Phra Somdej (The Crown of the Benjapakee)
Rectangular 3-tiered throne votive tablet compounded from the Five Sacred Chalk Powders
Created between BE 2409 and BE 2415 (1866–1872 CE) during the transition from King Rama IV to King Rama V by Somdej Phra Buddhacharn (Toh Phromrangsi, BE 2331–2415), Abbot of Wat Rakhang Kositaram in Bangkok. Prior to depositing 84,000 tablets across Wat Rakhang, Wat Bang Khun Phrom (Wat Mai Amatarot), and Wat Ket Chaiyo (Ang Thong), Somdej Toh hand-inscribed and erased sacred chalk yantras on slate boards hundreds of times to compound the Five Sacred Powders.
Seated Buddha in Samadhi meditation on a three-tiered lotus/throne pedestal (representing the Triple World or Triple Gem) enclosed within a bell-shaped arch (Soom Korb Kaew).
Compounded from the Five Sacred Chalk Powders (Pathamang, Itthaje, Maharaj, Putthakun, Trinisinghe), calcined shell lime (Poon Pleuak Hoi), cooked rice, lotus pollen, and bound with Nam Man Tang Iw (tung oil).
Every geometric proportion of Phra Somdej encodes Theravada Buddhist doctrine:
Chinfak (wax-gourd slice) frame represents the monastic robe patch (Civara) and earth stability;Hand-sliced bamboo edge cut striations (Roi Tok Tat), tung-oil shrinkage crazing (Taek Lai Nga), organic pin-hole voids, and mould fidelity across Pim Yai, Pim Chedi, Pim Than Sam, and Pim Ket Bua Toom.
Na-Mo-Put-Taa-YaMa-A-USang-Wi-Taa-Pu-Ga-Ya-Pa (Katha Chinabanchorn & Metta Cittang)- ◆Wat Rakhang Pim Yai (Phra Prathan — Master Mould A/B/C/D)
- ◆Wat Rakhang Pim Chedi (Stupa Silhouette Mould)
- ◆Wat Rakhang Pim Than Sam (Auxiliary Line Pedestal Mould)
- ◆Wat Rakhang Pim Ket Bua Toom (Lotus-Bud Ushnisha Mould)
- ◆Wat Bang Khun Phrom (New Crypt BE 2500 & Old Crypt 9 Canonical Moulds)
- ◆Wat Ket Chaiyo Pim 7 Chan (7-Tiered Pedestal), Pim 6 Chan Ok Tan & Ok Talod