Por Sala Tan

Pu Lersi Pung Yai – Lead Relic Version

The Laughing Hermit of the Rain Retreat
Crafted by Por Sala Tan | Chiang Dao Cave Relic Series

🔥 From Metal to Spirit: A Rare Lead Casting

While most spiritual figures are carved from wood or molded from sacred powders, this special batch was cast in lead—a deliberate choice by Por Sala Tan, who melted down old ceremonial metals believed to have been used in earlier offerings within the Chiang Dao cave system.

The use of lead in Southeast Asian ritual art is often misunderstood. Where gold symbolizes brilliance and status, lead represents transformation—the alchemical base metal, capable of anchoring heavy spiritual energy and grounding erratic forces. Por Sala Tan believed this to be the most appropriate medium for a spirit like Pu Lersi Pung Yai: weighty, grounding, but filled with unexpected lightness.

🌧️ A Spirit Who Refused to Disappear

During a prolonged rain retreat, with travel and rituals halted, Por Sala Tan committed himself to solitude and deep meditation within the ancient Chiang Dao caves. There, he was repeatedly visited by the spirit of Pu Lersi Pung Yai, a long-liberated hermit who, rather than offering solemn teachings, appeared through laughter and casual wisdom—reminding Por to stay humble, stay light, and find humour in spiritual trials.

These appearances grew so frequent that Por took them as a sign: the Lersi wanted his presence remembered, embodied, and continued.

🧱 Construction & Composition

• Base Material: Melted lead from old ritual objects, historically stored and safeguarded in Por Sala Tan’s possession

• Blessing Inserts: Takrut scrolls imbued with intention to stabilize moods and enhance intuitive strength

• Casting Ritual: Performed solo by Por Sala Tan during the final weeks of his 3-month retreat, with repeated incantations to draw the Lersi’s spirit into the piece

• Aesthetic: Rough-cast on purpose—keeping the texture raw to echo the hermit's own disregard for formality or appearances

💡 Spiritual Effects and Daily Use

Despite its heavy form, this piece carries a surprisingly uplifting energy. It is not meant to intimidate, but to accompany. Owners report:

• Increased mental clarity in chaotic or high-pressure situations

• Sudden solutions to stubborn problems—often arriving in unexpected ways

• A boost in natural charisma, especially when sincerity and humour are used over force

• Moments of laughter or levity arising just when tension peaks

• A subtle yet consistent baramee that grows over time, rooted in self-acceptance