The Thewabodi Medal — Nine Divine Heads over the Great Emperor Yantra

The Thewabodi medal (some call it the "nine-head medal," others the "likay medal") was designed and created by Phra Ajarn Itthi of Wat Chulamanee, Samut Songkhram (the foremost disciple of Luang Pho Nueang of Wat Chulamanee). Its dies were cut and struck by craftsmen of the Royal Mint, and it was made in B.E. 2542 (1999). It is greatly sought after today.

The Front — the Nine Great Teacher-Deities

On the front of the Thewabodi medal, the Phra Lak Golden-Face (Phra Lak Na Thong) yantra is set at the center, encircled by the heads of nine great teacher-deities, as follows:

• Phra Isuan (Shiva) — the deity who destroys all evil

• Phra Phrommathata (Brahma the Creator) — the deity who creates the world

• Phra Narai (Narayana) — the deity who preserves goodness

• Phra Witsanu (Vishnu) — the deity of all craftsmen

• Phra Khanet (Ganesha) — the deity of arts and learning

• Phra Panchasikhon (Pañcasikha) — the deity of music

• Phra Prakhonthan — the gandharva deity

• Phra Phirap (Bhairava) — the asura-deva

• Phra Ruesi (Phra Phrotmuni) — the sage, grand teacher of all the arts

The Reverse — the Great Emperor Yantra

On the reverse of the Thewabodi medal is the Maha Chakraphat Tratharat (Great Emperor) yantra, a most sacred yantra, encircled by the "Great Subduing, Great Quelling" incantation of Phra Upajjhaya Khong Dhammajoto of Wat Bang Kaphom — who was the preceptor of the venerable Luang Pho Nueang Kovito. The rim of the medal is milled like a cog wheel, which makes it difficult to counterfeit.

It was made in three materials in all, namely:

• Gold — 30 medals

• Silver — 1,000 medals

• Nickel — 40,000 medals

The Consecration

As for the consecration, he gave it the utmost importance and care in every rite — especially the empowering of the Great Emperor yantra, which is no matter of simply reciting a formula or blowing a blessing; it requires auspicious timing and much elaborate ceremony. And so this Thewabodi medal, besides being entered into the rites of Wat Chulamanee on many occasions, was also brought to be consecrated in the great consecration rite of the Phra Phichit edition at Wat Tha Luang in B.E. 2543 (2000).

Most importantly of all, this medal was entered into the Great Emperor consecration rite of the Kring Naresuan Ong Dam, the 100th-anniversary edition of Phitsanulok Phitthayakhom School, at the Wihan of Phra Phuttha Chinnarat around the middle of B.E. 2542 (1999). On that occasion Phra Ajarn Itthi was invited to sit in meditation and to inscribe a golden Great Emperor takrut offered to His Majesty the King (Rama IX). The host invited three venerable monks expert in the Great Emperor yantra to inscribe the takrut together on that occasion, namely:

1. Phra Khru Sangkharak (Luang Pu Chaloem) of Wat Phra Yat, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

2. Phra Khru Sophitwiriyaphon (Phra Ajarn Itthi) of Wat Chulamanee, Samut Songkhram

3. Phra Khru Yan-udom (Phra Ajarn Tio) of Wat Mani Chonlakhan, Lopburi

One may therefore be fully assured of the sacred power of this edition.

Why the Great Emperor Yantra was Placed on the Reverse

As for the original reason for placing the Great Emperor yantra on the reverse of the Thewabodi medal, Phra Ajarn Itthi once said to me:

And this, indeed, is the compassion he holds for his disciples — wishing that everyone might have something truly good to use, whether disciples of the earliest days or of later times.

Luang Pho Itthi, Master of the Esoteric Arts

Luang Pho Itthi of Wat Chulamanee is one deeply versed in many branches of the esoteric arts and sacred science. Besides being the foremost disciple of Luang Pho Nueang of Wat Chulamanee, he also studied further under many renowned masters, such as Luang Pho Phrom of Wat Khanon Nuea, Luang Pho Roem of Wat Chuk Krachoe, Luang Pho Mian of Wat Pho Kop Chao, and Luang Pho Chang of Wat Khuean Phet, among others.

Do not forget to seek out a fine medal like this to venerate. These days it can still be found without much difficulty and at a price still within reach. Don't let time slip by until it becomes like the Champi medal — lest you should later grumble, "if only I'd known"... You have been warned.