The Divine Weapons of Legend — From the Spirit Dagger to the Five-Weapon Yantra

When we speak of sacred talismans that take the form of a weapon, the one most people know well is the "mit mo" (spirit dagger). And the master renowned for making mit mo of such potency and sacred power — sought after by amulet collectors — is Phra Khru Niwat Thammakhan (Luang Pho Doem Buddhasaro) of Wat Nong Pho, Takhli district, Nakhon Sawan, the maker of the famed "Chak Narai spirit dagger."

It is believed that his Chak Narai dagger can be used to make holy water, to cure those possessed by spirits, to undo black magic, to ward off oppression, to guard against dangers from humans, non-humans, and creatures, and even against all manner of disease and epidemic. Luang Pho Doem would bestow upon every disciple who received a dagger from him an incantation governing its use — the "divine weapons" (thep-avudh) incantation, which runs thus:

The Five Great Divine Weapons that Vanquish All Foes

This incantation gathers together the five divine weapons (the Panca-mahā-thepāvudh that vanquish all foes) — reckoned to hold immense supernatural power — namely:

1. Vajirāvudha (the thunderbolt) of Thao Sakka (Indra) — the weapon that commands lightning, with the power to summon and control the lightning that destroys demons and asuras, and all things that threaten the Buddhist religion.

2. Gadāvudha (the mace) of Lord Tao Wessuwan — the weapon that destroys all evil; for he is lord of ghosts and yakshas, and every malevolent spirit and demon dreads the mace of Tao Wessuwan.

3. Dussāvudha (the head-cloth) of Āḷavaka the yaksha — the weapon of great cataclysm. The ancients say the dussāvudha is a red cloth: if flung into the air it causes drought for 12 years; if cast upon the earth, all trees are scorched and destroyed for 12 years; if cast into the ocean, the waters run dry; if cast upon a mountain, even Mount Sineru shatters into dust; and wherever it falls upon the ground, that place burns to ash and nothing will ever grow there again.

4. Nayanāvudha (the eye) of Phaya Yommarat (Yama, Lord of Death) — the weapon that annihilates spirits; upon whatever ghost or demon its gaze falls, that being bursts into flame and is consumed to ruin, like leaves and grass burning upon a slab of fiery stone.

5. Sudarshana Chakra (the discus) of Narayana, or Vishnu — the weapon that subdues and binds the three worlds, with the power to quell all evil across the three realms — heaven, the human world, and the underworld — possessed of manifold supernatural might.

From the Spirit Dagger to the Five-Weapon Yantra

Yet making a mit mo in the tradition of Luang Pho Doem of Wat Nong Pho involves methods that are intricate and complex, and carrying a dagger from place to place in the present day is rather difficult. With his mastery of the five-weapon incantation, and wishing his disciples to have something potent to use in place of a dagger, Luang Pho Itthi took the essence and heart of the divine-weapons incantation and transformed it into the five-weapon yantra, rendered beautifully and with great potency. He had already stamped it upon the reverse of the Thewasuwan Phrommasutithep medal of the "Ayu Watthako 60" edition.

The Champi Medal, "Charoen Sap" Edition

Now Luang Pho Itthi has resolved that his working committee should place this five-weapon yantra once more upon the reverse of the champi-form Tao Wessuwan medal, the "Charoen Sap" (Prospering Wealth) edition — adding six lines of auspicious blessings in Chinese characters, as follows:

• 天官赐福 "tiān guān cì fú" — the heavenly officials bestow blessings

• 天道酬勤 "tiān dào chóu qín" — heaven rewards the diligent

• 逢凶化吉 "féng xiōng huà jí" — turning misfortune into good fortune

• 心想事成 "xīn xiǎng shì chéng" — may your wishes come true

• 天下太平 "tiān xià tài píng" — peace throughout the world

• 万事如意 "wàn shì rú yì" — may all things go as you desire

Merely reading the blessings stamped on the reverse makes one wish to wear it. All the more so as, over the past year, many have borne heavy expenses amid the COVID situation and the economic downturn — so this year, may wealth return to us, and may all be free of illness and safe.

This champi-form medal of Luang Pho Itthi, I believe, is in no way inferior in potency to any other edition. It enters the same rite as the Phutthasin edition, consecrated together by more than 30 meditation masters, during the Chinese New Year period. I warmly invite everyone to join in the merit of building monks' quarters at Wat Chulamanee together with Luang Pho Itthi. · That is a fairly long fireside chat for tonight, so with your leave I will end the article here. May you all sleep well and have sweet dreams. Good night.