Buddhist Amulet World – Commemorative Medal for Luang Por Phra's 92nd Birthday
Wat Khok Dok Mai's abbot emeritus Luang Por Phra Attasanto celebrated his 92nd birthday with a special commemorative somdej-style medal personally consecrated by the revered monk, featuring zodiac imagery and guardian yantra symbols.
"Perfect oneself first before teaching others, lest you become a corrupt scholar," reads a dharma message from Luang Por Cha Subhaddo of Wat Nong Pa Pong in Ubon Ratchathani, written in 2015.
Luang Por Phra Attasanto, the revered abbot emeritus of Wat Khok Dok Mai in Saraburi Province, has reached his 92nd birthday and completed 72 Buddhist Lent observances. The temple committee and his disciples organized a celebration and commissioned a special commemorative medal—a somdej-style amulet marking his 92 years. The medal features a meditating figure on a pig (the year of his birth according to the Thai zodiac), with guardian yantra symbols on either side of his head. Thai script reads "Phra Kru Wichit Chayanurak, Luang Por Phra Attasanto, celebrating 92 years of age." The reverse side displays a four-directional yantra design with Khmer script and temple information. Luang Por Phra personally consecrated these medals individually, each with a code and numbered sequence, and they are expected to be highly sought after.
The article also explores the history of commemorative Buddhist medals, including the rare "Chap Po Yi Lo Han" medal created in 1891 during the reign of King Rama V to commemorate his ordination, featuring 18 arhat figures in Chinese Mahayana Buddhist style.
Other notable examples include Luang Por Kaew Prom Saro of Wat Phuang Malai in Samut Songkhram, whose egg-shaped medals from 1916 are rare and expensive, and Luang Pu Sadhu Sukdhamma of Wat Ban Lae in Maha Sarakham, who created only three sets of amulets, with his somdej medals from 1966 available in both large and small versions with different metals.
