Phra Phuttha Chaiyawat Chonmawan — 60th Birthday of Phra Khru Sophitwiriyaphon (Itthi Bhaddacaro), Wat Chulamanee, B.E. 2559 (2016)

Phra Phuttha Chaiyawat Chonmawan, 60th Birthday is a cast bronze votive Buddha image, created on the occasion of Phra Khru Sophitwiriyaphon (Luang Pho Itthi Bhaddacaro), abbot of Wat Chulamanee, reaching the age of 60 in the Buddhist year B.E. 2559 (2016 CE) — the same auspicious occasion on which the “welded-loop medal” of the 60th-birthday edition was made. It was carried out by Wat Chulamanee, Bang Chang Subdistrict, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province.

“Phra Phuttha Chaiyawat” is a Buddha image made for auspiciousness and auspicious victory, while “Chonmawan” means that it was created on the occasion of Luang Pho’s birthday.

Appearance of the Image

This edition of the Phra Phuttha Chaiyawat is seated cross-legged, displaying the meditation posture (samādhi), with both hands resting one upon the other in the lap, above a hexagonal double-lotus base. Its features are beautifully wrought in the manner of ancient Buddha images, and the base is left hollow beneath in the manner of votive-image casting, as shown in the photographs.

Materials and Numbers Cast

This image was cast in three materials, as announced by the temple:

• Gold-rich nawaloha (nine-metal alloy) — 1 image

• Copper — 9 images

• Blackened maha-chanuan sacred alloy — 60 images (matching the number of years of the birthday celebration)

The Gold-Pouring Casting Rite

This edition of the Phra Phuttha Chaiyawat had its gold-pouring casting rite on 28 April of the Buddhist year B.E. 2559, at Wat Chulamanee.

Gallery of the Phra Phuttha Chaiyawat

Note: This account is compiled from the production information published by Wat Chulamanee, to record the history of this edition, and is not intended for any commercial purpose whatsoever.