Buddhism:Amulet Manure [Archive]

GWR

25-02-07, 10:56 PM

Now here's a man in uniform who really will be missed. The Nation 23/02/07: -

Huge turn-out for respected police officer's funeral

Around 100,000 people attended the funeral of renowned police officer Khun Phantharak Rajjadej at Mahathat Worra Maha Wiharn temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat, causing heavy traffic congestion in the area.

Officials cancelled the free distribution of the much sought-after Jatukham Rammathep amulets after crowd problems at the crematorium where a large number of people fainted. The amulets were given only to senior guests and would be distributed to the public later on.

Thousands of people arrived at the temple shortly after midnight on Wednesday and police had to close major roads leading to the temple at 10am yesterday, forcing late arrivals to walk to the temple.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over the cremation ceremony. The funeral was under the patronage of Their Majesties the King and Queen.

Phantharak, who had a modern rank of police major general, died of natural causes at the age of 108 last July. He was known for his honesty and integrity along with his renowned performance in crime suppression and his practice of white magic and the amulets he helped produce.

A combined force of around 4,000 soldiers and police provided security for the funeral and a large number of medical staff were busy treating people who succumbed to the heat.

Books on Phantharak and the Jatukham Rammathep amulets along with his posters sold like hot cakes - although they were highly overpriced.

Saroj Pankaew, a 65-year-old villager, said his late father demanded he attend Phantharak's funeral because of a personal favour his father owed the late police officer.

Phantharak entered police service at the age of 27 and was the commander of a regional police area before his retirement.

He died on July 5, last year. He is survived by 12 children, four of whom are from his second wife.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/23/national/national_30027622.php

GWR

08-03-07, 01:11 PM

WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

The son of late Pol Maj-Gen Khun Phantharak Rajadej yesterday filed a complaint with police against producers of fake Jatukarm-Ramathep talismans sold during his father's cremation. He said genuine talismans were distributed as commemorative items to mourners who attended the cremation late last month. But strong demand prompted unscrupulous producers to make fake ones and sell them at high prices, ranging from 400 to 2,000 baht each. Up to 20,000 fake talismans, which came from a factory in Bangkok's Phran Nok area, are believed to have been sold.

''My family and I didn't get involved in the selling. We had to file the complaint with police for fear that people would be cheated, while the issue has hurt our family's reputation,'' Nasan Phantharakrajadej said after meeting with assistant police chief Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak Juthanont.

Jatukarm-Ramathep is the name of a guardian god for the Lord Buddha's relics. The talismans are believed to bring people good luck and are in high demand.

Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak said sellers of the fake talismans face a maximum jail term of five years or a 10,000 baht fine if their actions were deemed as cheating people. The cost of making the counterfeit ones was in the range of two to six baht, but prices were inflated to 5,000 baht, he said.

Meanwhile, Phra Athikarnsawong Chanthathammo, abbot of Wat Thayainee temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat, yesterday offered an apology to those who purchased Jatukarm-Ramathep talismans, in the ''Chakkapat Maharaj'' collection, and received broken ones. He said bad packaging was the problem and buyers could get a refund.

Expiring link:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/08Mar2007_news18.php

GWR

12-03-07, 11:46 PM

Authorities to get tough with producers of imitation amulets

To crack down on imitations of the much-sought-after Jatukham Rammathep amulet, six regulations were issued yesterday after a three-hour meeting of authorities and concerned parties.

Somsak Khamthaweephrome, a deputy governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat, where the amulet originated, said the regulations required mandatory registration of every reproduction of all Jatukham Rammathep models.

The registration requires details of the material used, the number of amulets made, and objectives behind each reproduction and detailed information on the "blessing process".

The blessing process must only be done at the Holy Pillar Shrine or at Mahathat Worra Maha Wiharn temple in this southern province, where the late crime-buster Khun Phantharak Rajjadej was based and helped create the famous amulets.

Those selling unauthorised Jatukham Rammathep amulets face criminal prosecution if they are arrested in possession of the fake items after the end of a grace period, Somsak said.

A committee representing provincial authorities and the local Buddhist office will be set up to regulate reproduction of amulets.

Office head Sonthaya Sen-iam said each temple received only around 20 per cent of all revenue gained from the reproduction of one Jatukham Rammathep model.

In one case, a temple received only Bt50,000, while those who produced the amulets reaped Bt8 million.

There are more than 200 models of genuine Jatukham Rammathep amulets but only one model has been registered for copyright protection - a model designed by retired Pol General Sanphet Thanmathikul.

Nakhon Si Thammarat metropolitan mayor Wiroj Phannarai, custodian of the Holy Pillar Shrine, said 51 reproductions of the amulets had been registered and the shrine service to bless the amulets is now booked out until August.

The service fee for each blessing has been raised from Bt20,000 to Bt50,000.

The competition among the amulet reproducers is so intense that those making one model reportedly hired craftsmen to design and produce an "earlier model" and mixed substandard material during the pressing process.

The practice resulted in the earlier amulets cracking and prompting amulet-seekers to buy the later model instead.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/13/national/national_30029159.php

GWR

12-03-07, 11:52 PM

This story has now even reached Editorial status in The Nation tonight:

EDITORIAL
Talisman fad reflects insecurity

The Jatukam Ramathep amulet phenomenon is symptomatic of the confused state of Thai Buddhism

The runaway popularity of Jatukam Ramathep amulets cannot be attributed only to intense publicity in the mass media in recent years. The widespread worship of the talismans by people who call themselves Buddhists is symptomatic of a confused state of affairs regarding Buddhism as we know it in this country. The first batch of Jatukam amulets was introduced with little fanfare in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat 20 years ago. Now, the amulets bearing the image of this once-obscure deity have become very popular and their prices are skyrocketing. Jatukam amulets may already have surpassed other amulets bearing the images of the Buddha and venerable monks in popularity among the collecting community.

Jatukam amulets are gaining a huge following based on claims of magical powers and the good fortune they can bring to their owners. Indeed, the creator of the original Jatukam amulets was a highly respected and honest police officer in Nakhon Si Thammarat who was reputed to possess knowledge of the occult. After some editions of the Jatukam amulets gained currency, people in the amulet trade, who traditionally manufactured amulets bearing the Buddha's image, jumped in to capitalise on the newly lucrative business. Since then, Jatukam amulets - and tales of their magical powers - have been promoted in a big way by shrewd manufacturers. Hundreds of Buddhist temples throughout the country are now ordering Jatukam amulets to sell as part of their fund-raising campaigns.

It is worth noting that the Jatukam phenomenon is no different from the long-established commercialisation of Buddhism through the sale of Buddha amulets. Usually the issue of "special editions" of Buddha amulets is initiated by lay administrators from temples with the blessing of abbots or senior monks. The amulets, which usually undergo some sort of consecration ceremony, are then sold to collectors and profits are shared between the lay administrators of temples and the monks. The rationale cited by the Buddhist monastic authority for tolerating, if not condoning, such commercial practice is that Buddhists from different backgrounds worship in different ways. Some take an intellectual approach to Buddhism by studying the Buddha's teachings and applying that knowledge in their personal life, while others still cannot get over their attachment to animistic practices, including amulet worshipping and black magic.

Just like traders in more common Buddha amulets, traders of Jatukam amulets know how to manipulate their customers. People began to speculate on Jatukam amulets, sending the prices of some editions soaring, and some amulets that originally sold for a few thousand baht have appreciated in price 100-fold. But it remains to be seen if the Jatukam phenomenon is going to last.

The Nakhon Si Thammarat provincial authorities have called a meeting of amulet manufacturers, Buddhist temples and people in the trade to try to clean up the image of the Jatukam amulets. Lately there have been many complaints about "fake" or "substandard" amulets found to have been circulated in the market. The authorities insist that distribution of the amulets should be treated as just another medium through which to get to know dhamma and the Buddha's teachings. In other words, everyone to his own taste.

But there is a fine line between amulet-making in order to help people find the true meaning of Buddhism, and the systematic commercial exploitation of Buddhism. Temples often claim that they give out amulets as tokens of appreciation to people who make merit by donating money. Merit-making through donations to temples is widely practised by Thai Buddhists, but not many people attach as much importance to the study of the Buddha's teachings.

The Religious Affairs Department and the National Buddhism Office have no intention of intervening, saying amulet collecting is something that many people rely on for peace of mind, and Buddhists who collect amulets should be allowed to pursue their beliefs and preferences, within reason. This advice makes sense. Many Thais feel insecure, given the ongoing political turmoil, economic uncertainty and social instability. The more insecure people become, the more they seek out objects reputed to have supernatural powers that will bring them good fortune. If nothing else, the phenomenon offers food for thought on the relevance of Buddhism in this society, or the lack thereof.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/13/opinion/opinion_30029147.php

GWR

14-03-07, 08:08 AM

Amulets to 'help protect' Buddhists in South

The security forces in the troubled South have announced their intention to produce spiritualist trinkets in a bid to protect the Buddhist minority from harm.

Colonel Manas Khongpan, deputy director of the Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC) in Yala, said yesterday that Jatukham Rammathep talismans would be made for Buddhists in the predominantly Muslim region.

The famous animist amulet is believed to have magical power to protect its holder from violence. Although it has no relation to Buddhism, many Thai Buddhists believe in the talisman's power and are prepared to pay large sums for them.

ISOC in Yala will produce the amulets at a temple in the province by May and then bring them to a blessing at Nakhon Si Thammarat, the original home of the amulet, Manas said.

The Boun Ban Dan amulets, meaning the "power of virtue", will be sold to Buddhists and security officials in the region.

The southern Buddhist population of around 300,000 is often the target of violence carried out by Muslim militants, who are determined to chase them out of the area, Manas said.

"The production of the Jatukham amulets will give moral support to Buddhists and help sustain the religion," the colonel said, as if the amulets were linked with the faith.

Many Thai Buddhists mix animism with their religious worship.

Any profits from amulet sales will be spent containing violence and the money will be managed transparently, he said.

.....

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/14/national/national_30029259.php

GWR

14-03-07, 12:14 PM

Related thread:

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2251

GWR

15-03-07, 12:08 PM

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2296

GWR

09-04-07, 03:32 PM

I'm a bit doubtful about the use of the verb 'to stampede' here:

Woman killed, over 30 injured in stampede stemmed from fight for Jatukham

Nakhon Si Thammarat - A woman was stampeded to death and 30 others were injured after thousands of people forced their way to buy coupon to receive "Jatukham Ramthep" amulets in a technical school of the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Thousands people had been waiting since midnight Sunday at three coupon-selling spots at Nakhon Si Thammarat Technical College, Rama XI park, and Thanakhonyanwaropasuthit School to get the amulet's special edition called "Ngern Lai Ma 2" produced by Wat Phra Nakhon.

At the techinal school, nearly 10,000 forced their way into the coupon desk at 8 am, causing Pheun Khongpetch, 51, to pass out and be stampeded by the crowd while other 30 were slightly injured.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30031469

GWR

16-04-07, 10:43 PM

EDITORIAL
Kick amulet trade out of temples

Places of Buddhist worship should not be used for the crass sale of Jatukam Ramathep and other talismans

The Religious Affairs Department and the Office of the Sangha Supreme Council did what they could to control the damage done to the Jatukam Ramathep amulet trade following the death of a 51-year-old woman who was killed in a stampede set off by an unruly crowd waiting to purchase a "special edition" of the amulets in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Monday. The Religious Affairs Department announced that it planned to regulate the manufacturing, consecration and distribution of the much-sought-after charms as the cult of Jatukam continues to spread among a growing number of wayward Buddhists. Profiteering on the popular amulets has kicked in as monastic and lay administrators of Buddhist temples countrywide, motivated by naked greed, are selling the amulets as fast as they can churn them out.

