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✨A Treasure for Devotees and Collectors✨
Amulet Names: Phra Narai Si Korn (Four Hands)
Temple: Kru Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat
City: Lopburi
Year: age +700 years old
Materials: Holy Metal Nur Chin/Shin
Measures: 5 cm
Conditions: Excellent
Quantity: 1
✅Won 1st Place
Date Sunday 13th September 2563 B.E. (2020)
At Pu Chao Saming Phrai Town Municipality offices, Samut Prakan
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Phra Narai is the Thai name for the Hindu god Vishnu. Note that the attributes of this statue are slightly different from those usually given to Vishnu.
Both are depicted with four arms holding a chakra, a conch and a gada, but here the lotus has been replaced by a trident, a weapon of Shiva, but in Thailand also a symbol of the Chakri Dynasty.
One of the three prominent gods of Hinduism, preserver of the universe and second god in the Hindu Trimurti or divine triad, which includes Brahma and Shiva. He is often depicted with four arms, holding a ball or lotus, chakra, conch and a gada, representing the four elements, i.e. earth, fire, water and wind, respectively. He sometimes uses the latter, i.e. the mace to create wind by whirling it violently in the air. He may be portrayed either seated, standing, or reclining on the serpent Ananta floating on the cosmic sea. He descended to earth in nine different forms or avataras to restore peace and silence evil forces, namely: as
1. the fish Matsya
2. the tortoise Kurma
3. a boar called Varaha
4. the man-lion Narasimha or Narasingha
5. the midget Vamana
6. Parasurama or alternatively Balarama
7. Ramachandra
8. Krishna and
9. the Buddha or alternatively Parasurama.
His tenth avatara as the horse Kalkin is yet to come, and some sources claim that Prithu is also an avatar of Vishnu. He thus has a total of ten avatars, i.e. five in human and five in animal form, though there is also a myth in which he has a female avatar called Mohinih. His consort is Lakshmi, who was incarnated with him each time he incarnated as one of his avatars on earth. His mount is the Garuda and he is often depicted on its back, sometimes whilst subduing Rahu, the demon whom he cut in half with his chakra after he was found drinking from the gods' amrita. He has two consorts: Bhumidevi and Lakshmi, who originated during the churning of the ‘Ocean of Milk’. In combination with Shiva he is known as Harihara. In a linga Vishnu is represented as the octagonal prism part (fig.). His symbol is the urdhva-pundra, a U-shaped sectarian mark, often with a red dot, that he and his followers may wear, typically applied on the forehead, using river clay mixed with sandalwood paste, reminiscent of thanaka. He is often represented seated on the snake Ananta, which is also known as Shesha, or reclining on it, a pose known as Anantasayin. In his avatar as Dhanvantari, Vishnu is one of the health deities, together with the Ashwin Twins, who are said to be the physicians to the gods. In Thailand, called Wasuthep, Phra Witsanu and Phra Narai, and Bangkok has a Vishnu Temple.
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Lop Buri is one of the oldest settlements in the country. It has a history dating back almost a millennium and a half to the Dvaravati period.
However, it is fascinating to me, that millenniums ago Lop Buri was situated at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. The river mouth has moved South by a few dozen metres every year through silt deposits. Now the city is 150 kilometres Northeast of Bangkok. However, with the inexorable rise of sea levels, Lop Buri might well be much closer to the mouth of the river soon one day like it was before.
The Ancient City of Lop Buri
This ancient city was originally called Lavo or Lavapura or the “City of Lava.” This is in reference to the ancient city of Lavapuri in Lahore, Pakistan. Historical references state the city was founded by King Kalavarnadish who originated from Taxila, in what is now Northwestern Pakistan in 638 A.D. The dominant population appears to have been Mon. silver coins from the 7th and 8th century A.D. are inscribed with “Lavapura,” the earliest known epigraphic evidence.
Lop Buri Temple, Thailand
There are inscriptions that state Lop Buri was incorporated into the rising Khmer Empire during the reign of King Suryavarman I (1006-1050 A.D.). Control of the area around Lop Buri gave the Khmer Empire access to all the trade going through the Kra Peninsula.
