The Buddha's Crown Mantra Also known as " the Itipiso Ruean Tia mantra ", this ancient chant is believed to be profoundly sacred. It is renowned for its Buddhist virtues in fostering loving-kindness and popularity, aiding success, and guarding against evil. Devotees who chant it with good intentions are said to bring blessings to themselves and their families.
The Buddha's Crown Mantra is a sacred chant that Luang Pu Iam of Wat Nang once offered to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during the monarch's European tour. The mantra is believed to possess protective powers. It is said that King Rama V used the mantra to bless grass for his cavalry horses, causing the horses to become docile and easily handled. In olden times, Thais often chanted this mantra to bless grass for horses, cattle, and buffalo to prevent harm from these animals and to protect against enemies during battles or long journeys to distant places.
It is believed that chanting this mantra with good intention grants the chanter protection from harm during travel, transforms misfortune into good fortune, enhances auspiciousness, dispels evil, prevents illness, fosters mindfulness and wisdom, and brings calmness and concentration.
In the past, there was also a belief that the Buddha's Crown Mantra was an ancient incantation found in war manuals, commonly recited before battle to invoke protective Buddhist powers for safety. Some believed it granted invulnerability against weapons, though this is a matter of personal faith.
Today, besides chanting the Buddha's Crown Mantra to achieve success and fulfill desires, it is also believed to enhance loving-kindness and popularity. Chanting it to bless water used for washing the face is said to make others like and trust the person, facilitating smooth negotiations and commerce. This mantra has been passed down by many renowned Buddhist masters to their disciples, who usually begin by reciting Namo three times, followed by the mantra as shown below.
Itipiso Wisesoei
Isesae Buddha Nameoi
Imena Buddha Tangsoi
Isotang Buddha Pitiroei
I invoke the virtue of the extraordinary Buddha, the virtue of the supreme Nirvana stream, praised by all Buddhas, to be a magnificent divine robe adorned with a celestial crown and the royal attire of the Great Emperor, encompassing me forever and always.
Itipiso Wisesoei
Isesae Buddha Nameoi
Imena Buddha Tangsoi
Isotang Buddha Pitiroei
Buddha Ma A U, all suffering
Anatta Sampajit Chami
(Recite 3 times)
Itipiso Wisesoei
Isesae Buddha Nameoi
Imena Buddha Tangsoi
Isotang Buddha Pitiroei
Note: Luang Por Kuay's version of the Buddha's Crown Mantra is often used for blowing blessings on the head or crown. Some even tattoo the yantra on the head. Luang Por Kuay was a highly respected Buddhist master famed for his mystical powers. His disciples frequently traveled to receive his empowered chants and yantras, believed to bring auspiciousness and protection in times of danger.
To recite the Buddha's Crown Mantra effectively, the key is to maintain a focused mind. Establishing a meditative concentration is fundamental to properly chanting this mantra. During recitation, one should relax, be mindful of breathing in and out, clear the mind, and avoid distracting thoughts or worries.
The Buddha's Crown Mantra symbolizes continuously wearing the Buddha's crown.It is a spiritual technique encouraging the chanter to developstable mental focus for mindfulness meditation practice.The chanting technique involves the following instructions:
"I humbly invite the Buddha's merit to rest upon the crown of my head to protect and guard me."
Then chant the Buddha's Crown Mantra nine times. After each round, mentally invoke the Buddha's image and reflect on the Buddha's presence in different directions around you as follows:
After the 1st round: visualize the Buddha in front of your head.
After the 2nd round: visualize the Buddha on the right side of your head.
After the 3rd round: visualize the Buddha behind your head.
After the 4th round: visualize the Buddha on the left side of your head.
After the 5th round: visualize the Buddha to the northeast of your head.
After the 6th round: visualize the Buddha to the southeast of your head.
After the 7th round: visualize the Buddha to the southwest of your head.
After the 8th round: visualize the Buddha to the northwest of your head.
After the 9th round: visualize a large Buddha seated at the center, crowned with a shining crown, with all nine Buddhas above your head.
Reciting the Buddha's Crown Mantra is most commonly done nine times to enhance auspiciousness, loving-kindness, and protection from harm. Other counts have different traditional meanings: chanting eight times is a powerful protection to repel enemies; eighteen times is for fulfilling wishes; and 108 times is for developing concentration, wisdom, and strengthening the mind. Ultimately, the mantra's effectiveness depends on the chanter's focused mind and adherence to the Five Precepts in a righteous manner.