The Consecration of the Champi '45 Medal — A Miraculous Night in the Ordination Hall

In every creation of sacred objects, edition by edition, Luang Pho Itthi cares not only that the form be correct and beautiful in the Buddhist artistic tradition, and that the sacred alloy and materials be significant — he also gives great importance to the conduct of the consecration rite, weighing three principal matters: the auspicious timing, the propitiation rite, and the master monks to be invited to join the empowering.

The Great Buddhābhiṣeka of the Champi '45

The great Buddhābhiṣeka and deva-consecration of the first-edition Champi medal of '45 was just so. Luang Pho Itthi appointed that the rite be held within the ordination hall of Wat Chulamanee, on Thursday, the 14th day of the waxing moon of the sixth lunar month, the Year of the Horse — corresponding to 25 April B.E. 2545 (2002). The ceremony began at dawn, starting with the propitiation rite on the crystal terrace at the north front of the ordination hall, where Brahmin Khajon Nakhawathin of the Brahmin temple in Bangkok read the invocation propitiating the deities in honour of the auspicious hour; after which the monks chanted the Kappawattana Sutta.

The Rite Divided into Two Sessions

After that, Ajarn Jo (Khwanthong Sonsiri), the master of ceremonies that day, announced the schedule for entering the great Buddhābhiṣeka and deva-consecration, setting the rite in two sessions. For the morning session, master monks from Bangkok and within Samut Songkhram province were invited to sit in meditative resolve, with the chanting monks from Wat Suthat; for the afternoon session, master monks from outside the area sat in meditative resolve, with the chanting monks from Wat Nakhon Sawan. The roll of master monks whom Luang Pho Itthi invited to join the rite that day, as far as I can recall, is as follows:

1. Phra Phrommethi (Somchai), Wat Thepsirin (lighting the victory candle)

2. Phra Thep Pariyattimuni (Suthep), Wat Phra Pathom Chedi (extinguishing the victory candle)

3. Phra Ratcha Phawanawikrom (Thongchai), Wat Traimit, Bangkok

4. Phra Ratcha Prasitthiwimon (Prachuap), Wat Rakhang, Bangkok

5. Luang Pho Chuea, Wat Klang Bang Kaeo, Nakhon Pathom

6. Luang Pho Phun, Wat Phai Lom, Nakhon Pathom

7. Luang Pho Uayphon, Wat Don Yai Hom, Nakhon Pathom

8. Luang Pho Yaem, Wat Takhian, Nonthaburi

9. Luang Pho Siri, Wat Tan, Nonthaburi

10. Luang Pho Lamyai, Wat Thung Lat Ya, Kanchanaburi

11. Luang Pho Sa-nga, Wat Ban Mo, Ratchaburi

12. Luang Pho Khaek, Wat Sunthon Pradit, Phitsanulok

13. Luang Pho Rot, Wat Santikawat, Phitsanulok

14. Luang Ta Lamai, Wat Aranyik, Phitsanulok

15. Luang Pho Phairin, Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, Phitsanulok

16. Luang Pho Thom, Wat Thamma Panyaram, Sukhothai

17. Luang Pho Nen, Wat Thung Setthi, Bangkok

18. Luang Pho Phoem, Wat Pom Kaeo, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

19. Luang Pu Supha, Wat Sin Supharam, Phuket

20. Luang Pho Sa-at, Wat Khao Kaeo, Nakhon Sawan

21. Luang Pho Phunsap, Wat Ang Sila, Chonburi

22. Luang Pho Maha Surasak, Wat Pradu, Samut Songkhram

23. Luang Pho Ti, Wat Bang Khonthi Nai, Samut Songkhram

24. Luang Pho Wilai, Wat Pho Ngam, Samut Songkhram

25. Luang Pho Daeng, Wat Intharam, Samut Songkhram

26. Luang Pho Udom, Wat Prathum Khanawat, Samut Songkhram — and others

The Afternoon Atmosphere

The morning session passed off smoothly. After the midday meal came the afternoon session, which was reckoned a gathering of the renowned master monks of that era — one might call it an orbit-crossing of "the Lions of the North against the Tigers of the South."

And it happened just as expected: a while after the afternoon session began, as all the master monks entered meditative concentration, the cool breeze that had been drifting within the ordination hall fell utterly still, and the air in the hall grew abnormally sultry and hot. I noticed that many who had gone in to sit that day had to step back out and gather in groups to talk outside the hall instead; while the disciples helping with the work that day, myself included, had to ask for cold towels to wipe our faces and drape over our necks to relieve the heat.

The Marvel of Luang Pho Khaek Pabhaso

But the highlight of the rite, which everyone present that day must surely remember, was this: about an hour or so into the afternoon session, the senior master of the Song Khwae land — Luang Pho Khaek Pabhaso of Wat Sunthon Pradit, Bang Rakam district, Phitsanulok — began to show strange signs. While in meditation, his face began to take on a fierce look, brows knit, mouth drawn taut and grim; before long his body began to sway gently left and right. Sensing that things were not quite right, I went and sat behind his seat at that moment.

His swaying grew ever stronger, like one possessed; and in but a moment his body lifted and pitched into the pavilion holding the stack of sacred objects where the altar-sized Tao Wessuwan images had been arranged, with a great crash. Everyone at the rite was stunned and rushed to see the source of the sound; some of the altar-sized Tao Wessuwan images arranged there had toppled in disarray. Two other disciples and I tried to pull him out, fearing he might be injured on the sharp edges of the altar-sized Tao Wessuwan images — but his strength at that moment was immense (he was already 78 years old then), thrashing so that two or three young men still could not hold him back.

After a while he grew calmer, so we supported him back to sit on his seat as before, while he yet remained in meditation. A little later his expression began to ease, his brows relaxed, his face softened, and a smile came to the corner of his mouth like one in good spirits. Within the ordination hall the cool, gentle breeze returned once more — a marvel to all who took part in the rite that day.

In Closing

With the finest sacred alloy and materials used to create the Champi '45, with the auspicious timing, with the potent masters of the era whom Luang Pho Itthi invited to join the rite, and with the marvel that occurred during the ceremony — it is no wonder at all why the Champi '45 and the other sacred objects consecrated in this edition have shown such supernatural power and marvels, giving rise to experience after experience for those who use and venerate them.

All that I have told is my attempt to convey the atmosphere, as far as I can recall, of the day the Champi '45 was consecrated, for the disciples of later generations to hear. For tonight I have written at fair length, so with your leave I will end here for now; next week I shall carry on the tale. May you all sleep well tonight and have sweet dreams. Good night.