Lop Buri also sent emissaries to China several times. In the 13th century, the famous Italian world traveller, Marco Polo, mentioned Lop Buri, or Lavo, as “Locach” in his travel writings. The Chinese chronicles of the same era also mention Lop Buri as “Lo-huk” and “Lo-ho.” When the Ayutthaya Kingdom was founded in 1350, Lop Buri became one of the most important regional strongholds and eventually the kingdom’s second capital. It became the main capital under King Narai the Great ( who reigned 1656 -1688) in the mid 17th century. The king was in residence for about eight months during the year. When the king died in 1688, the city was completely abandoned. However, King Mongkut (King Rama IV) restored parts of the city in 1856 and Lop Buri became the summer capital in 1864.
The new rise of the city dates from that period some one hundred and fifty years ago. Now Lop Buri is an important regional capital and city of about 750,000 people. The city is divided into New Town and Old Town. There are remnants of every former Thai kingdom in the area. The Thai Army maintains its Special Warfare Centre outside the city. Lop Buri is most likely famous for the thousands of crab eating macaques or monkeys that have literally and figuratively overrun the Old Town. They are especially concentrated in the immediate area around Phra Prang Sam Yod and Phra Kaan Shrines.
Lop Buri: The Monkey Kingdom
Due to the lack of domestic and foreign tourists even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the monkeys were starving and had become a serious nuisance in their desperate hunt for food. The Thai government ordered that many of the monkeys should be captured and sterilised in an effort to control their numbers. One person giving food to a single monkey will immediately attract all the others who will race to be part of the handout. There is always a fight from the famished simians desperate to get something into their ever empty stomachs.
Monkeys in Lop Buri, Thailand
All visitors are well cautioned to be especially wary of monkeys from all directions. Anyone who has spent any time watching monkeys in Thailand knows they are all sneaky, mischievous, and often, bold thieves. They think nothing of snatching eyeglasses, cigarettes, hats, water bottles, cameras, wallets, purses, and anything they can rip out of pockets or bags. The monkeys will jump on people or attack them if they think someone is carrying food on them. Monkeys will also defecate on passersby from trees, buildings, and wires if they are not careful.
There were two feeding periods a day at a small playground built especially for the monkeys at the traffic intersection and rail line adjacent to Phra Prang Sam Yot Shrine. There is also an annual Monkey Festival held on the last weekend of November that may be continued later this year if the pandemic is finally under control. Tens of thousands of visitors show up for the festivities. There is a sumptuous buffet of fresh fruit and vegetables that Sunday where the monkeys gorge themselves in a frantic effort to stuff themselves.
The Thais believe the monkeys will bring good luck. What the monkeys think of all this, cannot be known.
Before Bangkok, Thailand was ruled from Ayutthaya, and before Ayutthaya, the Chao Phraya basin was ruled by collection of Kingdoms, one of which was the Lopburi.
The records of Thai history become less clear at this point – around 1,000 years ago. Marco Polo wrote briefly about the Lopburi Kingdom in book 3 of his travels, and there is a chapter devoted to it in “the History of the Yuan”. But there are sophisticated earthernware pots that can be found which date back thousands of years before that.
Unfortunately, what we know about the history of Lopburi before 1,000 years ago is based almost purely on the architecture, and separated into the “Early” period of the “Neolithic” and “Metal Age” indigenous people.
Then the “Funan” period – named for a Mekong Delta empire dated in Chinese annals of approximately 200 to 600 AD but with very few surviving relics
Then the Dvaravati period -named for a kingdom centred on Nakhon Pathom in the Western part of the central plain of Thailand. The “city” of Lopburi seems to have been founded during this period by a King Kalavarnadish, who came from Northern India in the 7th century, and it seems to have been either a seat of power or a town of great importance until the continued rise of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 18th Century.
