Palatkik

[peacock]

Palatkik

This is a type of amulet from Thailand called a PALATKIK. Such amulets are made by a handful of Buddhist monks with the ancient arcane knowledge and rituals necessary to make powerful magical amulets. They are usually cast in bronze at temple foundries, but some are hand-carved from wood, bone or horn.

They are provided to parishioners who request them personally and make a donation. One does not usually see them worn openly such as with other temple-consecrated amulets. They are kept inside the shirt on a necklace or often on a keychain inside the pant's pocket.

This type of amulet predates the introduction of Buddhism in Thailand, but the beliefs in them did not get phased out with Buddhism, but incorporated as Buddhism is very tolerant of diverse beliefs.

The amulets are believed to bring multiple positive benefits to the bearer. These include assistance in matters of performance, finding the right partner, maintaining faithfulness or fidelity of a partner and also protection from misfortune, such as danger, accident or illness.

[peacock]

Palakit is an auspicious talisman often mistaken for an obscene object. In fact it has been widely used by the Thai People for protection, enhancement of business, harmonious relationships, and most importantly, for warding off evil spirits or ghost. Sometimes it is also referred to Palad.

Palakit derives from Pali language. The origin of the Palakit is related to Lord Shiva, the Indian Hindu God who manifes himself in the form of "Linga", the male genital and sometimes together with "Yoni", the female genital. It symbolises the power of creation, strength of unity and the source of destruction, similar to the Chinese "Yang" element.

It was brought into Thailand together with the Khmer invasion as early as 8th century AD, but it was in a bigger size and was the main object of worship at the centre of many Khmer temples. The present style that could be worn over the waist with a string was made famous by Luang Phor Yi of Wat Sattaheep, Chunburi. His famous and usual inscriptions on the Palakit were "Gan Had Nei Had". These were invariably written in an old form of script called "Khom" that cannot be read by contemporary Thais but is now widely used by most Palakit makers.

Palakit could be carved from wood, bone, horn , ivory or made from mixed herbal powder and even metal. Some PaladKits are in plain form, while others could come in many forms, the most common ones are monkey holding the PaladKit, naked lady laying herself over the PaladKit and lizard with split tail, other forms are available as well.

Linga in phallic pillar form and Yoni discovered at ruins of Petchabun province dated 10th century Luang Phor Yi of Wat Sattaheep, Chunburi, Luang Phor Kit and his famous student Luang Phor Ler of Wat Sao ChernNgoh,ChaChernSao, Acharn Heng PyWan of Ayuthatya, Luang Phor Sod of Wat Pakon, Phetburi, are the top master in making PaladKit.

The great makers of Paladkit from 1950 to present are

• Luang Pu Fak Wat NikhonPhrajasang, student of Luang Phor Ler
• Luang Phor Khong Wat WanSaparok, student of Luang Phor Ler
• Acharn Thai Wat Saijoy, Phetburi, student of Luang Phor Ler
• Luang Pu Si Wat Sakae, student of Acharn HengPywan
• Luang Phor Kee Wat HuChan, student of Luang Phor Yi
• Luang Phor Seng Wat BangNa, student of Luang Phor Yi & Luang Phor Ler
• Luang Pu Make Wat LamkreDam, student of Luang Phor Yi & Laung Phor Ler
• Luang Phor Ghan Wat Intarawan, student of Luang Phor Ler
• Luang Phor Kuay Wat Kositharam, student of Luang Pu Suk
• Luang Phor Bern Wat BangPhra
• Luang Phor Yid Wat Nonjok
• Luang Phor ThongKreang Wat ChediHoi, student of L.P. Seng Wat BangNa
• Luang Pu Sawai Wat Predaram