New Sea Turtle Amulets Unveiled From Luang Pu Liu
Luang Pu Liu, a renowned monk from Nakhon Pathom, created the famous "Sea Turtle Medal" amulet starting in 1973, rooted in Buddhist legend of a compassionate bodhisattva turtle who sacrificed itself to save starving merchants. The sacred ta
According to Buddhist legend, when the Buddha was once reborn as a sea turtle named Mahachitrajon, he lived on an island. After a storm destroyed passing merchant ships, many survivors swam ashore to the island, desperate and starving. In their hunger and thirst, they plotted to kill the turtle. The compassionate bodhisattva turtle, understanding their desperation, voluntarily rolled itself off a cliff to sacrifice its blood and flesh as food for the survivors. The people consumed the meat and fashioned the shell into a vessel to safely return home. Later, grateful for the turtle's sacrifice, they created images to venerate and worship. This eventually led to the creation of sacred amulets shaped like sea turtles, inscribed with sacred numerals and blessed through religious ceremonies, a tradition that continues to this day.
The most celebrated creator of sea turtle amulets is Luang Pu Liu Pannakon, former abbot of Wat Rai Taeng Thong in Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom, who became the master craftsman of the famous "Sea Turtle Medal." Luang Pu Liu began creating these amulets around 1957 at Wat Sanam Yae, initially as powder amulets, later expanding into medals, cast amulets, votive images, protective belts, and closed-eye Buddha images. Sacred talismans also include waist belts, two-tailed geckos, and other protective charms. The most famous creation is the "Sea Turtle Medal," which was developed based on teachings from Luang Pho Yan of Wat Ban Khong in Photharam, Ratchaburi.
The first edition Sea Turtle Medal, created in 1973, features a four-legged turtle design with ears on top resembling medal features. A standing Buddha image appears on the front with sacred numerals on the reverse. The first run produced 300 medals in special metal alloy and 12,000 in copper. The special metal versions were given as commemorative gifts to sponsors who funded the construction of the temple's assembly hall pavilion, while the copper versions were sold for 100 baht each for worship. According to popular accounts, when these medals are soaked in blessed holy water, all the turtles miraculously crawl out of the vessel before being distributed for worship. Believers revere these amulets for protection from illness and misfortune, hoping to enjoy long life and longevity like the turtle.