After the Dvaravati period, came the “Lopburi” period where this city reached its peak of properity as a regional administrative centre of the Khmers from around 1000 to 1300 AD. It is this period that produced the earliest dated inscriptions found in Thailand and has a very distinctive artistic style, so it is here that the fog of history clears. Hindu or Buddhist art in Thailand with strong Khmere influence – like Prang Sam Yot which is discussed in an adjacent Blip – is often labelled the “Lopburi style”.
During the 17th Century, Lopburi regained its importance under the patronage of King Narai who rebuilt a large palace here. Narai was a keen game hunter, and liked spending time in Lopburi over Ayutthaya to pursue this pasttime – eventually he preferred it here. A visiting Frenchman at the time described Lopburi as being to the King of Siam what Versailles was to Louis XIV – a hunting retreat where the King could hold court over longer periods of time.
Indeed, the French took a strong foothold in Thailand during the time of King Narai, and established an Embassy here. The French also took over fortresses in Bangkok and in Mergui – in modern day southern Myanmar. With this growing influence came resistance. An anti-French faction grew within the King’s court, eventually toppling Narai in a coup d’etat, and returning the capital to Ayutthaya and leaving Lopburi as a backwater. For more on this intriguing story, listen to the Blip for Ban Chao Wichayen.
Today the town is laidback, and a little sleepy, with a population of less than 30,000. It is best known for two features: the ancient Khmer architecture, and the rather naughty crab-eating macaques that inhabit it. We are fortunate to get a very good view of both, as Lop Buri station sits right amidst it, but we will cover that in the Blip titled Prang Sam Yot.
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Buddha amulet
Details: The word "shin" refers to metals which may be mixed with more than one substance. Amulets in Thailand made from metal. They usually contain three main ingredients: mercury, tin, and lead. (There may also be brass There is some copper mixed in.) When mixed, what kind of material will come out? It depends a lot on the presence of one of the ingredients. (Pour before the metal is lighter into the socket first. The first set of amulets came out in one piece. After pouring, heavy metals such as lead lie at the bottom of the tank to become a different type of material). Different contents will have their own characteristics and have different names. Classified according to physical characteristics As time passes, the old ones will be noticeably different in terms of color and texture, including wax, rust, wrinkles, cracks, etc.
As for the principles for considering old Buddha amulets, they are as follows: The first step is to know what material the Buddha amulet was made from. Let's say for example Phra Kru Wat Along - Koh Temple Bangkok, Phra Kru Wat Phet Saraburi is a silver amulet. (Contains lead mixed with tin and mercury which is a common ingredient that is normally found in silver amulets), red rust Chiang Saen amulets It is almost pure lead like this.
Now we have to see what condition the Buddha amulet will have after time has passed. It is necessary to consider the separate elements further. By the nature of each type of material, when it gets old, how will it react or react to air, humidity, and salinity? which can be viewed by separating them out as follows
1. Mercury: The technician will add mercury as a mixture so that the molten metal will run into the corners of the mold. Because the mercury will escape the heat. Makes the other metal parts follow along to fill the beautiful print. The mercury which is on the outermost surface gives the Buddha a shiny silver color. This mercury surface, after time has passed, will appear pale and dull, or what is called dead mercury, especially when exposed to moisture. The salinity will become duller and darker until it turns black.
2. Tin: Tin is a mineral that is abundant in Thailand. Used to make coins and many types of utensils. The distinctive feature of tin over time is that it will be gray-black. If exposed to moisture due to poor storage It will appear to swell and split open. In the language of Buddhist monks it is called a "bomb." An example that can often be seen is a tin coin with a hole in the middle. Can be found everywhere
3. Lead material Lead is the main ingredient in the most commonly made amulets in Thailand. Probably because there is a lot of lead in Thailand and production is easy because it has a low melting point. The appearance of lead will darken in color over time. There is a juiciness that can be felt visually. It has wrinkles, porosity (inside) naturally. Sometimes the lead itself is eaten to the point where there may be white wax and some rust. And sometimes the rust and wax have eaten deep into the inside of the metal, causing potholes or eaten until almost no real substance remains, thus becoming wax and rust to replace the original metal. It has been found as well. This depends on the storage conditions (as many experts believe that rust and wax come from within the meat).
