How HUGE is the Standing Buddha at Wat Intharawihan/Wat Intharaviharn ? The foot section tells all. It measures 32 metres in height and approx. 12 metres wide ! THE FOOT section illustrate its scale. The gold mosaic outfit was added later after the crown prince laid the Buddha bone relic from government of Ceylon (Sri-Lanka). According to an elderly, typical way in seeking blessing from Luang Pho To is by present the the image with head of a mackerel fish, a boiled egg and flowers. Not sure how true is this.

Wat In has an amulet retail corner, unlike many other temples, the sale is handled by the temple monks. Below are two standard affordable versions produce by Wat In, each has the temple emblem stamping at the rear section. The crowd that gathered that day during my visit were centered on a special edition of a new series of Soomdej images. See below for more information.

A produce of Wat Inthraviharn SOOMDEJ that retails at the amulet corner. This is the affordable public version and looks like one of the five sets of the Limited Edition shown below (second row, center section)		One good practice of the temple is actually they gave away amulets to visitors too. I got few of these when they realized I was a foreigner.

Wat Intharaviharn / Inthrawihan recently pioneered a project to raise fund for some public welfare (which include a Buddhist library) for Wat Sangkhraram, Sukhothai province. A series of amulets and mini statues were being produced for such good course. To be honest, I thought it was another production of amulets when I first encountered the nice Soomdej at the temple's amulet section, only when I got back, Datin explained the leaflet I brought back what it was all about, some regrets-lah. Anyway, if not for Wat In, I don't think possibly so many modern days Thai Guru were gathered together for this. Read on.

Promotional Leaflet on the new production of Soomdej Bangkhunprom with Katta PAGE ONE	Promotional Leaflet on the new production of Soomdej Bangkhunprom with Katta PAGE TWO

Showing the standard affordable production SOOMDEJ of Wat IN	The process in amulet making of the Limited Edition series of Soomdej Bangkhumprom Wat IN

The Illustration of an original Bangkhunprom Soomdet, the new is the replica	The KATTA imprinted on the Soomdet Bangkhunprom on paper
I don't read Thai, but in case you do, this is the new series of Soomdej images produced by a few modern days Guru Monks. According to Datin who always interpret Thai for me, they have been blessed in the water with the original bowl Archan Toh used for more than 3 sessions - where the bowl of of the late Toh was sent to 831 Thai temples to be blessed. The leaflet explained the entire production process and who and who involved in the process of ritual blessing. No doubt - they are newly made amulets- according to what Datin explained, the first session was done in 3rd June 2006 headed by Luang Phor Koon and other Gurus and followed in 19th June by another group headed by Luang Phor Pern of Wat Peum Keow, Ayuttaya and finally on the 30th June 2006 all the amulets were being blessed by Sangkarat (Thai Head of Buddhist Monk) . Well, there aren't many instances that a sole amulet making project can gather so many volunteering modern days Gurus and in particularly, it is a produce of a replica of the original Soomdej Bangkhunprom series from the original temple and thus, it should be highly collectible.

			Wondering what are those scripts inscribed onto the rear section of the amulets ? Kattha. Something like combining the power of SOOMDEJ BANGKHUNPROM with the Chinakmanjong KATTA...by (not sure) Somdej Phra Bhudhacharn(Toh) Promrangsi of Wat Rakang.
The limited Edition of Soomdet Bangkhunprom by Wat IN, 2006	The thin 24 carat gold of Katta at the rear section. This is the Pim Patanyai (Royal Series with Gold)	The 99% pure Silver of Katta imprinted at the rear section; this may be called the Pim Sentai series

		Among this series, the front section for all the versions look identical (except for the rear section which is the preferred choice in Gold, Silver and Bronze). I noticed the counter with many individual amulet lovers examining the details to find the one that they preferred They are a few variations at the back, the most pricey is the 24K Golden Royal Series which, followed by 99% silver (Sentai) and bronze. Each retails at approx. MYR299-00 for the Gold, 130-00 for the silver and so forth. I notice a few are already being probably framed and cased in gold casing and sold for MYR550-00 each.
What the heck.. that I spent so many lines explaining this ? Because at MYR 160-00 - even if it is new, it worth more than those you acquire from amulet retail stores, not to mention encountering the many possibilities of fakes at places like online stores, huh ? Besides, you are doing a purchase at a good course.