This amulet of the Walking Buddha (known as "Phra Leela" in Thai) is released by Luang Phor Pae (LP Pae) at Wat Pikulthong temple in Singburi Province. During the Sukhothai era, Buddha images were created in the four main postures: Sitting, Standing, Walking, and Reclining. A symbolizes the dispelling of fear, protection, and reassurance. The image of Buddha with the Right Hand Raised means "Stopping the Sandalwood Image." Creating a walking Buddha image is a distinctive feature of Thai art in the thirteenth century. Walking images of the Buddha continue to be made in Thailand. The Walking Buddha image with the left hand raised and the other hand resting at the side is known as the attitude of restraining the chronicle of the Sandalwood Buddha image, not rising from its seat.
It is how the story goes. When the Lord Buddha visited his mother for three months in Tavatimsa heaven, the king named Pasentikosol, a sandalwood carved meditation Buddha image, was placed in the house where the Lord Buddha used to stay. The king requested the Lord Buddha to look at the sandalwood image, and as soon as the Buddha entered, the statue stood up to come and pay homage to the living Buddha. Lord Buddha urged the image not to rise from its seat by lifting his left hand to restrain, with the motion of remaining seated. The Walking Buddha is an innovation in presenting the Lord Buddha, with his left hand facing outward and his right hand dangling along the right side of his body. It signifies grace and inner beauty; in Thai, it's known as Phra Leela (Walking Buddha).
Walking Buddha with their right hand raised, walking back and forth, emphasizing his earthly aspect of walking among the people. Buddha is depicted in mid-stride, his right foot forward and right hand in a gesture of Imparting Fearlessness, a hand gesture where the right hand is held upright with the palm facing outward, and the left hand dangles along the left side of the body. This posture is said to be the "pacification" posture; it reminds of an anecdote from the historical Buddha life. One day, two families in the village had a very violent altercation with another family, arguing about how to divide the water of the Rohini River to irrigate rice fields. The Buddha convinced them that human life was more precious than mere water, avoided a violent fight, and restored peace.
Disclaimer: Buddha images are not intended to be naturalistic representations of Buddha's appearance. There are no contemporary images of him. But Buddhists believe that Buddha images represent an ideal reality of the Buddha and that every Buddha image stands at the end of a succession of images.
