LuangPhor Ngern Khantachote, Wat BangKlan, Pichit Province
LuangPhor Ngern Khantachote: Wat Bang Klaan, Pichit Province
Luang Phor Ngern was born on 16 September B.E 2353 (A.D.1810) during the reign of King Rama II, at BangKlaan District, Pichit Province and passed away on September 20, B.E. 2464 (A.D. 1921). He lived a very long life of 111 years and having served the Buddhist faith 90 years.
His name is “Ngern” in Thai means money or silver. Both meanings represent wealth to the householder. When he was a baby, his parents does not have any financial hardship but rather enjoyed a rather easy life with him around.
In B.E. 2356, when he was 3 years, his education began at Wat ChanaSongKarm (Bangkok) and being novice at the age 12 years. He was ordained at the age of 20 in at this temple as well. While he was staying at Wat ChanaSongKarm, Somdej Pra Buddhachan Toh was still living and LP Ngern visited Wat Rakhang on many occasions to pay respect and futher develop his understanding in Buddhism apart from learning magical science with Somdej Toh. That’s why the efficacy of LuangPhor Ngern’s metal composition amulets are famous until the present.
After ordained 3 years, he decided to return to Pohtalae, Pichit province due to his grandfather was seriously sick. He stayed at Wat Kongkaram in Pijit about one year and then moved to Wat TaiNaam. Since he liked to stay in peaceful place so, he moved again to Wangtako Village and in B.E. 2377 (A.D.1834) built the temple “Wat WangTaKo or Wat BangKlaan”, the former name. The official name is “Wat Hirunyaram”
He was very well known monk even KromLuang ChumPornKhetUdomsak, who was the son of of King Rama V and was the most favorite student of LuangPu Suk of Pak-Klong-Makahm-Tao Temple, had to entrust himself to be a student of Luang Phor Ngern. KromLuang ChumPornKhetUdomsak was the Prince, who was very fond of studding and pact-icing incarnation under LuangPu Suk for many years. After completing his incarnation study, he still wished to learn more, so LuangPu Suk introduced the prince to contact LuangPhor Ngern, who was more senior as well as possessed stronger miraculous powers than LuangPu Suk. At the time when KromLuang ChumPornKhetUdomsak arrived at Wat BanKlaan by boat, it happened that LuangPhor Ngern had already waited for him on the River Bank without prior notice. At the same times LuangPhor Ngern also exhibited the miracle powers by walking on the surface of water to greet KromLuang ChumPornKhetUdomsak, then asked LuangPhor Ngern “How did you know that I was coming?”. LuangPhor Ngern replied “LuangPu Suk told me through telepathy”.
The miraculous power of LuangPhor Ngern was widely known to folks throughout the ChaoPhaya River from providing assistance to those in need and constructing many Buddhist structures. LuangPhor Ngern had dedicated his entire lifetime into Buddhism and lived until a ripe old age of 111 years.
Luang Phor Ngern’s small cast statue and Riean Pim Job are particularly popular although he had made many types of talismans during his lifetime. The cast statue possessed broad spiritual values with respect to increasing charms and loving kindness, promoting prosperity and luck, escaping from dangers and enhancing one’s safety – weapon proof included. Mini Cast statue is the favorite among Thai Businessmen since there could be increase the financial ability and business success of the beholder over time.
