Somdej Phra Phutthakhosacharn Rith, Wat Arun created a batch of amulets known as Phra Kru Wat Amphawa (amulets from pagoda of Wat Amphawa) in the year B.E.2450. Many pre-B.E.2500 famous guru monks learnt sacred Buddhist magic from him, such as Luang Phor Kong, Wat Bangkhaphom, Luang Pu Nak, Wat Arun and Luang Phor Seng, Wat Kallayanimit. Somdej Phra Phutthakosacharn Rith was considered one of the top guru monk of his generation due to his famous reputation of mastering many sacred Buddhist magic. Somdej Phra Phutthakhosacharn Rith passed away in B.E.2456 at the age of 76 years old.
The materials used to create this batch of amulets were the same 5 types of holy materials used by Somdej Phra Phutthacharn Toh Phrommarangsi to produce his amulets. This is also one of the reason why many veteran collectors remarked that the material of this batch of amulets resembles Somdej Phra Phutthacharn Toh’s Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang / Wat Bangkhunphrom amulets.
One of Somdej Phra Phutthakosacharn Rith’s most potent sacred powder created is known as Phong Kap Sattru Pen Mit (Turning enemies into friends). This sacred powder is created using the traditional method of using chalk to write holy script (Yantra) onto a board and then erasing the scripts to collect the chalk powder. Many types of sacred materials were grounded (auspicious wood, moss which formed on the Sema slabs surrounding the chanting hall, joss powder, burnt palm leaves from illegible sutra texts, cooked rice, etc.) and then mixed together with the chalk powder which was collected earlier. Oyster shells were then grounded to add into the sacred mixture so as to increase the available material base for producing the amulets.
After the amulets were pressed from the mould with this sacred powder, the amulets were then dipped into a solution of sugarcane juice with banana water to protect the sacred material from cracking when dried. When the amulets were dried, Chinese Tang Yew oil (Namman Tang Yew) was further applied onto the amulets to ensure that the amulets were not damaged easily.
After the amulets were created in Wat Arun, Somdej Phra Phutthakosacharn Rith brought the amulets to be buried in a pagoda in Wat Amphawa, Ban Chang Lor district, Thonburi province, in the year B.E.2450. The pagoda was opened officially for the first time in the year B.E.2484 during World War 2. A porton of the amulets was to be distributed to the military and villagers to boost their morale during the war. After the war, it was widely reported that those who were wearing Phra Phong Namman Kru Wat Amphawa did not come to any danger and survived the war. The second time the pagoda was opened was due to the pagoda being damaged by bad weather. This time round, many amulets flowed out of the pagoda and they were all being collected by the temple. Many pieces were damaged but however the undamaged pieces were kept by the temple to be given to donors. The funds collected were used to repair the broken pagoda.
There were more than 10 styles created for this batch of amulets, however the verification of the amulet is relatively easy due to the unique features of the amulet’s material. The back of the amulet resembles the surface of the moon, which has “craters”-like shallow holes. The amulets will also have some degree of damage due to the handling method and also being buried in the pagoda for many years. Many collectors have came across many pieces over the years and have discovered that there are no identical pieces, and that every piece looks slightly different from one another.