A large section of Thai society is lapping them up and actively engaging in the frenzied speculation in the charms which has sent the prices of Jatukam skyrocketing. In the meantime, no one is getting any wiser or having any better an understanding of the essence of the Buddha's teachings, which emphasise the search for a sense of detachment from worldly temptations.

Preecha Kantiya, director-general of the Religious Affairs Department, said his department could not stop temples from manufacturing and distributing Jatukam Ramathep amulets to the public. He was being as honest as he was realistic about the entire situation. It is beyond his power to ask the abbots of Buddhist temples throughout the country to give up this lucrative fund-raising gimmick, which has become a big business generating billions of baht every year.

What is happening now is that the fad for amulets bearing the images of Buddha, which used to make tonnes of money for Buddhist temples in this country, has given way to the newer, previously unheard of Hindu deity.

The Sangha Supreme Council, the governing body of Thai Buddhist monks, has clearly stated that Buddha amulets and all other talismans can be produced and distributed as mementoes or tokens of appreciation for merit-making or for cash donations to temples. The Sangha made it clear, however, that Buddhist monks are not supposed to be involved in the business of selling amulets or charms or to boast about the supernatural powers of those items to promote sales.

The Council warned that any Buddhist monk found to have engaged in the commercialisation of amulets or to have made false claims about their supernatural powers, will be subjected to the severest disciplinary action. Despite this, very few Buddhist monks practising black magic or making profits from the sale of amulets have ever been punished.

Even now many Buddhist temples continue to discreetly promote the idea that owning Jatukam amulets brings many benefits. The belief that the amulets have magical powers that protect their owners and bring them good luck is so widely held by so many people that it is no longer necessary for temples to spell it out to them.

The first batch of Jatukam amulets was introduced with little fanfare in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat some 20 years ago. The original creator of the amulets was a highly respected and honest police officer in Nakhon Si Thammarat who was reputed to possess occult knowledge.

With the Religious Affairs Department and the Sangha Supreme Council taking a half-hearted approach, not discouraging the trade but choosing to maintain the status quo, the trade in Jatukam amulets will probably continue unabated. Of course people will choose to believe what they want to believe, but Buddhist temples that are supposed to be devoted to the study of the Buddha's teachings and spreading that wisdom to as many people as possible, should refrain from preying on the impressionable masses.

Anyone with the most rudimentary knowledge of the Buddha's teachings should realise that; we would have thought that learned abbots and Buddhist monks running temples or houses of dharma would know better than to turn them into little more than amulet trading houses.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/14/opinion/opinion_30031860.php

GWR

16-04-07, 10:49 PM

JATUKHAM FEVER
Amulet frenzy brings mini boom

Nakhon Si Thammarat rides economic crest as many rush to buy lucky charm

The fatal crushing of a woman in a stampede has had no affect on the insatiable appetite for Jatukham Rammathep amulets, with the temple making and selling them fully booked until the end of the year for incantations.

"We can't stop the production and incantations of the Jatukham Rammathep and must admit that the phenomenon has turned the province into an economic boom town," said Sonthaya Senniam, director of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Buddhism Office.

Huge numbers of tourists are flocking to the province to worship Jatukham Rammathep statues located in Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawiharn or Wat Phra Nakhon, while amulet creators from across the country have come to use the temple as a place to recite incantations over the amulets.

Local hotels are fully booked each weekend.

The first batch of Jatukham Rammathep amulets was introduced with little fanfare in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat 20 years ago.

There are now more than 400 different models in the market.

The first model, made in 1987, cost less than Bt100. It is now worth between Bt500,000 and Bt600,000.

The talisman started becoming a popular item in the middle of last year and is now almost an obsession.

More than 200 editions of Jatukham Rammathep amulets are now being made throughout the Kingdom.

Creations of "genuine" talismans require permission from Wat Phra Nakhon, and the incantations must be performed at the temple or at Nakhon Si Thammarat's city-pillar shrine.

"The temple has been fully reserved until December by more than 250 creators," said Sonthaya. "Instead of stopping the production of the amulets, we'd rather find stricter safety measures in the public distribution process," he said.

The local committee overseeing the Jatukham Rammathep trend includes local administrators, police, temples and the amulet creators. They are now working on finding ways to prevent the chaos that occurred on April 9, when a 51-year-old local woman was crushed to death and dozens of people were injured as thousands forced their way into a technical school in the province to buy reserving coupons for the amulets made at Wat Phra Nakhon.

Yesterday, the temple distributed the coupons for the Jatukham Rammathep special edition called Ngern Lai Ma II at three spots in the city: Nakhon Si Thammarat Technical College, Rama IX Park and Thanakhonyanwaropasuthit School.

The special edition consists of 30,000 sets, each including 13 talismans and costing Bt500. It could hardly cover the demand from hundreds of thousands of people.

The temple made the original Jatukham Rammathep amulets, among them the very popular Ngern Lai Ma edition distributed early this year.

A Jatukham Rammathep "guru" said the amulets were pumping Bt100 million into Nakhon Si Thammarat each week. All flights to the province have been booked out, and passengers must fly to Krabi instead, then take a bus to Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Maj-General Sudjai Yanarat, the provincial police commander, said the phenomenon had changed police priorities, because they now had to deal with the massive influx of tourists and Jatukham Rammathep followers from across the country.

Traffic police have been under a lot of pressure, due to huge traffic jams.

Wat Phra Nakhon abbot Phra Maha Maitri said the Religious Affairs Department had ordered the postponement of the amulets' production, but it was impossible to stop, because of the huge amount of money to be made in the province.

The talismans, he added, were sold by the temple at moderate rates, but the price shot up tenfold when resold.

However, the distribution of the special edition has been halted until the temple can come up with a safer way to distribute them, Phra Maha Maitri said.

Nonetheless, hundreds of people are still waiting in front of the temple gates, hoping the distribution will start again.

The Jatukham Rammathep amulets have gained a huge and almost frenzied following based on claims of their magical powers and the good fortune they can bring to their owners.

Although it has no relation to Buddhism, many Thai Buddhists believe in the amulets' power and are prepared to pay large sums for one.

"The faith [in the amulets] is creating huge benefits for the businessmen now dominating 80 per cent of production. There are several 'organisers' set up to produce the amulets for investors," said a Jatukham Rammathep co-ordinator at a local temple.

Another Jatukham Rammathep "guru", Pong Phrakrueng, said the amulets sold in the market cost Bt100 to Bt5 million - and up.

He predicted the phenomenon would continue for another couple of years. When more editions are produced, the trend will "moderate", with only the original editions still in demand.

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot
Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong
The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/17/headlines/headlines_30032019.php

Amulet lovers makes beeline for temple

Apart from the millions of baht spent on each new edition of the Jatukham Rammathep amulets, more than Bt700 million has been circulating each month in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, where the amulets are produced.

More than 10,000 visitors from around the country arrive in this southern province each day, and the 6,000 available hotel rooms are regularly fully booked, said Wichoke Angmanee, a senior Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official.

The number of tourists registered at hotels has risen 17 per cent since last year, when the amulets became extremely popular following the funeral of the late crimebuster Phantharak Rajjadej, who helped create the popular amulets.

Buddhist Malaysians and Singaporeans are also regular visitors to Nakhon Si Thammarat and frequently have their sons or nephews ordained as monks or novices during their school breaks at Mahathat Woramahawihan temple, at which official productions of the amulets are based.

However, Wichoke said the TAT would not rely solely on the promotion of Jatukham Rammathep amulets to boost tourism.

"The TAT's culture-oriented tourism will focus on helping the regular tourism industry continue and be sustained, with or without the popularity of the amulets involved," he said.

Jamorn Jaroenphibal, chairman of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Chamber of Commerce, said an additional Bt300 million to Bt400 million had been pumped into the province among general business-owners, including those directly involved with the sale and production of the amulets.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/17/national/national_30032024.php

GWR

16-04-07, 10:51 PM

Who is Jatukham Rammathep?

In light of last week's extraordinary scramble for coupons to buy a fervently desired amulet - which saw a woman crushed in a stampede at a temple in the South - many are asking just what is Jatukham Rammathep? And why does it produce such hysteria?

There are many legends about the origins of Jatukham Rammathep, the name used to identify a certain kind of amulet, but it is generally agreed that it goes way back in the mists of time, long before the northern kingdoms emerged.

Perhaps the most credible account is provided by late crime-buster Phantharak Rajjadej, who helped to create the famous amulets, as described in an almanac authored by Magsaysay Award winner Jamlong Fangchollajit, a native of Nakhon Si Thammarat, where the history of it is set.

Jatukham Rammathep is two people, not one. The names are the aliases of brother princes Inthara Sairen and Inthara Khao Kheo, sons of King Jantharaphanu, who ruled the Sri Thammasoke realm, the capital of the Krung Srivijaya Kingdom (757-1257) in southern Thailand, after his father who founded it.

The Sri Thammasoke realm began to degenerate as a result of their father's absence of 20 years during which he expanded his dominion to as far as eastern India. The brothers founded a new capital at Chang Khom Sirithammarat (present day Nakhon Si Thammarat), and renamed the realm Srivijaya Suvarnabhumi.

Some legends say Jatukham Rammathep was another royal person living in a different era altogether, while others suggest it was a name given to King Jantharaphanu himself.

But all legends - under the influence of Mahayana Buddhism which was widely observed during the period - commonly believe that whatever king or royal person the name belongs to, the right holder of the name is an Avalokitesvara, a future Buddha after numerous rebirths committed to intense self-dedication and intense sacrifice.

Long after their deaths, the two princes continue to be idealised by succeeding generations of residents of Nakhon Si Thammarat and today are remembered by their preferred names of Jatukham and Rammathep as guardian angels.

The Jatukham Rammathep amulets were first produced in 1987 as part of the establishment of the province's Holy Pillar Shrine. The circular amulet, with a 5cm diameter, was priced at Bt39.

Today, the amulets sell for between Bt200 and Bt500 for the basic item, and as much as Bt1,000 for amulets produced in a limited edition. The prices can soar sharply by up to 10 times when their popularity peaks after just a few months. For example, the "Arch-Millionaire" series now trades at around Bt10,000 compared to about Bt150 when it was released in May last year.

The reported highest price ever paid for a single amulet is Bt1.2 million - by a mine owner to the original owner of a 1987 charm. An unconfirmed report earlier this year said the owner of a local lingerie store in the province sold a number of the amulets for Bt3.2 million to a buyer based in the United States.

There are more than 150 series of Jatukham Rammathep amulets planned for this year alone. Productions must be approved by the Pillar Shrine committee and the amulets are required to undergo Buddhist and Brahman blessing ceremonies held at the Holy Pillar Shrine or Mahathat Woramaha-wiharn temple in the province.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/17/national/national_30032023.php

GWR

20-04-07, 12:37 AM

:eek: Amulet business may now be taxed

The Revenue Department is considering whether to tax enterprises related to the soaring sales of Jatukham Rammathep amulets, a business estimated to be worth Bt20 billion, in order to offset a shortfall in revenue collection as a result of the economic slowdown.

Director-general Sanit Rangnoi yesterday said the department was sending officials to check the estimated income from Jatukham Rammathep transactions.

"There is a tremendous amount of money floating round in the amulet market. If the production of the talismans is for commercial purposes, it should be taxed. If the production is done purely out of faith, it may be exempt," he said.

"It's the duty of the Revenue Department to find out this information. We are sending officials to gather more details, especially from the various people who are involved with Jatukham Rammathep production," the director-general said.

Sanit said that the plan would not be limited to Jatukham Rammathep items, but all amulets and talismans. Jatukham Rammathep items are cited as the prime example because an obsession with them has recently swept the nation, and has become large enough to have an impact on the economy.

