Phra NangPraya, Curved Knee Mould

Nang Praya Temple, Phitsanulok

Phra NangPraya or the queen of amulet is a soil substance amulet, found in Nang Praya Temple, Phitsanulok. This temple was renovated and maintained by Phra Wisutkasattri, the daughter of King Maha Thammaracha and Somdej Pra Suriyothai, as well as the mother of King Naresuan, the Great and King Ekatosarod. It is believed that Phra Wisutkasattri built this temple for merit making to her mother, Phra Suriyathai, as she died in the Burmese-Siamese war. The isosceles triangle shape is the identity of Phra NangPraya, a small soil substance amulet with appearance of sitting Buddha Image and the gesture of Subduing Mara. Phra Nang Praya’s materials consist of sacred soil, herbs, carpel flowers, gravel and sand. The materials are mixed together, pressed into a mould and burnt. Total 84,000 Phra NangPraya were made and blessed through the holy ritual. 84,000 is the numbers of Dharma practices in the Tripitaka (Buddhist Scriptures). At present, there are 7 standardized moulds as follow 1. Pim KaoKhong (Curved Knee Mould) 2. Pim KaoTrong (Straight Knee Mould) 3. Pim KaoTrong MueTokKao (Straight knee, right hand touch on knee Mould) 4. Pim Ok Noon Yai (Big Protrude Chest Mould) 5. Pim Ok Noon Lek (Small Protrude Chest Mould) 6. Pim Sangkhati (Monk’s Outer Rope Mould) 7. Pim Deva or Ok Fab (Flat Chest Mould)