The 'Phra Nirantharay' of Siam, a floating image amulet of Luang Pu Thuat from Wat Chang Hai, the Kring Bua Rob edition (signature base) of 1965, is considered one of the most popular amulet models in the Luang Pu Thuat lineage from Wat Chang Hai, Pattani Province.
The 1965 Luang Pu Thuat amulet from Wat Chang Hai is regarded as the first traditional-style floating image amulet directly issued by Wat Chang Hai.
The Luang Pu Thuat Wat Chang Hai Bua Rob model with the signature engraving under the base from 1965 is another highly sought-after amulet within the Luang Pu Thuat Wat Chang Hai lineage in Pattani, widely traded with a substantial circulation in the amulet community.
This Luang Pu Thuat edition was created to raise funds for constructing a school building at Benjamarachutit School in Pattani. It is a traditionally cast amulet featuring Luang Pu Thuat seated on an inverted and upright lotus base surrounding the entire figure, hence the name 'Bua Rob' (lotus all around) model.
Beneath the base, a small bell pellet is enclosed and sealed with the same metal as the amulet, along with a three-line inscription stamped onto the amulet's surface. The first line reads “Visaisophon” (the ecclesiastical title of Phra Ajarn Tim, the abbot), the second line “Luang Pu Thuat,” and the third line “Wat Chang Hai.”
These three lines of text vary in clarity, which gave rise to the alternate name 'Signature Base' for this amulet. The three lines are stamped from the same die and serve as a 'code' for authenticating genuine versus counterfeit amulets.
The purpose of creating the Luang Pu Thuat Bua Rob Kring amulet was to support Benjamarachutit School in Pattani, a provincial school founded in 1912 during the reign of King Rama VI.
By 1965, the old school building was in serious disrepair. The school petitioned the government to construct a new building. The committee then sought cooperation from Mr. Anan Kananurak, a Pattani businessman involved in producing the first Luang Pu Thuat amulet made from herb composite in 1954, to request permission from Phra Ajarn Tim, abbot of Wat Chang Hai, to create a new Luang Pu Thuat amulet edition.
Phra Ajarn Tim kindly agreed and contacted the spiritual essence of Luang Pu Thuat through meditation, a practice locally known as “Nam Thang Nai” (internal sitting meditation).
Initially, the plan was to produce the amulets from herb composite, but Luang Pu Thuat disapproved, citing that herb composite amulets are fragile and prone to breakage, causing sorrow for descendants. He advised that they should be made from metal instead.
Thus, the Bua Rob Kring amulet was produced, with Mr. Anan Kananurak arranging for the mold carver and amulet casting workshop. A total of 5,000 amulets were made, all from a bronze alloy, with no special materials used.
Phra Ajarn Tim conducted the consecration ceremony on 16 April 1965 in a private ritual within his monk's quarters, following his usual practice without any grand ceremony in the ordination hall.
The following day, 17 April 1965, the amulets were first made available to the public at a donation price of 300 baht each, which was considered quite expensive at that time.
The committee offered the amulets for donation at Benjamarachutit School and the Pattani provincial treasury office inside the Pattani provincial hall for several months, but the amulets did not sell out.
Upon learning this, Phra Ajarn Tim instructed that the amulets be returned to Wat Chang Hai for donation offerings at a reduced price of 150 baht each. Within a few months, the amulets available at the temple were fully taken. The funds raised were handed over to the school to continue construction of the new school building. (Many documents mistakenly label this edition as a 'school building fund' edition, but the school existed long before.)
Later in 1976, the Pattani provincial treasury, responsible for the school building project, requested the remaining amulets they had deposited at a bank for lending to the public. They reissued them at 600 baht each (by then the amulet's popularity had increased). These amulets quickly sold out from the provincial treasury. (Information from veteran Luang Pu Thuat collectors in Pattani).
From an initial price in the hundreds, the Luang Pu Thuat Bua Rob Signature Base amulet has appreciated to tens and hundreds of thousands today, due to its distinctive and sharply detailed design unlike other Luang Pu Thuat models.
Importantly, Phra Ajarn Tim intentionally performed a special consecration, imbuing the amulet with great sacredness and spiritual power. It has a long history of miraculous experiences and has also helped generations of Pattani residents have a solid and enduring school building to this day.