Kasikorn Research Centre earlier estimated that the money generated from Jatukham Rammathep fever, evident from late last year, was worth more than Bt20 billion.

Talisman experts said that Jatukham Rammathep fever involved various groups of people, from the production, design, blocking and sourcing of raw materials, to organising rituals and then distribution.

Watcharapong Radomsithipat, a talisman expert, said the phenomenon was estimated to have created about 10,000 jobs.

He said the Jatukham Rammathep obsession also had a spillover effect on other sectors of society. For instance, a large amount of the money generated is used to repair temples, build stupa and construct schools.

This creates demand for construction materials such as cement, steel and bricks, amid a slowdown in the property sector.

"The money generated from Jatukham Rammathep moves into the economic system from the grass roots to the macro-economic level. The general public are involved in the production of Jatukham Rammathep items," he added.

Another expert, who asked not to be named, said the planned talisman tax would inevitably involve temples because amulets and talismans are anointed and endorsed by the temples, which would also have profit-sharing deals from their sale.

If the plan involves temples, the idea of taxing Jatukham Rammathep or other talisman items might be difficult in practice.

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/20/headlines/headlines_30032266.php

jpatokal

22-04-07, 10:59 AM

But all legends - under the influence of Mahayana Buddhism which was widely observed during the period - commonly believe that whatever king or royal person the name belongs to, the right holder of the name is an Avalokitesvara, a future Buddha after numerous rebirths committed to intense self-dedication and intense sacrifice.
I hope the Nation's history is a little better than their theology, because this is so garbled it makes no sense. A being capable of Buddhahood but dedicated to others achieve enlightment is a boddhisattva (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva), and Avalokiteshvara (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalokitesvara) is just one (albeit by far the best known) of the lot. A "future Buddha", on the other hand, refers to Maitreya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreya), a being who doesn't exist yet but will arrive to redeem the world at some point in the future.

GWR

22-04-07, 11:36 PM

Jatukham amulets seem to have migrated to the Business Section lately:

The Jatukham craze

The faiths and superstitions of many Thais have been a godsend to some in the material world

The phenomenal Jatukham Rammathep amulet has not only brought quick riches to its creators and retailers, but has also been a windfall for its sculptors.

Aey, 32, was a lecturer in sculpture at Nakhon Si Thammarat College of Fine Arts for almost 10 years before good fortune smiled on him and he was hired to design a version of the Jatukham amulet models and statues earlier this year.

"I have been in Nakhon Si Thammarat since 1998. My permanent job here is teaching the art of sculpture at the college for a salary of about Bt12,000 per month," he said.

This month he also picked up almost Bt50,000 extra from designing the talk-of-the-town Jatukham models and statues.

The Jatukham fever in Nakhon Si Thammarat has also created jobs and wealth, not only for him but also those with visual-art skills in his college and in other colleges such as the Nakhon Si Thammarat Arts and Crafts College.

"The demand for the amulets has surpassed even that for mobile phones in these provinces. From my house I can see the vehicles advertising the Jatukham models passing every day," he said.

The first Jatukham model was created in Nakhon Si Thammarat in 1987 by the committee of the City Pillar Shrine of Nakhon Si Thammarat to raise funds to build a city pillar in the town. The Jatukham Rammathep became the most sought-after object in Nakhon Si Thammarat just a decade ago, before the obsession gripped the whole country a few years back.

The price of the original Jatukham models created 20 years ago was only between Bt39 and Bt59 each but they can now fetch from Bt50,000 to Bt1 million.

One Jatukham expert, Anan Sae Tan, said frenzied marketing and the use of the media have contributed a great deal to the booming Jatukham Rammathep trade.

Anan, 46, was appointed by the committee of the City Pillar Shrine of Nakhon Si Thammarat to jointly create the first Jatukham amulet model in 1987.

"The Jatukham was unlikely to gain fast popularity without the marketing campaign. The hot sales of the first models created in Nakhon Si Thammarat inspired investors and other temples to follow suit and create different Jatukham models," he added.

There are now over 100 varieties of Jatukham.

He said that the booming trade is due to people's dire need for something to hold on to in these gloomy economic and political times.

The key to the success of the Jatukham is its appealing design, he added.

"Its design also tended towards the look of jewellery and an object of fashion," he said.

Organisations that create a Jatukham must have a clear objective when doing so in order to ensure its success. One often-cited objective is that the Jatukham be created for social charity or fund-raising.

The other success factor is heavy spending on marketing by Jatukham creators. The total cost of creating one Jatukham line ranges from around Bt100,000 to over Bt10 million, of which most is spent on marketing activities. All kinds of media, from newspapers to television, are used to promote the amulets.

According to Kasikorn Research Centre, the cash flow in the trade of Buddhist amulets and related activities is expected to reach Bt22 billion this year, and the Jatukham is a major contributor to the growth. The popularity of the Jatukham also helps stimulate the growth of many related businesses, such as stainless amulet frames and amulet magazines.

Malee Boonsiripunth, dean of the faculty of journalism and mass communication at Thammasat University, said the Jatukham phenomenon reflected Thai culture and people's belief in the supernatural.

"This is a demonstration of the media's power and its influence in setting a strong agenda for the public. The media over the past months has frequently reported on 'miracles' that these talismans have brought to the owner. This has stirred the public appetite for them," she said.

Malee said the popularity of Jatukham, encouraged by individual producers and distributors, had reinforced interest and the public demand for them, which has led to a huge increase in their prices. Jatukham has become a fashion item demanded by almost everybody.

"The media themselves need to be more concerned about screening the information and presenting it in a more rational way to avoid encouraging superstition," said Malee.

Sorn Chongsricharn, chief executive of advertising agency Y&R, said Jatukham was a good new brand. It has been supported by various marketing strategies and the use of various media channels to make the brand successful and enduring.

"Jatukham has latched on to a good product, that is sacredness. The product has been facilitated with a good marketing mix, with affordable prices and a good distribution network, various types of promotion and clever communications," said Sorn.

He said those who openly flaunt the Jatukham have also played a significant part in building the brand, given that many opinion leaders in society wear and help promote Jatukham amulets.

"What is happening in society is a frenzy. Many communications tools, such as advertising, public relations activities and even customer-relationship-management strategies, have been used by the Jatukham creators and distributors to further spread the frenzy," said Sorn.

"A good product cannot be successful by itself - it always requires good marketing support and brand building," he added.

So will the Jatukham obsession fade soon?

Sorn said virtually every product has a life cycle but the Jatukham brand could last forever.

"From my point of view, the story of Jatukham will not fade away, as anything related to the faith and superstition of people will stay forever. These things will never disappear from this world," he said.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/23/business/business_30032415.php

GWR

22-04-07, 11:41 PM

Patriarch ends role in amulets

His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch will no longer provide materials from his temple, such as ash from incense or powder from bricks, to make the amulets that have sparked a crime wave in Nakhon Si Thammarat, it was announced yesterday.

Jatukham Rammathep amulets, which are believed to have magical powers and cost up to Bt600,000 apiece, can only be made with the permission of the southern province's Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawiharn.

The Supreme Patriarch has provided materials to produce amulets to all temples and individuals that request them but will now stop doing so, the office of his secretary announced yesterday. It did not say why.

However, a source said the announcement was made after revered monk Luang Ta Bua of Wat Pa Ban Tad blessed the Supreme Patriarch to mark his 18th anniversary as head of the country's Buddhists, at Chulalongkorn Hospital yesterday.

Interest in the amulets began in the middle of last year and hit fever pitch this year. Earlier this month a woman was crushed to death when thousands of people rushed into a school in Nakhon Si Thammarat to buy coupons they could exchange for the amulets.

The amulets have become the main target of thieves in Nakhon Si Thammarat, said Colonel Yanaphat Norasing, superintendent of the police in the province's Muang district.

Amulet robberies occur daily, local residents say. Yesterday, 30 amulets worth Bt15,000 were stolen from the residence of Phra Palad Nikom Kamalo, abbot of Wat Nam Song in Muang district.

Recently, a thief broke through the ceiling of an amulet stall in the province and made off with more than Bt200,000 worth of Jatukham Ramathep amulets.

Monks from the province welcomed the Supreme Patriarch's announcement. They said they were concerned the materials he provided were being used to boost the prices of the amulets.

As demand for the amulets sparked surging prices, many Buddhists became concerned that Buddhism was being turned into a commodity. The Supreme Patriarch's announcement was welcomed as it would protect him from being sullied by those seeking to trade on his position for financial gain, said a monk involved in the incantation rites for Jatukham Rammathep amulets.

"Some amulet sellers used photos of the Supreme Patriarch giving them materials [for amulets] to boost sales," he said.

Incantation rites for the amulets can only be performed at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawiharn. Its abbot has said incantations for more than 30 editions of the amulets have been performed at the temple so far this year. Amulet makers from across the country have set up shop at the temple.

Although welcome, the Supreme patriarch's announcement would not lessen demand for Jatukham Rammathep amulets, a monk said.

Amulet makers have been competing to come up with new and strange materials, he said.

On Saturday night, thousands of people gathered at Wat Muang Talord and Wat Ta Chang because they heard rumours that the temples were being used to store the popular Ngern Lai Ma edition of the amulets.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/23/national/national_30032451.php

GWR

17-05-07, 03:01 PM

Interior Ministry and Samut Sakhon seeks funds for officials operating in the deep South
The Ministry of Interior in collaboration with Samut Sakhon (สมุทรสาคร) Province have started producing amulets in an attempt to seek funds for state authorities to operate in the three southernmost provinces.

Permanent Secretary of Interior Phongphayom Wassaphot (พงศ์โพยม วาศภูติ) said the southern violence have caused damage to both local residents and state authorities. In an attempt to assist and support authorities’ operations in the restive south, Interior Minister and Sumut Sakhorn have jointly produced amulets of Luang Po To (หลวงพ่อโต) for sale, adding the proceedings will be used to purchase weapons and provide medical treatment for officials operating in the deep South.

The Interior Ministry and Sumut Sakhon will arrange a press conference of the project on May 18th at 14.00 hours at the Interior Ministry.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter04

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255005170016

mdechgan

18-05-07, 10:52 AM

This is totally wrong against buddhist teachings.

Make and sell amulets marketing them as armor by buddist blessings to buy guns and ammo.

Most of these people have no idea what the buddhist religion is about.

GWR

20-05-07, 10:43 AM

PM: Amulet prices can be capped
By Nucharee Rakrun

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday questioned the rationale behind the heavy commercialisation of Jatukarm Ramathep amulets as calls to cap their prices become louder. ''If you ask me if I want to buy this kind of happiness, the answer is I don't,'' Gen Surayud said in Chiang Mai during the Government House Hotline programme on radio and Channel 11 television.

It is possible to control the prices of the amulets, some of which have gone up 1,000% in only a few weeks, the prime minister said, responding to a reporter's question.

Massive speculation has driven up prices of the amulets, which originate in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The history of the amulet is unclear, though Jatukarm and Ramathep were said to be rulers of the ancient Srivijaya kingdom. They are revered by some as protectors of the province which was once home to a major trading port.

Gen Surayud said the trade is profit-oriented. ''There is a catch somewhere. There is always commercial interest behind everything,'' he added.

The prime minister said people should be aware how many times the amulets have been resold and consider what they will use them for.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, the provincial tourism office has predicted a ''golden year'' for the local economy, giving credit to the Jatukarm Ramathep phenomenon.

Last year, the tourism industry injected more than six billion baht into the province and this year the figure is set to rise sharply.

Suthi Seelamai, director of the Nakhon Si Thammarat tourism, sports and leisure centre, said the boom would benefit the hospitality and service sectors the most.

He said the economic outlook for the province would likely remain bright for several years to come.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/20May2007_news03.php

ncr

20-05-07, 07:59 PM

Certainly ranks among the most intelligent things the PM has uttered during the last few months.....