Now when we learn about the characteristics of ingredients and how their condition changes with age. It's like we know the past. that when the Buddha image is old, it will look like this. On the other hand, if the appearance of the Buddha image or object that we are considering does not have the condition as stated, then it may be considered to be old. It may be a new creation, a parody made in a later era. Here, it will take some study to be able to consider it correctly.
** Each type of monk in each crypt There will be slightly different content, further divided into sections. Here we must study further ourselves.
*Phra Nuea Chin
The word "chin" according to the dictionary means alloy Contains lead and tin, commonly used to make amulets. Therefore it is accepted that The amulet is made of alloy metal. There is also lead ore mixed in. Chin meat can be divided into 3 types:
1. Lead alloy type means a Buddha amulet made from lead alloy containing more lead than other minerals. or pure lead. If this type of amulet is very old There will be rust in the form of oxide covering the upper part of the Buddha image. It has the appearance of red rust stains. Some Buddha images have a natural explosion of their flesh from the inside to the outside called “Broken up like a spider's web.” As for the younger monks, There will be red spots. There are patches on the Buddha's surface or there is only a thin layer of rust.
2. Type of silver amulet Refers to Buddha amulets that have a white interior that resembles silver. which is mainly a mixture of lead and tin. It will have more tin than lead and mixed with mercury for the purpose of making the hot metal run faster and adhere to the details of the Buddha mold better. This type of Buddha amulet has many formulas of ingredients. Each monk in each city is therefore not the same. They differ in the details of the ingredients. Can be roughly separated according to the nature of the rust on the Buddha's surface and the commonly seen colors. There are 3 characteristics.
- White silver or mercury surface The amulet's surface looks white like new. But if you look carefully, you will find that it is an old item. The skin will look dry. There are small pellets of mercury on the surface mixed with the stains of the crypt. When viewed with a magnifying glass, the color of the mercury can be seen as shiny.
- Black skin or crow's feet rust. This type of amulet has black or brown skin. That is, on the surface of the Buddha image there will be stains clinging to it and rust starting to destroy some of the metal.
If it's an old item, first of all. The contents must be dry. Secondly, there must be cracks, splits, or natural decay. That is, the separation must come from the inside out. It's not from the outside to the inside, like they put acid in it to make it look like spots. Thirdly, the surface of the Buddha image will not be smooth and tight. Fourthly, the edges on the sides of the Buddha image will not be sharp. But if it's a fake or a new one, it will look completely opposite to the real thing.
- Meat with flakes Some people call this type of Buddha amulet “Chin Krob” because the outer surface looks crispy. The surface of the Buddha image is very weathered and looks like scales of a fish or patchouli. Since the metal has disappeared, collectors of old metals have named this metal "metal". “Chin Kledi” or “Chin Crispy”
3. Green meat type Refers to Buddha amulets made from a mixture of lead and zinc. The Buddha's complexion is green mixed with black or mixed with gray. Previous generations called it “Chinsangkhawanon” because someone once found Chinsangkhawanorn nails contained in the amulet treasury. If it's an old item, it's already very old. The amulet's flesh will look dry. The Buddha's surface is black with a gray tinge. Above the Buddha's surface is rust and a cloudy white wax. The upper part is clear. Embedded together tightly and complexly, accumulating in a natural manner similar to the growth of flesh from the inside out. In addition, if it is a Buddha amulet, it will also have stains from the crypt. Some Buddha statues have white patches and yellow stains appearing in shallow crevices. The old green Buddha amulets must have rust called Some are "pimp's egg rust" and some "cow tallow rust" and the surface of the Buddha image is bumpy, similar to the wax of an old green Buddha amulet. The surface of the Buddha image is black mixed with gray. Above the surface of the Buddha image there is a cloudy white wax rust. on clear Embedded together tightly and complexly, accumulating in a natural manner similar to the growth of flesh from the inside out.
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