A Thai Buddha amulet (; ), often referred to academically as a "votive tablet", is a type of Thai Buddhist blessed item. It is used to raise funds to help a temple's operations. A Thai Buddhist monk will give an amulet to Buddhists as a "gift" after they donate money or offerings to the temple. The amulets are then no longer considered a "gift" but a "tool" to enhance luck in different aspects of life. Local people also use amulets to improve their marriage, wealth, health, love, and relationships.
It is the Thai tradition to place amulets under a stupa or other temple structure during its construction. When the structure collapses, many amulets can be found, with some amulets being centuries old .
Almost every Thai Buddhist has at least one amulet. It is common to see both young and elderly people wear at least one amulet around the neck to feel closer to Buddha.
Amulets are made using the Buddha image, an image of a famous monk, and sometimes even an image of the monks who made the amulets. Amulets vary in size, shape, and materials such as plaster, bone, wood, or metal. They may include ash from incense or old temple structures or hair from a famous monk to add protective power to the amulets. After the amulets are made, the maker will then ask the monks who live in the temple, or monks from other temples, to congregate in order to chant, pray, and bless the amulets. This process can take anywhere from a week to more than three years to complete.
When a new amulet is freshly made from plaster, its raw appearance may not be very attractive. By adding a protective casing, the appearance of the amulet is enhanced and, at the same time, the amulet inside is protected. The price of an amulet not only depends on its appearance, but also on its scarcity, its maker, its age, and its divine powers.
Famous markets for amulets include the Tha Phrachan Market next to Thammasat University. However, many amulets at the market are considered to be fake replicas that have not been blessed by a monk . Genuine amulets are rarely found at the Tha Phrachan Market. Many collectors and devotees keep a trusted dealer of authentic amulets. The study and authentication of real amulets is as complex a matter as is to be found in the antique trade, or in similar niches such as stamp collecting.
Forgeries are rife, and it takes decades of study and experience to develop the skills needed to recognize authentic amulets. There are millions of editions from thousands of temples, spanning centuries, and it is not possible for one person to have the necessary knowledge to authenticate every single edition. Hence, each expert has their own chosen line of amulets, of a particular type, temple, or artisan, which they choose as their personal field of expertise.
Famous Thai amulets
Benja Phakhi
The most famous of Thai amulets are the set of five rarest and highly sought after amulets Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang (), Phra Rod (), Phra Nang Phaya (), Phra Phong Suphan (), and Phra Sum Kor (), together called Benja Phakhi (). They are valued at over 10 million baht.
Phra Somdej
Phra Somdej () amulets are the "king of amulets", also known as "lucky amulets". Each amulet collector must have one and it is the best and foremost choice for the new believer in Thai amulets. Para Somdej has the noblest status in Buddhism. The most famous of this kind is the Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang produced around 1866 to 1871, by Somdej Toh of Wat Rakhang Khositaram (), who is also one of the most respected monks in Thailand.
Phra Somdej Chitralada are the amulets made by King Bhumibol himself and awarded from 1965 to 1970 to selected soldiers, policemen, government officers, and citizens. No more than 3,000 of these amulets were made. Each amulet is accompanied with certificate stating the name of the recipient, date, and amulet number. As of 2013, a Phra Somdej Chitralada is worth at least two million baht.
In general, most Phra Somdej amulets do not depict the eyes, nose, or mouth of the Buddha. The Buddha in Phra Somdej is seated on a three-level throne representing the three worlds system of Buddhist cosmology. Although the Phra Somdej has later appeared with five, seven, nine, ten, or thirteen level thrones, the concept of the throne is still the same. Like other Thai amulets, Phra Somdej is usually made of temple dirt, pollen, monk's hair as well as other relics from famous monks or the holy robe "cīvara" worn by the monk.