GWR

01-06-07, 11:44 PM

Hardly worth mentioning that other stolen item was a very common-or-garden DVD player that probably cost 990 baht in MAKRO:

http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_01_06_50_3.htm

http://www.pattayacitynews.net/pic_webnews/01_06_03.jpg

[Photo: Pattaya City News]

1 Million Baht house robbery in Nongprue

Police Lieutenant Choosak from Banglamung Police Station was called to house number 49 in Soi Nong Hin in Nongprue in the early hours of Friday Morning after a robbery at the house was reported. Police were met by Khun Sompop aged 42, the house owner, who explained that Buddhist Amulet’s known in Thai as “Jatukum” were stolen along with a DVD Player. The stolen Amulet’s included a number from 1979 which are considered as extremely valuable. The estimated value of the stolen items is over 1 Million Baht. The point of entry for the thief or thieves was a ground floor window. No prints were found and no witnesses came forward. Police are now on the lookout for anyone selling these valuable items.

FarangBha

02-06-07, 02:48 PM

...yeah, they brought him a lot of luck, didn't they.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0705/S00281.htm

admin

16-06-07, 09:27 AM

This is a restoration of a missing message originally posted by GWR on June 15, 2007.

***************
Image: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/15/headlines/images/30036955-01.jpg

---Quote---
*Phra Payom introduces temple-made cookies : Chatu Kham*

Move over Oreo cookies. Here come Jatukham Rammathep - the eatable series.

Pra Prayom Kallayano, abbot of Wat Suankaew Temple in Nonthaburi, announced Friday that he has released this eatable version; temple-made Chatu Kham cookies.

The outspoken monk was poking fun at the Buddhist Sangkha, the entire community and the laymen who have been being caught up in the Jatukram Rammathep craze.

His series, Chatu Kham, which loosely translated as "four bites", was revealed to the public on Friday. Each can has four round, palm-size pieces of cookies. One side has Sanskrit script imprinted on it and Chatu Kham on the other side.

Pra Prayhom questioned this latest craze and argued that this fascination was not exactly compatible with the essence of Buddhism.
---End Quote---

***************

ncr

16-06-07, 02:50 PM

Also at the Bangkok Post (http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/16Jun2007_news02.php):

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/160607_news02.jpg
Phra Payom Kalayano mockingly shows his edible "Jatukham" (four-bite) cookies. — PONGKAN CHONGCHAIHAN

SUPERSTITION

'Jatukham' cookies mock amulet craze

PONGKAN CHONGCHAIHAN & CHINNAWAT SINGHA

Phra Payom Kalayano, the well-known abbot of Wat Suan Kaew, is selling edible ''Jatukham'' (four-bite) cookies to ridicule the public craze for Jatukarm Ramathep talismans. The senior monk yesterday introduced his new Jatukham cookies of the ''Chukkhid 4 Kham Ruay Khot'' (Bear in mind four bites and you will become super rich) model :p at his temple in Nonthaburi's Bang Yai district. Packed in aluminium boxes, the cookies are sold in sets of four for 60 baht. Each cookie measures 6cm in diameter. The top is stamped with the word ''Jatukham'' and coated with a thin gold leaf. The other side carries the words Ou Ar Ka Sa and the signature of Phra Phayom.

The monk said Ou Ar Ka Sa is a magic spell - the core principles given by the Lord Buddha to bring forth wealth. Ou means diligence in earning a living and performing duties. Ar means saving money or assets that are acquired lawfully. Ka means associating with good and moral people. Sa means leading life simply and modestly. The abbot said the craze for the Jatukarm Ramathep amulets drove him to produce the cookies. He did not want to see Thai Buddhists blindly follow superstition and crave the amulets while ignoring the Lord Buddha's teachings.

The monk said there had been hundreds of models of Jatukarm Ramathep talismans produced over the past few months, but the Ruay Maimee Hedpol (rich without reasons) model made him want to do something to remind Thais of Buddhist teachings. He conceded his efforts to bring the Lord Buddha's teachings closer to people are often not successful because many Thais are superstitious.

Meanwhile, a senior monk in Phitsanulok province is being investigated over alleged irregularities in the production of Jatukarm Ramathep amulets. Phra Mahaniphon Chonthawathee, abbot of Wat Thepkunchorn in Muang district, is under investigation after refusing to let a temple committee examine the financial books. He has been barred from conducting religious activities outside the temple pending the probe.

***GREAT IDEA. A clergyman with a wicked sense of humour....! :D :D :D ***

GWR

20-06-07, 01:11 PM

From Thai Rath via Phuket Gazette - Queer News:

Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Talisman tales

CHIANG MAI: With the craze for Jatukam Ramathep amulets still going strong, stories of miraculous survivals from shootings, stabbings, car crashes and other seemingly-dangerous events are a fixture in the Thai press at the moment.

On June 1, one lucky 14-year-old in Rayong appeared in the pages of Thai Rath newspaper after he was left with only a small bruise on his backside after being shot by a rival. He and his father ascribed the miraculous event to the over-sized amulet he was wearing.

Another recent case of supposed magical invulnerability involved a muay Thai instructor in Chiang Mai’s Chiang Dao District. In this case no Jatukam Ramathep amulet was invloved and the outcome was not quite so upbeat.

Around noon on May 31 the instructor, Boonsong Khama, 52, was kneeling outside his house conducting a ceremony to bless grains of rice, which he would give to his fighters to chew before a fight.

Known for his knowledge of arts both magical and martial, K. Boonsong claimed that if punched or elbowed, his boys would be resistant to cuts.

Not wanting to send his fighters into the ring without being sure if his spells and incantations had worked, K. Boonsong decided to test the holy rice on himself first.

He chewed a few grains and then asked his girlfriend to come at him with a knife.

His girlfriend, 23-year-old Lahu tribeswoman Nadoe Jakha, had full faith in her partner’s magical abilities. Thus, she didn’t hold back, using a knife to slash him once in the head and three more times to the body.

Unfortunately, the knife did not bounce off as the pair had expected. Rather, it sliced quite neatly through K. Boonsong’s flesh, leaving him screaming in agony on the ground. Realizing what she had done, K. Nadoe rushed him to hospital.

The police officer in charge of the case, Lt Col Anek Chaiwong, an Investigating Officer at Chiang Dao District Police Station, said that K. Boonsong was in such serious condition that he had to be transferred to Nakhon Phim Hospital in Mae Rim District. His wounds required more than 50 stitches.

Police have filed a preliminary charge of attempted murder against K. Nadoe while they investigate, Col Anek added.

Source: Thai Rath

http://www.phuketgazette.com/queernews/index.asp

ncr

20-06-07, 04:48 PM

A wing and a prayer for Jatukham craze (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/20/headlines/headlines_30037352.php) - The Nation, 20/06/2007

The Jatukham Rammathep craze has literally gone sky-high. The Royal Thai Air Force took some much-sought-after amulets on routine flights on F-16 and F-5 fighters in the hope of boosting their supernatural powers and market value.

Air Chief Marshal Paisal Sitabutr, the Air Force's deputy commander, could not explain the logic behind his reasoning but maintained the jets' supersonic speed would quicken one's good fortune, protection and prosperity. The unprecedented height would make the amulets stand out above the rest, literally and figuratively. Moreover, Paisal told The Nation yesterday, the fact that such a "dignified" institution as the Air Force was behind the making of this series of amulets would boost its reputation and sales.

On Monday, the Air Force organised incantation rites for its amulets in Prachuab Khiri Khan. Paisal said the Air Force decided to join the Jatukham Rammathep fever because it wanted to collect huge sums of money for renovation of Wat Mahathat in Bangkok and the twin pagodas, Phra Mahathat Napha Methanidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphon Phumisiri, on Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai. The renovation projects costing about Bt100 million are to commemorate the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King in December, he said. "During these days, what else can be done to generate huge money better than Jatukham?" he said. [Indeed!] Paisal saw nothing wrong in the Air Force generating money by producing amulets and using the fighter jets in the incantation. "We have fighters that fly regularly. We just asked the pilots to take the materials [to produce the amulets] with them. We did not hold any special flights for this thing," he said.

The Air Force's action bemused respected archaeologist Srisakara Vallibhotama. "Why didn't they take them up to Mars?" he asked sarcastically. Srisakara questioned the attitude of the Air Force, which is a security-related institution, towards the Jatukham hype and said the process by which these amulets were created lacked moral authority. "You are doing something against nature. How can things produced by an unnatural process contain Dharma of the Buddha, as Dharma means nature?" he asked.

Since last year, Jatukham fever has spread throughout the country, grabbing the attention of celebrities, politicians and ordinary people. The Kasikorn Research Centre estimated that from late last year more than Bt20 billion had been generated by the Jatukham craze. The Revenue Department was considering whether to tax enterprises related to the soaring sales of Jatukham items. The Air Force's incantation rites took place just a few days after the outspoken abbot of Wat Suan Kaew in Nonthaburi, Phra Payom Kalayano, one of the country's most revered Buddhist monks, launched an edible Jatukham cookie to mock the craze for the popular talisman.

Stephen Cleary

21-06-07, 09:12 AM

Sometimes they are complete joke over at the Thai Rath newspaper.

This swavvy paper has been posting for a couple of months now sensational photographs of miraculous Jatukhams appearing in people's pictures.
(nice stories to match the millions they get every month for Jathukham advetisements).

Today however, they have posted an amazing story claiming all the Jathukham pics were not miracles after all. Shiver-me-timbers!

http://www.thairath.co.th/offline.php?section=hotnews&content=51313

GWR

21-06-07, 11:09 AM

Revolt over school amulets

More than 500 parents and students of a school in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday marched in protest against its director's order to have each student buy at least one Jatukham Rammathep amulet produced on behalf of the school.

The rally began at 7am with protesters verbally attacking Seri Sripakphraek, the director of Phra Phrome Phitthayanusorn School, through loudspeakers.

They accused him of questionable ethics and demanded his resignation.

The protest ended when Seri showed up and said that he would seek a transfer.

The parents said that Seri and his wife had produced 500 amulets using the name of the school without permission from the parents-teachers' association.

They said his order to make each of the 500 students buy an amulet at Bt599 was extremely inappropriate.

A student said Seri also ordered each student in the upper high-school classes to sell 50 certificates for regular amulets, and another 50 certificates for a special Jatukham Rammathep edition that would soon be produced at Bt1,499 in return for a 20-per-cent sales commission.

Parents of those in the high-school classes initially agreed to comply with the order, given last Friday, but later changed their minds and mobilised to remove Seri.

The protesters later sent four people, two each representing parents and students, to discuss the problem with a senior education official, who later mediated in negotiations between the group and Seri, who agreed to voluntarily seek a transfer.

Seri has been transferred to a temporary post at a regional education office in the province with immediate effect.

At the request of the parents, the school's management agreed to stop producing the amulets using the school's name and replaced some of the teachers who were close to Seri and were involved in the production of the amulets.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/21/national/national_30037437.php

ncr

21-06-07, 10:15 PM

http://www.thairath.co.th/offline.php?section=hotnews&content=51313

Cool URL, by the way! ;) :cool:

GWR

22-06-07, 12:22 AM

Well maybe Jatukhams weren't the entire reason for a mob gathering, but the education official in charge may be trying to avert damage to his own 'face' for not having headed this off earlier. It is perhaps highly significant - none the less - that Jatukham has become a fashionable excuse:

Jatukham craze generates billions

Jatukham Ramathep amulets were expected to generate around Bt40 billion in revenue by year's end, a Kasikorn Thai Research Centre survey said yesterday.

A total of around 650 editions would be produced this year in addition to the 300 models already made.

