First-Edition Portrait Medal of Luang Pho Itthi, Wat Chulamanee, B.E. 2548 (2005)

The first-edition portrait medal of Phra Khru Sophitwiriyaphon, or Luang Pho Itthi Bhaddacaro, of Wat Chulamanee was created in the Buddhist year B.E. 2548 (2005 CE) in two patterns: the Sema pattern and the heavenly-peach pattern. It is a medal made from the very same sacred consecrated alloy as the large Champi-pattern Tao Wessuwan medal in copper material of B.E. 2545 — the "medal of legend" whose divine power has been spoken of far and wide. It is therefore counted as yet another medal destined to become a legend in its own right in the years to come.

Photographs of the Various Materials

Heavenly-peach pattern — gold

Heavenly-peach pattern — silver

Heavenly-peach pattern — nawaloha (nine-metal alloy)

Heavenly-peach pattern — gilt gold (kalai thong)

Heavenly-peach pattern — copper

Sema pattern — silver

Sema pattern — nawaloha (nine-metal alloy)

Sema pattern — gilt gold (kalai thong)

Sema pattern — copper

The Sacred Consecrated Alloy

Both of these patterns use the same consecrated alloy as the large Champi-pattern Tao Wessuwan medal in copper material of B.E. 2545 (2002 CE) — the "medal of legend" whose divine power is spoken of far and wide. It arose from gathering the great quantity of old consecrated alloy that Luang Pho Itthi had accumulated over a long time, to be fused into sacred objects imbued with power even while still in alloy form. The important sets of alloy are as follows:

1. The "Red Holy Water" Edition Alloy

The first set of alloy that he gathered came from the gold-pouring casting of the likeness of Luang Pho Nueang, the "Red Holy Water" edition, one of the renowned editions of Wat Chulamanee. Someone photographed Luang Pho Nueang while he empowered it in the ceremony, and the holy water in the bowl set before him appeared red like blood — hence the name "Red Holy Water" edition. Luang Pho Itthi brought the alloy from this casting to be part of the alloy of the Tao Wessuwan Champi-pattern medal in copper.

2. The "Holding Prayer Beads" Edition Alloy, B.E. 2529 (1986)

Following the Red Holy Water edition was the gold-pouring rite to cast the likeness of Luang Pho Nueang, the "Holding Prayer Beads" edition, in B.E. 2529 (1986), in which many revered monk-masters of that era came to join the consecration, namely:

1. Luang Pho Phrom, Wat Khanon Nuea

2. Luang Pu Du, Wat Sakae

3. Luang Pho Huan, Wat Phutthaisawan

4. Luang Pho Mi, Wat Marawichai

5. Luang Pho Choen, Wat Khok Thong

6. Luang Pho Mian, Wat Pho Kop Chao

7. Luang Pu Thim, Wat Phra Khao

8. Luang Pho Phoem, Wat Pom Kaeo

9. Luang Pho Loem, Wat Phra Yat

10. Luang Pho Phin, Wat Ko Kaeo

11. Luang Pu Chuen, Wat Yan Sen

In this rite, Luang Pho Itthi had copper rolled into sheets and brought a further quantity of copper wire to join the empowerment ceremony; Luang Pho Nueang said to keep them for making alloy. In addition, he also brought 50 kilograms of pure copper in pellets the size of ball bearings to join in this ceremony.

3. Consecrated Copper Bars (13 masters)

After that, he had copper bars cut into pieces the size of milk cans, several dozen bars in all, to be given to the revered masters of that era to empower; whichever master empowered a bar was asked to anoint and inscribe it. The masters who joined in empowering the alloy were as follows:

1. Luang Pho Chuen, Wat Yan Sen

2. Luang Pu Chop

3. Luang Pho Di, Wat Phra Rup

4. Luang Pho Khom, Wat Phai Rong Wua

5. Luang Pho Uttama, Wat Wang Wiwekaram

6. Luang Pho Lamyai, Wat Thung Lat Ya

7. Luang Pho Yueang, Wat Thung Lom

8. Luang Pho Nu, Wat Wang Sala

9. Luang Pu Phaeo Pavaro

10. Luang Pu Liu, Wat Rai Taeng Thong

11. Luang Pu Yaem, Wat Sam Ngam

12. Luang Pho Poen, Wat Bang Phra

13. Luang Pho Chaem, Wat Don Yai Hom

4. The 108 Yantra Plates of Achan Thep Sarikabut

The alloys mentioned above are hard to find today. Luang Pho Itthi further brought 10 sets of the 108 yantra plates from Achan Thep Sarikabut to join the alloy — in those days it was exceedingly rare for anyone to obtain the 108 yantra plates from Achan Thep — together with 14 other yantra plates joined into the alloy as well.

