so with their provided Katha. If you don't have the amulet Katha with you, or you already own an amulet in-hand ago and don’t have the particular Katha. Before you go out of the house, hold the amulet’s with both hand press together in a praying position and slightly touch your forehead and chant the following Katha with full faith and trust will make the amulet, you will be blessed. Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sam Buddhassa (x 3) Putthang Arathananeng, Dhammang Arathananeng, Sangkang Arathananeng (x 1) Putthang Passitimay, Dhammang Passitimay, Sangkang Passitimay (x 1)