The survey did not estimate how much money the amulets had generated since they got popular two years ago, or when the first model was produced in 1987.

It said the intense popularity of the amulets would be a good case study for marketers or advertisers.

Meanwhile, a senior education official in Nakhon Si Thammarat said a protest outside Phra Phrome Phitthayanusorn School on Wednesday over a school director who allegedly forced students to sell Jatukham amulets could have actually stemmed from a conflict with subordinates over appointment of teachers.

Atthaphol Truektrong said a teacher who was upset that his friends had not been promoted to desired posts had instigated a mob to demand the transfer of Seri Sripakphraek.

An official investigation into the matter is underway.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/22/national/national_30037518.php

GWR

03-07-07, 11:22 PM

Amulets 'damage pagoda'

The overwhelming popularity of Jatukam Ramathep amulets may be damaging the Mahathat Woramahawiharn Temple's sacred pagoda.

Locals yesterday complained the pagoda had developed a lean as a result of vehicles arriving at the temple each day with the amulets.

Lorries and pickup vehicles deliver the amulets to the monastery's compound, where they are blessed in consecration rituals. The centuries-old pagoda houses Buddha relics.

"We have to do something before further damage is done," Somchoke Boonwisut, a Nakhon Si Thammarat resident, said yesterday.

Residents will ask provincial governor Wichom Thongsong to take action to halt damage to the pagoda.

Local Fine Arts Department director Banjong Wongwichien said experts were on the way to examine the pagoda. "But, for the time being, everything depends on the temple abbot," he said.

Nakhon Si Thammarat deputy governor Somsak Khamtaweeprom will have talks with abbot Phra Ratchathamsuthee ahead of any action at provincial level.

Revenue officials wanting to know how much the temple was making from the amulets yesterday visited the abbot.

Provincial police chief Maj-General Sudjai Yannarat praised residents' efforts to protect the pagoda. Officers have been sent to the temple for security.

Sudjai said many vehicles "sneak into the temple at around 3am and 4am before traffic officers are present".

Provincial public works chief Chaiyapat Siriprasert said it would be easy to determine if the pagoda was leaning but added his department was too busy to check and suggested an academic institute should help.

Krissana Jutisawaeng
The Nation
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/04/national/national_30039226.php

GWR

07-07-07, 08:05 PM

From the man who has been known to create PMs by banging them on the head with his stick:

Luangpor Khoon says no to Jatukam

Luangpor Khoon Parisuttho, a much-revered monk, said Saturday that he would not produce or bless Hindu-based Jatukam Ramathep talismans.

"I won't do it. Why should I? I have never thought of making it," Luangpor Khoon said.

He said he would not either give any blessed materials for anyone to make Jatukam talismans.

The Nation

GWR

01-08-07, 12:11 AM

Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Experts fear Jatukham fever may endanger dugongs

PHUKET (Gazette/Kom Chad Luek): Conservation experts fear that fierce competition in the promotion of Jatukham Ramathep amulets may have sparked renewed interesting in the hunting of dugong, whose teardrops are believed by some to have magical powers.

Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) biologist Kanjana Adulyankosol told the Gazette that fears stemmed from promotional material used by one Jatukham seller coupled with the February 14 discovery of a dead baby dugong with unexplained trauma to the eyes.

“There is a belief that dugong teardrops possess special powers because mother dugong are known to become obsessed when searching for their lost young,” she said.

“Dugong are easy for people to hunt down, and the method used to extract the teardrops is extremely cruel. It involves removing the animal from the water, waiting for the eyes to dry up and then hitting the tear ducts to induce tears,” she said.

The amount of tear liquid that can be extracted in this way is very limited, she added.

K. Kanjana said that the carcass of the baby dugong was found in Phang Nga Bay.

“It had a wound from a sharp object on its left eye and the cornea in right eye was missing, but we don’t know for sure what the cause was,” she said.

“I don’t know whether the sales pitch used to promote the amulets is true or not, but if it is, it is absolutely illegal,” she added.

“There are only about 250 dugong left in Thai waters. Sale of their body parts, including tusks or other tissues, is completely prohibited,” said K. Kanjana, who has undertaken several population estimates of the population from a two-seat microlight aircraft.

K. Kanjana estimated said the annual death rate in the population is relatively stable at around 10 animals annually, but that even a small rise in that rate could quickly push the local population towards extinction because of the dugong’s slow breeding rate.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Kasem Sanitwong na Ayuthaya said anyone caught hunting dugong or whales for use in amulet production would face prosecution to the fullest extent possible under the law.

Whale blubber is another material that has been advertised in promotions for some series of the Jatukham talisman.

Nisakorn Kositrat, Director General of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, said his agency was being particularly vigilant in investigating any reports of dead dugong, especially in Trang province, home to about half of the known population in Thai waters.

He asked for cooperation from local organizations to prevent hunting of dugong, the local population of which is listed as “vulnerable to extinction if trade in them is not halted” under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5868

mdechgan

01-08-07, 01:05 PM

This is a taboo from stories told by Thai elders.
Want to know if an amulet was truly powerful or not?
To test them people would put them on a chicken. Then shoot them with a gun. If the gun were to jam or not fire then that amulet would be truly powerful and lucky. If it did fire then I guess the amulet wasn't good enough.

GWR

10-08-07, 09:19 AM

MEDIA ADVERTISING

Jatukarm amulets good news for papers

WORANUJ MANEERUNGSEE

The Jatukarm Ramathep craze has brought good fortune to the country's newspapers, which recorded 10.47% growth in advertising spending in July due almost entirely to the amulets. The results for newspapers were among the few bright spots for the ad industry, which recorded total spending growth of just 1.93% in July and a decline of 0.04% year-on-year for the first seven months, said Nielsen Media Research.

Under spending by brand, Nielsen lists ''Wat-Thu-Mong-Kol'' or ''sacred objects'' as having spent 111.54 million baht on advertising in July _ 14 times more than was spent in July last year. For the first seven months of the year, the category accounted for 465.78 million baht, against 69.35 million a year earlier.

The only brand that spent more was Pond's facial skin-care products, at 478.52 million baht. Trailing the amulets were traditional heavyweights including Oil of Olay, Coke, M-150 energy drinks, Toyota, DTAC, AIS, Breeze detergent and Colgate toothpaste.

Mass-market Thai-language papers received the lion's share of the amulet ads but the party appears to be over. The law of supply and demand has caught up with the amulets and their prices have fallen like a stone. Some can now be had for five baht each or even bought in bulk.

...........

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/10Aug2007_biz37.php

GWR

13-08-07, 10:30 AM

Jatukarm craze on the wane, but faith intact

Nakhon Si Thammarat _ The demand for Jatukarm Ramathep amulets has faded with few requests now being made to a temple to perform rituals for the talismans. Phra Rajthammasuthee, abbot of Wat Phra Mahathat Voramahaviharn in Nakhon Si Thammarat and provincial chief monk, attributes the declining demand for Jatukarm Ramathep talismans to oversupply. However, public faith in the amulets remains high, he said.

During the Jatukarm amulet craze, the temple, where the talismans originated, had been fully booked for rituals, said the abbot. Now only a few amulet makers made requests for his temple to perform rites for new models of the talisman. Previously, the temple received 700-800 requests a month.

The oversupply of amulets including the sale of the fake ones caused prices to drop sharply. Some fake amulets sell for just five baht each.

A source said the atmosphere at the temple was quiet. Owners of amulet stalls in the temple compound had to sell other products just to survive. Over the past few months, crowds of people from all regions flocked to this temple to buy amulets, which brought quick riches to the makers and retailers. Some company employees quit their jobs to enter the business which yielded handsome profits during the boom.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/13Aug2007_news03.php

GWR

21-08-07, 11:09 PM

Officials sued for fraud over amulets
Published on August 22, 2007
Angry buyers say they were duped by ads

In a dispute over the "Ruay Lon Fa" series of Jatukham Rammathep amulets, Nakhon Si Thammarat residents yesterday filed a lawsuit against a kamnan, a court official, a military officer, an attorney, a bank clerk and a state official.

Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat-based lawyer Wisanu Saowapa and 15 other residents sued Chian Yai district's Tambon Khao Phrabath kamnan Yongyos Kaewkhiew and five other people for fraud.

The five were Ratchaburi Provincial Court official Arun Khaosaeng, Lt-General Chatri Thatti from the Defence Finance Department, public prosecutor Wichet Musikrangsi from the Attorney-General Office's special case division, Krung Thai Bank clerk Surat Srimai and Nakhon Si Thammarat Educational Area 1 official Nipa Thongnok.

The plaintiffs have accused the six defendants and unnamed accomplices of providing false advertising and using the provincial court's office to make reservations for the amulets in February, leading the public to believe the court had made the amulets.

Besides producing leaflets with different information regarding patterns, the amount of Jatukhams made and the price, the group was also accused of promising the public it would produce the amulets exactly as advertised, when the actual amulets were found to be quite different.

The plaintiffs filed a compliant with Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat police station.

Yongyos then promised to refund the locals on June 30. However, no refund was paid on the day or the rescheduled date of July 16 - leading to the lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Yongyos declined to comment on the case, saying he would let justice run its course and he did not want this to be a conflict in the province.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/22/national/national_30046004.php

GWR

22-08-07, 11:33 PM

More suits loom over amulets
Published on August 23, 2007

Two more people involved in allegedly fake production of a Jatukham Rammathep amulet are set to face fraud charges, a lawyer representing a group of dissatisfied buyers said yesterday.

Chor Chuaphen Phetphasit said the two had been targeted after another three customers sought to get their money back after receiving amulets different from what they were shown on advertisements.

A group of 15 people filed lawsuits against six people on Monday for their role in production of a large number of "Ruay Lon Fa" amulets, which claimed to have been approved by the provincial court in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

But the court never gave such permission and is suing them for using its name.

The lawyer Chor said he may file a new criminal suit against the two unidentified people today.

Both lawsuits have also demanded around Bt5 million be returned to the plaintiffs, who made payments to reserve the "Ruay Lon Fa" model.

Chor said some of the six defendants in the first lawsuit had contacted him to negotiate certain terms, including returning money to the plaintiffs, in return for withdrawal of the lawsuit.

Lawan Wetchasarn, a senior official with the provincial hall, said the amulets were actually silver-coated but the advertising said they were made entirely of silver.

She said she had received three other complaints over the Jatukham Rammathep amulets, but had ordered only one to be investigated.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/23/regional/regional_30046172.php

GWR

25-08-07, 11:21 PM

Losing its charm
Published on August 26, 2007

The bottom seems at last to have fallen out of the Jatukam market

Demand for Jatukam Ramathep amulets will taper off next year and sales ease to about Bt10 billion, just a quarter of what has been quoted for 2007.

The Jatukam Ramathep bubble may have burst, but it was a craze that ran hot for more than seven years.

In 2000, the combined market value of the amulets, perceived to be sacred, especially if they are anointed at Wat Phramahathat Worrawiharn in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, was around Bt5 billion.

According to Kasikorn Research Centre, the market doubled every two to three years, rising to an estimated Bt10 billion in 2003 and Bt20 billion in 2005.

The sales figure being tossed about for this year is a whopping Bt40 billion.

Now that could be history, and another boom is unlikely any time soon, according to those knowledgeable about auspicious objects.

The reversal of fortune can be attributed to overheated demand forcing up prices. Jatukam Ramathep amulets skyrocketed from just Bt50-Bt100 each to more than Bt2,000 for an "average" example.

In addition, the boom led to mass production of sub-standard amulets. There was frenzied speculation for quick profits, too.

Bang Lamphu amulet-trader Thep, who asked that his family name be withheld, said the boom was "really incredible".

"You only needed a tiny shop here to make tens of thousands of baht a day. The place was overcrowded most of the time.