5. Alloy of the Phra Kring Thewabodi (B.E. 2535) and Phra Kring Weluwan

In B.E. 2535 (1992), Luang Pho Itthi performed the gold-pouring casting of the Phra Kring Thewabodi and set aside some alloy to place in this edition of votive images. He then took the sprues that had been cut off to make alloy for yet another edition, the Phra Kring Weluwan — another of his legendary votive images — into which a great many alloys from medals of renowned masters had been gathered. He then divided the resulting alloy to place in the Champi copper medal and the first-edition portrait medal, gathering the following:

• Alloy of the Phra Kring Yanwitthayakhom, Luang Pho Khun, Wat Ban Rai

• Alloy of the Phra Kring Chinnabanchon

• Alloy of the Phra Kring Suchinno, Luang Pu Waen

• Phra Kring of Luang Pu To

• Medals of Luang Pu To, Lo Maek edition, 2 coins

• Medal of Luang Pu To, with the Tri yantra on the reverse

• Phra Kring Kitthewo, Luang Pho Phrom, Wat Khanon Nuea

• Phra Kring of Luang Pho Thong-yu Sutathikari

• Kaiser medal of the Supreme Patriarch

• Medal of Luang Pho Khong, Wat Bang Kaphom, B.E. 2484

• Medals of Luang Pho Khong, Wat Bang Kaphom, Pat Tan edition, 2 coins

• First-edition medals of Luang Pu Chai, Wat Sadet, 3 coins

• Medal of Luang Pho Chui, Wat Khongkha

• First-edition medal of Luang Pho Khun, Wat Ban Rai

• First-edition medal of Luang Pho Daeng, Wat Khao Bandai It

• Medal of Luang Pho Daeng, Wat Khao Bandai It, Maethap edition, gold material

• Medal of Luang Pho Daeng, Wat Khao Bandai It, Maethap edition, silver material

• Medal of Luang Pho Daeng, Wat Khao Bandai It, Maethap edition, copper material

• Medal of Luang Pho Daeng, Wat Khao Bandai It, Bot Lan edition

• Medal of Luang Pho Sut, Wat Kalong, Suea Phen (leaping tiger) edition

• First-edition medal of Luang Pho Phoem, Wat Klang Bang Kaeo

• Medals of Phra Khru Panyachotiwat, 3 coins

• Medal of Luang Pho Pha, Khon Kaen

• Medal of Luang Pho Phrae

• Medal of Luang Pho Chuan

• Medal of Luang Pho Huat

• Medal of Luang Pho Choi, Wat Si Uthumphon

• Medal of Luang Pho Doem, kon maeng sap (cockroach-back) pattern

• Medal of Luang Pho Kan, sian tong pattern

• Medal of Phra Mongkhon Bophit, with the numeral-1 yantra on the reverse

• Medal of Phra Mongkhon Bophit, B.E. 2495

• Medal of Wat Phanan Choeng

• Medal of Luang Pho Chong, Wat Natang Nok, large-face pattern

• Medal of Luang Pho Pan, Wat Bang Nom Kho

• Medals of Luang Pho Mian, Wat Pho Kop Chao, all editions

• Medal of Luang Pho Phrom, Wat Khanon Nuea, diamond-armor yantra

• Medal of Luang Pho Khammi, Wat Tham Khuha Sawan, B.E. 2517

• Medals of Luang Pho Phring, Wat Kong Thanu, 2 coins

• First-edition medal of Luang Pho Ngoen, Wat Don Yai Hom

• Medal of Luang Pho Noi, Wat Thammasala

• Medal of Luang Pho Nak, Military Academy edition

• Medal of Luang Pu Du, Poet Lok edition

• Am medal of Luang Pu Si, Wat Sakae

• Medal of Luang Pho Chaem, Wat Pa Mok

• Medal of Luang Pho Sai, Wat Thong Khung

• Medal of Luang Pho Klan, Wat Inthrawat

• Medal of Luang Pho Kham, Wat Pho Pan

• Medal of Luang Pho Rung, Wat Pang Chak

• Medal of Luang Pho Di, Wat Phra Rup

• Medal of Luang Pho Khom, Wat Phai Rong Wua

• Sema medal of Luang Pho Mui, Wat Don Rai

• Medal of Luang Pho Daeng, Wat Thung Khaya

• Medal of Luang Pho Lamyai, Five Masters edition

• Medal of the Reclining Buddha, Phra Thaen Dong Rang

• Medal of Luang Pho Sai, Wat Tha Khanun

• Nak Kiao medal, Wat Tri Chinda, 400 coins

• Ariyasat 4 (Four Noble Truths) medal of Luang Pu Chai, Wat Sadet

• Medal of Luang Pho Suea, Wat Bang Waek, B.E. 2519

• B.E. 2515 medal of Wat Rakhang Khositaram

• Medal of Luang Pho Chaem, Wat Chalong

• Medal of Luang Pho Thip, Buri Ram

• Medal of King Naresuan, B.E. 2515

• Medal of King Naresuan, second edition

• Somdet Nang Phaya, nawaloha material, 3 images

• Medals of Luang Pu Ti, Wat Luang, nearly all editions

• Medals from the Maha Chakkraphat rite, Phitsanulok, 400 coins