Luang Phor Ngern consecrated these amulets in B.E. 2440-2460 (A.D.1897-1917). These miraculous amulets are infused with LuangPhor Ngern’s high spiritual incantation and nominated as The King of Metal Amulets made from brass mixed with real gold and magical blue steels. LuangPhor Ngern Amulets are instantly recognizable by almost every amulet collector consisting of 4 different molds as follow :
1) Mini Cast Statue Niyom Mould (Popular Mold)
2) Mini Cast Statue KheeTa Mold (eye excretion)
First 2 Molds are considered to be the King of the top five of Buddhist amulet Molds in Thailand
3) Big spade or Job Yai Medal
4) Small spade or Job Lek Medal
There are 2 categories of molding technique of Mini Cast Statue
1. Bouquet with lost-wax casting technique
With this technique, there was no cutting line at the sides and cutting off scar still be seen at the bottom center and trace of file is appeared at bottom. This technique was used for LuangPhor Ngern Mini Cast Statue Pim Niyom (popular mould)
2. One by one with lost-wax casting technique
This technique is the same as to no. 1 but the differences are the mold come from 2 pieces front and back with visible cutting lines at the sides. This is an old metal casting method starting from the bottom by a single drop of sacred melted metal materials one by one with proper weight and volume. At the bottom would be not fully filled of materials. This technique was used for LuangPhor Ngern Mini Cast Statue Pim Kheeta
Bottom Feature
Mould of Mini Cast Statue
There are 2 major standard Pim of LP Ngern Roop Lor (mini cast statue):-
1. Phim Kheeta (eyes excretion) which is divided into 5 Sub-pims
a. Sub-pim SamChai (3 Jivorn crinkles)
b. Sub-pim SeeChai (4 Jivorn crinkles)
c. Sub-pim HarChai (5 Jivorn crinkles)
2. Phim Niyom: mini statue made by LuangPhor Ngern in around B.E. 2440-2450 (A.D.1897-1907) by bouquet lost-wax casting technique. Around 30 wax statues were put on a wax tree. After, casting statues will be cut off from bronze stems.
LuangPhor Ngern Pim Niyom- High composition of brass mixed real gold
LuangPhor Ngern Pim Niyom - High composition of silver content
Verification Markings:
1. The mouth groove is straight long while in Pim Kheeta, which looks like cresent moon curve. 2. The eyes floating in round basins 3. Slightly curve at the middle edge of Sangkhati. 4. Six Jivorn (monk cloth) stripes. This is the major symbol of Pim Niyom. Jivorn stripes are more sharper and clearer than pim Kheeta 5. Small hollow at the lower edge of Sangkhati 6. A dash line in between the two thumbs 7. Basin on the back look more deeper than Pim Kheeta 8. The base’s edge is sharper than Pim Kheeta.
Bottom Feature:
1. Filing mark is seen at the bottom 2. Cutting off scar is still seen at the bottom center. 3. Full filled with metal materials
Content of LuangPor Ngern Mini Cast Statue
Fundamental of mixtures are real gold, silver and copper. Other mixtures are brass (zinc+copper). Consideration from developing of content and skin of cast statue, we can check from various rust scattering on skin by sequential of time occurring from easy to difficult.
1. Rust from silver is black : occurring very easy and fast 2. Rust from copper is green blue color. 3. Rust from gold is dark red. 4. Rust from zinc is pale white.
Rust occurring depended on proportion of metal mixed e.g. high concentration of silver, rust will be black and may be covered other rust until unseen rust from other materials. From the research, we can notify that 1. The old real amulet will have properly order and composition of rust occurring by mixing of rust color: black, green blue, dark red and pale white, respectively which depending on proportion of materials pouring as well.
2. Rust stain driven off to surface outside must be conformity to materials inside as above identification.
3. The said material compositions are clearly seen glittering of content inside when looking into sunlight.
4. There would be seen wrinkle on skin which caused from erosion by aging processing. Skin is not smooth and not oily.
Comparative between worn and unworn LuangPhor Ngern Mini Casting Statue
• Used (worn): Amulet is the brighter yellow causing from the wearer by putting inside a small fabric bag or directly touch with body due to temperate inside human body and sweat including friction between amulet and wearer's skin
• Unused (unworn): Gold fragment should be darker color not bright color like the brass. If examined closely with a magnifying glass, we can see the real pieces of gold spread across the skin surface.
LuangPhor Ngern Pim Niyom- High composition of brass mixed real gold
LuangPhor Ngern Pim Niyom - High composition of silver content