"Now that's a thing of the past. Today less than 10 customers a day visit a big Jatukam shop. Making money is difficult."

And you can pick up an amulet over the Internet for as little as Bt5. That is a market collapse.

Kasikorn researcher Phaka-on Thipayadecha said the popularity had died.

"The bubble has burst. Demand for amulets is returning to normal, with only those who really have faith wanting them," she said.

The Jatukam Ramathep charms were created at Wat Phramahathat to pay respect to Nakhon Si Thammarat's guardian god and former ruler. The province was at the centre of the former Srivichai kingdom. Jatukam Ramathep was the name of one of its kings.

Former police officer Phantharak Ratchadej created the first amulets.

They started to gain in popularity after tales of miracles spread by word of mouth and Buddhist-amulet magazines.

"It's difficult to explain scientifically, but miracles did happen. People with the amulets survived accidents and murder attempts.

"I personally believe only in Jatukam Ramathep objects," explained Ton, a fourth-year Thammasat University student.

Their fame reached a peak on July 5, 2006 at the funeral of Phantharak. He died aged 108. More than 100,000 believers attended his funeral.

Deep faith could have been behind the feverish demand, but shrewd marketing helped too.

"With Jatukam, we are talking about faith and auspicious objects on the one hand and business and marketing on the other. Look carefully. The four Ps of marketing are all there: product, price, place and promotion," explained Wattanachai Yaninthorn of marketing magazine Positioning.

"As a product, Jatukam was of the highest quality in terms of historic, spiritual and other values. The key messages were very attractive too: helping people get rich and protecting them from evil.

"In price there was a lot of choice, starting at less than Bt100 to over Bt1 million. In place, it was simple to hire tiny stalls in a busy market or a department store from which to sell them.

"In promotion, ads abounded prior to the Jatukam peak, and makers and the Buddhist-amulet media joined forces to spur demand," he explained.

Phaka-on said amulets were now in recession due to sub-standard production and declining faith among buyers.

"This is no surprise, since what we saw this year and last was in no way sustainable. Things moved at very high speed.

"Businesswise, the boom drew many people into the trade, most of whom were new. Then there was a shortage of craftsmen making new series. Now there are sub-standard products. Many buyers have complained about this," she said.

Kasikorn forecast the market would top Bt40 billion this year. Next year it predicts a sharp fall. "But we cannot say for sure by how much," said Phaka-on.

She forecast demand would return to "a more reasonable level, around Bt10 billion a year".

Only real believers will buy, and only competent craftsmen will make them, she said.

Meanwhile, respected monks warn that the amulets are un-Buddhist. Phaka-on said the warnings were unlikely to have a long-term effect on sales because of people's obsession with amulets and auspicious objects.

She is more concerned about consumers being protected from poorly made charms.

Kamol Sukin
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/26/headlines/headlines_30046522.php

GWR

28-08-07, 10:31 PM

Cookie shortage: Jatukam T-shirt, anyone?

The overwhelming success in marketing Jatukam cookies as an antidote to amulet fever has resulted in inspired outspoken Buddhist monk Phra Payom Kalyano to extend his production line to Jatukam T-shirts to combat superstition and magical thinking about money with clothing instead of munchies.

Indicating that orders for Jatukam cookies had exceeded his production capacity, Phra Payorm, abbot of Wat Suan Kaew in Bangkok's north suburban province of Nonthaburi, said Tuesday the pure reason behind the distribution of Jatukam cookies was to urge people to stick to good deeds and hold on to the Lord Buddha's teachings.

The cookies were made almost the same shape and design as Jatukarm amulets which have been produced in mass and sold in great volumes. The nationwide marketing of Jatukarm amulets has sparked off criticism among some people who strongly disagreed with what they termed "Buddhist commercialism."

Phra Payorm said a limited collector's edition of 999 Jatukam T-shirts will be produced and sold for 180 baht each. The front of the T-shirt is printed with a Jatukam logo and carries a short statement encouraging people to work hard and save money.

Wearing the Jatukam T-shirt is almost equivalent to possessing the Lord Buddha's teachings, according to the renowned abbot. He did not deny that the sale of the T-shirt was more or less "Buddhist commercialism" but he asserted that the "revenue from the sales will go to help the poor and develop temples." (TNA)

May expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=121185

GWR

05-09-07, 12:47 AM

Learning political lessons from the runaway Jatukam train
Published on September 5, 2007
Makers of Jatukam Ramathep amulets may be getting a bit too inventive for their own health.

As the multi-billion-baht bubble is about to burst, we could foresee using cosmic dust as a key component in new amulets, as well as making them candy-coloured and conducting blessings at zero gravity. But dead infants' ashes?

Religious authorities initial reaction to this latest Jatukam innovation was predictable: they said there's "nothing illegal" about it. It may not have occurred to these officials, though, that mixing infants' ashes in amulets is not unlawful probably because no lawmakers in the past, here or anywhere else on earth, had anticipated something that bizarre. In other words, just because there's no law prohibiting people from crossing the street on their hands does not necessarily mean you have the right to try it.

The Jatukam phenomenon and Thai politics are giving us great food for thought, with the superstitious craze in Thailand going a long way in explaining our political predicament. Matters sound familiar indeed: first there was a little hype, then it turned into something pervasive, and once the "masses" are hooked, a semblance of legitimacy begins to build. Instead of strengthening principles, this "legitimacy" weakens them.

One may be tempted to think that ardent Jatukam believers are operating on blind faith, but they are not much different from people adoring a politician or political party. In a society that is supposed to value simplicity and modesty but has gone wild with amulets, which its producers boast will deliver unimaginable wealth and invincibility to the wearer, a distorted political system is anything but a surprise.

Anyone who has studied the Jatukam boom closely should be able to write a manual on "How to Win Elections". Go overboard with promises and full-blown marketing efforts because people will love them. And the names of the different types of Jatukam amulets teach us that there ought to be no sense of shame when it comes to bluffing your opponents. After an "Incredibly Rich" model was issued, rival versions popped up including the "Immediately Rich" model, the "Rich Without Reason" model, and the "Exploding Sky Rich" model, to name just a few.

More importantly, only cowards and losers stop at the line. You cross it, back and forth, until it's no longer there. Jatukam makers have managed to get the best of both worlds through this strategy. On one hand, they successfully sell the amulets as spiritual recourse; on the other hand, they tell their customers that being ridiculously rich is life's main purpose. And don't forget to claim credit by saying that you're doing it for the poor, like the producers of the baby ashes model did when they argued that some of the proceeds from the amulets would go to building a crematorium for the destitute.

Once you step over the line, you not only help yourself, but also both your customers and competitors. Putting babies' ashes in amulets in a Buddhist nation may be hardly acceptable initially, but it will only take like two days. If your ends win over the masses, they won't question your means that much. It's even easier for your competition, whose hypocritical side can't wait to rear its head. They will embrace your initiative, but hate you for getting there first.

Once you manage to make everyone believe that dead infants' ashes can be the essence of something spiritual and sacred, everything else is all yours. You can even proclaim that you truly represent the religion. After all, it's "you" who bring millions of people back to the temples like nobody had ever done before. How good will it feel to associate your name with the highest and most valuable doctrine, which you actually smear, and have those who question your means labelled heretics?

Just be careful about the bubble. You will be thriving on a shaky foundation that you yourself undermine. When it crumbles, you may feel like blaming your enemies, who force you to come up with weirder and weirder plans like the baby ashes in order to stay afloat, but remember it's you who crossed the line first. Now you may want to redraw the line, to get back to the principles that you once showed contempt for, but it's already gone forever.

No, making dead babies' ashes a component of amulets for people to worship is not illegal. A lot of your "customers" may still love it and you may argue that some of your competitors have even done nastier things. But the point is Jatukam is big and the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Just because there is no law specifically against it doesn't mean that such a practice cannot bring the whole industry down.

Tulsathit Taptim

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/05/opinion/opinion_30047779.php

GWR

06-09-07, 10:02 AM

Featured Frontpage today. See also previous posting for commentary on this bizarre case:

http;//www.2bangkok.com

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=16879&postcount=40

Thai temple makes lucky charms of infants' ashes
Tue 4 Sep 2007, 6:37 GMT

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai Buddhist temple has been reprimanded by religious authorities for selling amulets containing the ashes of cremated infants to raise money for a plot of land and a crematorium, an official said on Tuesday.

The bodies of 28 foetuses or infants who died of natural causes were cremated legally at the temple's aging incinerator, they said, as Thailand's craze for Jatukam Ramathep amulets promising wealth showed no signs of easing.

"It is not illegal, but it is inappropriate," an official of the local office of Buddhism told Reuters.

"The chief provincial monk has submitted a formal reprimand letter to the temple's abbot," said the official, who declined to be identified.

The Thawee Kara Anant temple in a northern Bangkok suburb was taking advantage of a craze for the amulets that promise to make their owners "super rich" or "rich without reason" sweeping across predominantly Buddhist Thailand.

In July, it made 140,000 disc-shaped amulets about the size of a coffee-cup lid from a variety of herbs and human ashes and had sold most of them, a monk at the temple said.

The idea of mixing the human ashes into the "Multiple Rich" amulets came after neighbours told the abbot they saw spirits of dead infants buried in the temple graveyard in their dreams asking to be freed, monk Lertsak Thitayano told Reuters.

"The abbot wanted to set them free so he decided to cremate them and make merit for them by mixing their ashes into the amulets to empower them in helping the people," he said.

To gain maximum "power", the Jatukam Ramathep amulets, named after two Hindu gods, have to be prayed over by monks for days.

A top-of-the-range gold-leaf edition from a well-respected temple costs 10,000 baht ($300) or more -- more than a month's wages for many Thais.

Some monks have come out swinging against the frenzy, saying it has turned the Buddhist priesthood into an "amulet-blessing industry" despite the religion's shunning of earthly possessions and materialism.

The nation of 65 million people, most of whom remain deeply superstitious despite the rapid modernisation of places such as Bangkok, has spent more than 20 billion baht on the amulets this year, newspapers say.

http://africa.reuters.com/odd/news/usnBKK51983.html

GWR

22-10-07, 12:02 PM

Unlucky charms
Temples in debt as craze for Jatukham amulets fades
Published on October 22, 2007

Waning public enthusiasm for Jatukham Rammathep amulets has left many Chiang Mai temples in deep financial trouble.

Sales of the talismans are too small to cover what temples spent to have them made.

Some temples have incurred debts in the millions of baht after they borrowed to produce the amulets, unaware their popularity would slump so soon.

Their predicament prompted the Chiang Mai Buddhism Office to organise a fair just for local temples to sell their amulets and earn money to repay their debts.

The one-week amulet bazaar opened last Friday at Lokmolee Temple in Chiang Mai's Muang district with more than 20 temples putting up stalls.

Abbot of Wat Phratat Doikoeng, Luangpor Boonsri, said his temple borrowed Bt5 million to make 200,000 amulets in August. It has sold just 1,000.

Before joining the amulet fair, the temple sought help from private sellers to market the talismans, he said.

"I have talked to abbots of other temples and they have the same problem. Some of them have debts of up to Bt10 million each," he said.

Phra Narin Khampipanyo of Wat Sanpaliang said it spent Bt2.5 million on making amulets five months ago.

Sales were especially good to start with. "But volume suddenly dropped as many other temples had amulets, too. Now the temple is more than Bt1 million in debt," he said.

Phra Narin said the Jatukham fair did not help boost sales. "We pay Bt4,000 a day to rent a stall but today we have sold five and made Bt500," he said.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/10/22/headlines/headlines_30053301.php

mdechgan

22-10-07, 12:47 PM

It figues.
Thailand is a very volotile market.
Just like Rotiboy, everyone wants to be on the train. But onces everyone gets on the train slows down.