• Medal of Luang Pho Suea, Wat Bang Waek

• Medal of Luang Pho Seng, Wat Kanlayanamit

• Medal of Luang Pho Kluai, Wat Mu Dut

• Medal of Luang Pho Khong, Wat Wang Sappharot

• Medal of Luang Pu Thim, Wat Lahan Rai, Charoen Phon Bon edition

• Medal of Luang Pu Thim, Wat Lahan Rai, Charoen Phon Lang edition

• Medal of Luang Pu Plian, Wat Tai

• Medal of Luang Pho Yathan Suan

• Medal of Luang Pu Wan

• Medal of Luang Pu Khao, Wat Tham Klong Phen

• First-edition medal of Luang Pu Chop

• Medal of Luang Pu Fan

• Medals of the Supreme Patriarch (Yu), 2 coins

• Medal of Luang Pho Thammachak, Wat Bang Lam Mun

• Watermelon medal of Luang Pho Kasem Khemako

• Medal of Luang Pho Kasem Khemako, bell-arch edition, seated holding an alms bowl

• Medal of Luang Pho Kasem Khemako, seated with raised knee edition, B.E. 2517, 200 coins

• Medal of Luang Pho Ki, Wat Hu Chang

• Medal of Luang Pu Soi Thammaraso, Wat Riap Rat Bamrung

• Medal of Luang Pho Suang

• Medal of Luang Pho Rian, Wat Bang Ra-ngong

• Medal of Luang Pho Ophasi

• Medals of Wat Phra Kaeo, first and second editions

• Phra Kring Ayothaya

• Phra Poet Lok

• Medals from every temple in Samut Songkhram province, in both silver and copper materials

• Pure gold, weighing 85 baht

Of all the alloys mentioned, every one is exceedingly rare today; it would be hard for any master to gather so vast a collection of alloy. Luang Pho Itthi fused these alloys together with pure copper, then rolled them into sheets to stamp into two beautiful and precious editions of medals: the "Tao Wessuwan large Champi-pattern medal of B.E. 2545 in copper" and the "first-edition portrait medal of Luang Pho Itthi in the Sema and heavenly-peach patterns of B.E. 2548." Moreover, this set of medals passed through hundreds of grand consecration ceremonies, which is the origin of the "medal of proven experience" spoken of until it became a legend of the utmost divine power.

The Yantra on the Reverse

The yantra on the reverse of the two patterns differs, each with its own meaning and divine power.

Sema pattern — the Na Rum Phai yantra

The yantra on the reverse of the Sema pattern is the Na Rum Phai yantra, which Luang Pho Itthi received from his teachers and placed on the reverse of the medal. To give this yantra life, he surrounded it once more with the syllables Na Ma A U, thereby reinforcing the elements with the four crystals, namely:

• Na is the Mani Chot crystal (water element)

• Ma is the Vaiḍūrya (cat's-eye) crystal (earth element)

• A is the Wichian (diamond) crystal (fire element)

• U is the Padmaraja (ruby) crystal (wind element)

This yantra is thus complete with protection and warding off of danger, and also possesses divine power in itself — not merely warding off danger, but also bearing loving-kindness and great popularity — fitting the words inscribed on the reverse of the medal: "stays safe, stays protected."

Heavenly-peach pattern — the great Phra Sivali yantra

The yantra on the reverse of the heavenly-peach pattern is the great Phra Sivali yantra, which helps life prosper and flourish, cool and content — whether in trade, in farming, or in one's various duties, things improve step by step — and it also protects and keeps one safe from harm.

The Numbers Produced

Each of the two patterns was produced in 5 materials, in equal numbers for both patterns, as follows:

Sema pattern

• Gold — 59 coins

• Silver — 1,000 coins

• Nawaloha (nine-metal alloy) — 500 coins

• Gilt gold (kalai thong) — 300 coins

• Copper — 10,000 coins

Heavenly-peach pattern

• Gold — 59 coins

• Silver — 1,000 coins

• Nawaloha (nine-metal alloy) — 500 coins

• Gilt gold (kalai thong) — 300 coins

• Copper — 10,000 coins

Note: This content has been compiled from an article recording the history of the creation of the sacred objects of Wat Chulamanee, in order to record the history of this edition. It is in no way intended for any purpose of buying or selling.