Phra Somdej Toh or (Archan Toh) B.E. 2331-2415 (Western Year 1788-1872), known formally as Phra Buddhachan Toh Phromarangsi, was one of the most famous Buddhist monks during Thailand Rattanakosin Period and continues to be the most widely known monk in Thailand. He is widely revered in Thailand as a monk who is said that he possessed magical powers and his amulets are widely sought. Archan Toh is addressed among all devotees. He was named "Toh" before his monkhood and then "Phromarangsi" as his ordination-name. At the age of 12, he ordained as a novice monk at Wat Intharawihan temple, Bangkok. Archan Toh studied the Buddhist scriptures of the Pāli Canon with several Buddhist masters at Chao Khun Arunyik Institute. Later he moved to Wat Rakang temple to further his studies of topics in Buddhist philosophies.
After becoming a well-known monk, he became the preceptor for Prince Mongkut, when Prince Mongkut became a monk and later he became the King of Rama IV. During Rama IV's reign, Archan Toh was given the ceremonial name Somdej Phra Buddhacarya by the King and used to be one of his trusted advisers. It was said that one day when Archan Toh was reading his holy book, out of a sudden, a mysterious Sanskrit scripture textbook fell in front of him, he picked up the book and randomly read the text. He immediately felt a large beam of divine light flashing around him, and he was in absolute bliss. Due to this response, Archan Toh decided to have the text translated into Pali language, and together with his specialization in the scripture text. He then compiled the Chinabanchorn scriptures; the book consolidated the divine powers of the Buddha, the Arahants and the Immortals from Heaven to protect those who recite the text of the scriptures.
From that time, Archan Toh became famous in Thailand as the monk who possessed magical powers, meditation Chinabanchorn scriptures, prayer to create the amulets called Phra Somdej. In general, most Phra Somdej amulets do not have eyes, nose and mouth. The Buddha image in Phra Somdej seated on the three-level throne representing Heaven, people and earth. However, Phra Somdej amulet later appeared with five, seven, nine, ten-level throne, as well as thirteen, but the concept of the throne is still the same. The meaning of Heaven, people and earth is to remind one must be humble, and the nature of God planned everything. Thai Peoples believed that amulets created in Phra Somdej image or either the creator Archan Toh master hold great protection against negative energy and danger, enhance people relationship, enhancing marriage relationship, improve health, to be freed and saved from evil forces, block disaster and strengthen our career by adjusting the human aura field. Most importantly, it can bring peace to different walks of life.
Phra Somdej amulet was made from five kinds of sacred powders namely Pattamung powder, Itthijae powder, Maharaj powder, Buddhakhun powder and Trinisinghae powder. These five sacred ingredients were added into the substance with incantations of holy-scripture, writing of sutras and holy symbols. The dusting powder gathered thus signifies the sacred power of the ritual, and then mixed with holy water and made by pressing the purified dust powder into an amulet mould and put to sun-dried. Phra Somdej amulets can be also made of temple soils, pollen, monk's hair and the holy robe worn by the monk, etc.