I think Thai people are more interested in what other people are doing rather than develop themselves personally, financially and spiritually. "Say the house next door has many Jatukams, we should get one that is better and more pricey to show off."

GWR

10-11-07, 06:46 PM

Jatukarm talisman to soon appear on postage stamps

BANGKOK, Nov 10 (TNA) – Although the months-long craze for the popular Jatukarm Ramathep talisman has already peaked, Thais will soon see the amulet in a new form soon.

State-owned Thailand Post said it will issue a new collection of Jatukarm Ramathep stamps using a special technique to print a realistic high-definition image of the talisman on the stamp. With just one touch, it will create a feeling of the genuine circular-shaped lucky charm.

The Jatukarm is named after a prince of the ancient Srivijaya kingdom in the south of Thailand who conquered his enemy and other threats. His bravery has earned him a high place among contemporary Thais who are worried over uncertainty and insecurity in their lives.

It is believed to bring good fortune to its owner.

Riding on the crest of Jatukarm's popularity, Jirakarn Kraikraun, marketing manager of the Thailand Post said the company decided to print the stamp collection which is modelled on the original batch of the amulet in 1987.

Each collection of 12 stamps will cost 108 baht(US$ 3). It will be on sale next February, she added. (TNA)
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=1257

malc99

11-11-07, 07:02 AM

I wonder if the whole batch of stamps are going for an airplane ride or possibly a blessing rite in a new Gripen jet. Just a thought.

Now there seems to be a new craze for pink shirts (my favorite shirt colour) which might give Jatukam a run for his money.

my 2 satangs,

malc99

GWR

15-11-07, 11:48 AM

I've seen numerous articles on this picture in the last two months, but this is the first that has taken the controversial step of actually allowing us to see the offending picture:

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=81

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/images/monks-crow.gifNov 15, 2007
Crow art has Thai monks flapping
By Prangtip Daorueng

BANGKOK - Few would have thought that a painting would have the power to shake the foundations of modern-day temple life in Thailand, a country which prides itself as a center of Buddhism.

But before painter Anupong Chanthorn started working on his masterpiece, Bhikku Sandan Ka (Monks With Traits of a Crow), he spent time seeking meaningful messages in Buddhist texts. That diligence paid off when the painting bagged the country's most prestigious national art award in September.

Since then, the painting's powerful message has not only elevated the painter to the ranks of well-respected national artists, but also sparked an open national debate on how much monks, who symbolically represent a fundamental part of Buddhism, can and should be criticized.
The painting, composed using a yellow cord traditionally worn by Buddhist monks, portrays the painter's disagreement with the immoral behavior of some clergy members. It shows two monks with pointed and sharp mouths resembling a crow's beak squatting and facing each other on the floor with crows looking over their shoulders.

Shortly after the painting was displayed at the annual art exhibition in Bangkok, a group of Buddhist monks staged a series of emotional protest rallies which served to stimulate further debate. Late in September about 100 laymen and monks from two major Buddhist universities protested in front of the Silpakorn University campus where the exhibition was held.

They demanded the university withdraw the award given to the painter and remove the painting from the exhibition because it was insulting to the Buddhist clergy. Angry protesters carried Anupong's picture decorated with wreaths, and monks who joined the protest chanted a Buddhist prayer that is traditionally used at funerals. Civilians in the group later cremated the picture.

Protest leader Satian Wibhroma, a member of a Buddhist group known as the People's Network to Protect the Nation, Religion and the Monarchy, accused the painter of insulting Thai monks as a whole. While crows in the painting represented greedy and evil spirits, amulets in the alms-bowls indicated superstitious beliefs which are against Buddhist teachings, Satian said.

The painting also associated monks with immoral behavior and would adversely impact Buddhism in the country if put on public display, he added. Anupong dismissed such claims. He said that through the painting he intended to present certain hard facts about modern-day Buddhism in Thai society. One reality was that some people became monks only to take advantage of the religion which, he said, hurt many Buddhists.

Anupong said that Buddhist texts faithfully reproduced the Buddha's mention of different types of immoral behavior that may afflict monks, including the “monks with traits of a crow” phrase he used in titling the portrait. "I intend to use this painting to bring back good conscience in people," he said in an interview.

Diminished influence
An estimated 94% of the Thai population follows Theravada Buddhism. Although monks are traditionally beyond criticism, corruption and sexual scandals involving temples and individual monks reported in the local media in recent years have slowly changed public attitudes.

"Too many of the 250,000 to 300,000 monks in this country do not observe even the most rudimentary precepts required of lay Buddhists - let alone the 227 precepts that those who take up the saffron robe are supposed to observe," said a recent editorial in The Nation newspaper.

"Buddhist temples used to be centers of learning, and monks were the guardians of our cultural heritage, but many temples have turned into dens of iniquity. The failure to reform Buddhism and keep it up to date with the drastic social and economic changes has not only resulted in the religion's diminished influence as a force for good but also contributed to corruption and social decay," the editorial said.

Public reaction to the painting was mixed. Some government officials and Buddhists said the painting, regardless of what it attempts to convey, could hurt the feelings of the average Thai Buddhist. But many leading intellectuals, artists and an overwhelming number of anonymous writers on the Internet defended the painting for its honest message.

Some said monks should be more open-minded in listening to frank criticism. Different opinions surfaced among monks too. The revered monk Phra Payom Kalayano said the painting was an attempt by the painter to express his concerns to society. "Monks who are the subject of criticism should recognize facts, as Lord Buddha taught us to accept criticism from people," he said.

The uproar was the second time this year that normally moderate Thai society has been confronted with a high profile case of religious extremism. Earlier this year a group of monks and laypeople staged a campaign demanding that the new constitution declare Buddhism as the state religion. The campaign was aimed at the Constitutional Drafting Assembly, which was set up after last year's military coup to write a new charter.

Buddhism has never been officially declared Thailand's national religion. The previous constitution mentioned that both the king and the government traditionally upheld and supported all religions represented in the kingdom, including a significant Muslim minority. The assembly rejected the demand and retained the same language in the newly-drafted constitution as in previous constitutions.

Despite a month of rallies and publicity-generating hunger strikes, the campaign was not well-received by the majority of Thais and was criticized for being politically motivated. A poll taken by a Bangkok-based organization showed that about 80% of Thais who participated in the survey disagreed with the protesters' demands.

The campaign died down after Queen Sirikit expressed her concern over the issue in her birthday speech in August, saying that she disagreed with having the charter enshrine Buddhism as the national religion. She also said that she did not want Buddhism to be involved with politics.

Meanwhile, Anupong seems to have many allies. Silpakorn University and members of the panel of judges for the art awards recently released a statement standing by their decision. They refused to withdraw the painter's award and said that they would continue displaying the painting in future exhibitions.

Committee member and senior artist Kiartsak Charnnaroth said that those who disagreed with the painting had the right to express their opinion, but such criticism would not in any sense reduce the value of the painting. "I see moral courage in telling society the truth here," said independent academic Cholthep Panboonchu. "I also think that the argument of the monks [who criticized the painting] was an attempt to bring in cultural and spiritual discourses to silence others."

(Inter Press Service)

Related thread on the criminal activity of some monks:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2733

admin

15-11-07, 03:19 PM

GWR

24-11-07, 09:29 AM

Since several have asked...

>Angry protesters carried Anupong's picture decorated with wreaths, and monks who joined the protest chanted a Buddhist prayer that is traditionally used at funerals. Civilians in the group later cremated the picture.

The articles doesn't make this clear. What happened is they carried a photo of Anupong and burned it. They didn't burn the painting...

The article does not mention this, but I think the inclusion of Thai-style protection tattoos on the monks is meant to be criticism also as these tattoos are not part of Thai Buddhist orthodoxy.

Artist Anupong Chantorn explains why his controversial artwork should be considered descriptive rather than offensive
STORY BY SAMILA SUTTISILTUM, PHOTO BY YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK

The smile was dry and followed closely by a soft laugh that was a clear attempt to make his rejection more polite.

"I don't think it's a good idea. Everything's settled and I'd rather not make matters worse," replied Anupong Chantorn to our photographer's suggestion of a photo against a backdrop of walking monks.

The 27-year-old artist has recently found himself the centre of controversy and debate that he never intended to create. When discussing the situation, his brows were often raised in an expression of bewilderment. His reaction, however, has been altogether calm, perhaps too calm for such a relatively young artist whose eyes reflect a mix of genuine innocence and deep wisdom.

For those who are not familiar with Anupong, he recently won the 53rd National Exhibition of Art held by Silpakorn University. His winning painting, entitled Bhikku Sandan Ka, a literal translation of which would be "monks with crows' heredities", depicts two monk-like figures with bird beaks draped in Buddhist monk's robes and feeding from an alms bowl. The work has been painted with acrylic colours on a piece of cloth taken from a yellow Buddhist monk's robe.

Soon after the painting was exhibited at Silpakorn University's Sanam Chan Palace campus in Nakhon Pathom, a number of people became enraged and protested against the showing of the painting and demanded that the 12 person judging panel, five of whom are National Artists, withdraw the prize. The protesters claimed that the painting was crafted with ill intent and was a threat to the faith of people. Silpakorn University was quick to respond, inviting religious academics and anthropologists, senior and respected monks as well as experts from various fields to voice their opinion on the painting. A ruling was delivered at the end of October, with both the university and the judging panel agreeing to keep Anupong's painting in the exhibition.

"To be honest, I was confused. I don't understand how it happened," said Anupong. "I was taken aback because I have been working on this series of pieces for quite a while and many of them were previously shown in public. At the end of the day, I have learned from the situation. I have discovered ... what kind of reactions and responses [an artwork] can generate. There are people who like or dislike it, and some who don't understand it. None of them should be prohibited from expressing their views."

It is probably Anupong's constant open-mindedness and his honesty in trying to understand others that enabled him to keep his head up during the heated debates. He has no bad feelings toward those who don't appreciate his work and even embraces their opinions, considering the situation as "a normal process when an art work is doing its duty by interacting with viewers".

"My job was over when I put down the paintbrush, the rest is about the art work and its viewers," he said.

"It's doing its duty by conveying its message and people are reacting to it, interpreting it with their own views based on their own experiences, which make them see it differently."

Anupong's gift of understanding others came early in life. A self-described country boy from the province of Prachin Buri, he grew up in an idyllic countryside setting where he lived with his mother, grandparents and brother. The family farmed vegetables and fruit, and the young Anupong was taught the significance of work and self-dependence by helping in the garden - from planting to picking, sowing to reaping - in order to earn his allowance. He was encouraged to take up art by his art teacher and mentor Chinda Kittikul, who not only gave the young boy free art lessons, but also helped generate understanding between the aspiring artist and his mother.

"My mother grew up with a different set of experiences and understandings. Her experiences taught her that professions like government officer, teacher or soldier are proper careers. Art, for her, was nothing like a career. It's not likely to earn you a living or support your family. Her ideas came from her own experience and there's nothing wrong about them. I was very lucky to have my teacher speak for me so my mother gradually came to understand it, little by little."

Anupong's interest in Thai art and Buddhism came later during his years at Silpakorn University. Despite his initial intention to major in sculpture, he was drawn towards Thai art after attending a folk art course taught by veteran artist and art lecturer Thongchai Srisukprasert. Thongchai presented slides of traditional Thai art showing how it had unfolded into contemporary variations that retained only mildly perceptible influences.

"I was blown away. It gave me a new perspective on Thai art," said Anupong.

It was during his Thai art training when he had to reproduce countless copies of traditional Thai artworks that Anupong became familiar with conventional Buddhist art, particularly murals on chapel walls portraying scenes from heaven and hell. Anupong believes he was particularly drawn towards these visions of hell because they corresponded to what he was taught in his rural upbringing about life after death, in which one can become an evil spirit as a result of bad karma.

