Following the footsteps to search for the Wat Rakang Amulet of Luang Poo toe Prommarangsi

บทคัดย่อ

The objectives of this qualitative research article were to find the reason for creating the Wat Rakang (Temple of Bell) Amulet of Luang Poo Toe Prommarangsi (Grand Pa Toe Prommarangsi) and to find the places where the Wat Rakang Amulet of Luang Poo Toe Prommarangsi has been kept after creation, conducted with the qualitative research method. The 20 key informants who participated in this research were purposefully selected from academicians, village folk-wise persons who know the history of Wat Rakang Amulet of Luang Poo Toe Prommarangsi

          Findings were that the main reason to create the Wat Rakang Amulet of Luang Poo Toe Prommarangsi, the Abbot of Wat Rakang (Temple of Bell) was to extend the life of Buddhism to 500 years as predicted. Luang Poo Toe divided two methods to extend the life of Buddhism, the short and the long methods.  The first method was to create the Somdej Amulet (Lord of Amulet) on auspicious occasions according to traditions and present the royal merits to the King at that period so that the King would present to His Noble persons, high ranking Officers, and general people. The second method to extend the long life of Buddhism was to keep the Amulet he created in the cells at various monasteries as the heritage for Buddhists to worship and extend the life of Buddhism in the future.

          The places where Luang Poo Toe Prommarangsi kept the Amulet to extend the life of Buddhism as the long method are 13 monasteries as follows: 1. Wat Sa Tue. Ayutthaya Province, 2. Wat Mai Amataros. Bangkok, 3. Wat Chai Yo Varavihara. Ang Thong Province, 4. Wat Klang Klong Khoi. Ratchaburi Province, 5. Wat Lakorntam. Bangkok, 6. Wat Kudhi Thong. Ayutthaya Province, 7. Wat Rakangkositaram. Bangkok, 8. Wat Intraviharn. Bangkok, 9 Wat Mai Pakbang. Ayutthaya Province, 10. Wat Kalayanamitr. Bangkok, 11 Wat Cheepakhao. Bangkok, 12 Wat Pratatpanom. Nakornpanom Province, 13 Wat Borvornvittharam. Bangkok.