"It's like a good-will stratagem of adults to keep children well-behaved, like you'd become a pret, such as an evil hungry ghost with a mouth the size of a needle hole if you talked back to your parents or with hands the size of a fan palm if you hit them. It's a very ordinary child rearing strategy of Thai families, although it's not found in urban areas."

The appreciation of murals depicting hell that Anupong felt so strongly during his third year at Silpakorn University's Thai Art Department planted the seed of his "Pret" series, which Bhikku Sandan Ka is a part of. Anupong initially borrowed simple geometric forms from a book he found on Balinese embroidery and used them to create his vision of hell. With a main canvas depicting the whole inferno, Anupong placed within it several other framed images representing various plains of hell as described in the cosmological classic, Trai Bhumi Phra Ruang. Anupong said the series underwent much evolution and transformation before becoming what it is today.

Yet one thing he has not changed in the series is its depiction of hell and what becomes of bad karma.

"In the case of Bhikku Sandan Ka, [that term] is actually mentioned in the Tipitaka when Lord Buddha described the characteristics of sham monks. As an artist, I only visualised the image and reflected it in my work."

Then again, the painting couldn't fail to offend some Buddhists for its surreal depiction of monks. Some claimed that, as the artist chose to depict the bad side of the monkhood instead of its many good aspects that many other artists have portrayed, the painting was created with ill intent and to insult the religion.

Anupong, however, believes that the way an artist reflects upon faith and religion in their work can change from one period to another depending on what they experience and what affects their mind.

"The craftsmen in the past experienced a different religious situation from mine and it's natural that we reflected it differently in our work," he said.

"As a Buddhist, I felt strongly affected by the situation that there are certain people, the sham monks, who take advantage of people's faith for their own gains. The motivation behind my painting is not at all different from the way my mother and my grandparents warned me about the outcome of evil acts: It's to warn those who are doing evil acts of what they will become and to remind other Buddhists that those evil people really exist in our society and that they should be distinguished from good monks."

It is this good intent and honest artistic expression that have enabled Anupong to remain calm throughout the criticism and controversy.

"Ultimately, it's the good intent that keeps me focused. If I had created the painting with bad intentions, I would have been shaken by now. My artwork doesn't necessarily dictate to others to think the same way I do, but at least it does its job by prompting viewers to react and respond to it. This is what art should be about."

Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Outlook/24Nov2007_out01.php

GWR

14-12-07, 09:59 PM

Flower amulets under probe
Published on December 15, 2007

Authorities are investigating the sale of a version of Buddha amulets that the makers falsely claim to contain bits of flowers given by His Majesty the King.

The Royal Household Bureau has denied any involvement in the casting of the "Somdej Nuea Hua" amulets.

Justice Ministry permanent secretary Jaran Pakdeethanakul yesterday instructed the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to urgently coordinate with relevant authorities to probe the case and determine whether the sale of these amulets constituted public fraud.

"We have established several teams to gather information and evidence," said Colonel Piyawat Kingket, commander of the DSI's Office of Special Criminal Cases.

The Somdej Nua Hua amulets have been widely advertised. The advertisements claim that proceeds from the amulets will go to a foundation under the King's patronage to construct a temple hall in honour of His Majesty and his late brother.

According to a source, the foundation has said its name is falsely cited in the advertisements. It was reported that one of the people behind the sale of the Somdej Nua Hua amulets had once been a novice at Wat Suthat.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/12/15/national/national_30059157.php

GWR

16-12-07, 09:17 AM

Amulets not approved
Published on December 16, 2007

The National Buddhism Office has nothing to do with the flower amulets advertised in many media and will urgently work with authorities to probe the case, director Chularat Boonyakorn said yesterday.

"The creator of the amulets has never contacted the authorities to coordinate with the Royal Household Bureau about asking the King's permission to use the crown symbol to consecrate the amulets," she said.

The ads claim that proceeds from the sale of the "Somdej Nuea Hua" talismans will go to a foundation under the King's patronage to construct a temple hall in honour of His Majesty and his late brother.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/12/16/national/national_30059233.php

GWR

18-12-07, 08:29 PM

DSI gathers evidence against amulet producers

The Department of Special Investigations (DSI) is compiling evidence against producers of a Buddha amulet who are currently the subject of public criticism linking them with fraud. The DSI would decide whether it could take criminal actions against the amulet producers, spokesman Piyawat Kingket said Monday.

Piyawat said he would propose to Thanphuying Butri Viravaidya, a deputy principal private secretary to His Majesty the King, that she file a complaint with police seeking criminal action against the producers of Somdej Phra Nue Hua Amulets.

The DSI is looking into the matter after Thanphuying Butri made a complaint to the Religious Affairs Department last Friday over commercials for the amulets, priced at Bt999 apiece, that suggested a connection with the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary.

The DSI cannot take any action against the producers of the amulets unless it can prove that the crime of public fraud has been committed.

The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30059360

GWR

20-12-07, 11:18 AM

Probe into amulets with royal insignia
Published on December 20, 2007

The Department of Special Investigation is looking into the production of a Buddha amulet which bears the image of the royal crown without permission.

DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom said yesterday that the department could now take action since it had proved that the amulet producers had committed fraud and were responsible for damages worth more than Bt500,000.

The DSI and the Consumer Protection Board are now jointly receiving complaints from people who had paid money in advance to reserve the amulets.

Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Phakdithanakul said the authorities' main objective was to get back the money put up by people to reserve the amulets. They would decide later if it was necessary to arrest the amulet producers.

Though authorities have not identified the people who advertised that they were making the amulets to mobilise funds for charity purposes, widespread reports say that one of them is a well-known millionaire businessman.

The commercials said the insignia of Phra Maha Phichai Mongkut, a grand crown worn by His Majesty in royal ceremonies, was engraved on the back of the Phra Somdej Nue Hua amulets - a feature the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary last week said was advertised without permission.

The office also dismissed as false a statement in the commercial that the King had donated dried flowers to the producers to have them ground up and mixed into the clay for the amulets.

Like other provinces, a large number of people who had paid to reserve the amulets contacted post offices in Ratchaburi to ask for their money back. All Krung Thai Bank branches in the province have stopped accepting reservation orders.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/12/20/national/national_30059666.php

GWR

03-01-08, 08:22 PM

Great to see someone criticise the hell of something that looks so horribly hyped. That said, yesterday I was watching a video of HRH Prince Galayani visiting a Swiss Buddhist retreat - and wondering if western Buddhism has the slightest thing in common with its practice in this region. Particularly when I see Thais dutifully paying respect to Western monks who almost certainly wouldn't pass muster in local Wats. I suspect Eisel Mazard would be considered an interminable bore by most local Buddhists: :eek:

http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=461

Be warned: Thai film: "The Life of Buddha"
Eisel Mazard,
03 January 2008
Article

Several days ago, I saw the "major motion picture" titled _The Life of Buddha_ --a Thai-made cartoon, that will doubtless define many of the assumptions about the historical Buddha for some time to come (at least within Thailand, if not beyond, as English-translation DVDs are available).

Precisely because the film is regarded as an attempt to portray the historical Buddha, its wildly unhistorical character is difficult to behold without a wince.

Textual scholars will immediately recognize the events as hastily cobbled together from Ashvaghosa and the Lalitavistara --viz., non-Pali, non-Theravada, Sanskrit sources (now considered "Mahayana").

Thus, while the source material selected is fundamentally alien to the tradition of Buddhism in Thailand, the film-makers have attempted to impose "Thai" elements in a manner both artless and anachronistic.

Perhaps the most striking example: they depict Devadatta reading Pali from a manuscript written in Khom (classical Cambodian) orthography! Here is ancient Cambodia written into ancient India (with the ocean and the passage of over a thousand years that separates the two simply smeared). Perhaps more disturbing: the Buddha's followers are depicted as exclusively male, with no female monastics of any kind --apparently just to avoid Thai discomfort on this issue (currently it is illegal for female renunciates to beg with bowl in Thailand, and charges are pressed on this from time to time, to keep the women "in their place" in the modern Thai notion of Buddhism --notwithstanding what the historical Buddha taught, or that he had female renunciates as disciples, etc.).

A long cataloge of such historical errors could be provided --and, presumably, somebody in a department of cultural studies will do so eventually.

As with many modern attempts to re-tell the life of the Buddha (even in contemporary Sri Lanka), the main defects of the narrative are:

(1) the focus is almost exclusively on "magical" events surrounding the birth, childhood, and death of the Buddha --viz., omitting the actual philosophy and adult life that made the historical figure worth remembering in the first place,

(2) instead of philosophic debate, the Buddha is simply depicted traversing the countryside of India to perform banal miracles (e.g., fighting a magic snake, making it rain indoors, etc.) to "win" the "faith" of converts --and this is both fundamentally boring to behold, and wildly extraneous to any reason (secular or religious) for respecting the historical Buddha or his teaching,

(3) there is neither any interest in the social/historical reality that the Buddha spoke to (in India of his time), nor is there any interest in the social/historical reality that the audience now inhabits, and that the content of the film might address.

Under heading #3, we could note that a Sri Lankan (or mainland Indian) film along the same lines would at least mention the existence of the caste system, and the Buddha's critique thereof; but not so for the Thais. It would also be easy to imagine some other film-maker having an interest in issues that vitiate modern Thailand, such as alcoholism, drug-addiction, prostitution, etc. --but this is purely "cloud-cuckoo-land" filmmaking.

The film is garbage; however, the monks and laypeople that now step forward in praise of it (as an accurate depiction of the historical Buddha) do us a great favor in discrediting themselves.

The same may well be said of the craze for "Jatukam" amulets in Thailand; it is as if the most corrupt had devised these as a means of having the worst elements of Thai monasticism identify themselves, at the same time convincing all the dunces to wear a sign around their necks in public to declare their own gullibility.

The saddening question is this: will there ever be an interest in the historical material that the Pali suttas hold, such as might challenge the widespread assumptions built up from half-remembered legends of Ashavghosa, the Lalitavistara, and Jataka fables ("Wet-san-don", etc.)?

In Thailand, the answer is "no". The Buddha they believe in shaved his head, and yet maintained a full head of hair. He evidently never said, wrote, or recited anything of philosophic significance, and is instead an object of worship simply on account of his (supposed) royal blood and conjurer's tricks.

So far as the dramatist's art is concerned, I here recall Schopenhauer's comment on Dante's epic poems: the first (inferno) had a great deal of dramatic interest, the second (purgatory) less so, and then the last (paradise) was an utter bore, as it simply floated from one cloud to the next, with no suffering or conflict to provide dramatic interest. So too, here, the film-makers never considered that it might be an aesthetic mistake to delete suffering --not only because the Buddha's philosophy is (in some sense) "about" suffering, but also because drama (_per se_) requires suffering to satisfy the requirements of the stage. If we turn ancient India into paradise, and put a halo around all of the characters' heads, all that remains
is for a bunch of figures to float around, making resounding declarations in echoing voices --viz., there is, strictly speaking, no plot.

But ancient India was no such paradise, and the other parties the Buddha debated with (and preached to) provided much more than just mute astonishment before a haloed spectacle --they provided real opposition based on their own religious and philosophical views, and, moreover, they confronted him with real problems based on their own experience.

There was (and is) "a point" and "a plot" to the Pali canon; and it's a shame that both the film-makers, and so much of the Thai audience, simply miss the point.

Eisel Mazard, a scholar of the Pali language (Phasa Pali / Phasa Tham). See his website at http://www.pali.pratyeka.org/ He was working with starving people in remote villages in Bokeo province, and teaching English to agriculture technicians. He does not work in Laos anymore, he's currently looking to volunteer with refugees on the Thai-Burmese border.