PST04

Phra Chaiwat

Por Sala Tan
3" height

Personal Experiences Shared by Luksits

This particular piece was personally collected from a Por Sala Tan luksit, and is regarded as one of the rarer Buddha amulets created within his line of work.

Luksits have shared that Por Sala Tan’s Buddha images have helped numerous collectors and wearers in their daily lives, particularly in terms of improving the standard of work, stability in personal affairs, and overall life direction. Many devotees have expressed interest in obtaining more pieces, however only a limited number were ever produced, making them increasingly difficult to find.

Among Por Sala Tan's sacred works, pieces made from horn taken from a bull struck by lightning are traditionally regarded as particularly powerful materials for protection, overcoming obstacles and changing difficult circumstances.

Luksits who keep Por Sala Tan's protective works commonly associate them with a feeling of greater confidence when travelling, conducting business or entering uncertain situations. The combination of Phra Chaiwat wicha and lightning-struck horn gives this particular piece a broad purpose — protection together with advancement, prosperity and victory over difficulties.

Summary

This unusual Phra Chaiwat by Por Sala Tan was individually carved from the sacred horn of a bull killed by a lightning strike, a rare material traditionally preserved by practitioners for powerful protective and elemental wicha.

After carving the Buddha image, Por Sala Tan coated the figure with old-style Burmese red wax lacquer, followed by applications of gold leaf. The aged red-and-gold surface gives the piece its distinctive appearance.

Several wealth and protection takruts were attached directly to the figure. Old Sai Sin from sacred ceremonies was then tied around the Phra Chaiwat, binding the different ritual elements together.

The resulting piece combines two established traditions: the auspicious qualities of Phra Chaiwat — victory, protection, prosperity, health and baramee — with the force traditionally attributed to lightning-struck bull horn.

It is a highly individual example of Por Sala Tan's hand-prepared wicha.

Historical Background – Phra Chaiwat

Phra Chaiwat (พระชัยวัฒน์) is a small seated Buddha image historically connected with the broader tradition of Phra Kring and the Medicine Buddha.

The name carries the auspicious meaning of victory and flourishing. Historically, Phra Chaiwat images became associated with protection, success and the overcoming of danger, with certain traditions also connecting them with royal and ceremonial use.

Over generations, their purpose expanded naturally into everyday life.

Collectors and devotees consequently keep Phra Chaiwat for protection, advancement, health, prosperity and success in important undertakings.

Its broad range of traditional qualities has given Phra Chaiwat the character of a complete-life Buddha amulet — supporting both protection from adversity and progress towards favourable circumstances.

Sacred Lightning-Struck Bull Horn

The most important material in this particular piece is the old horn of a bull that died after being struck by lightning.

Within Thai animist and occult traditions, materials originating from an animal struck directly by lightning occupy a special position.

Lightning represents an immense manifestation of the sky and fire elements. Traditional practitioners regarded an object touched directly by such a rare natural event as carrying an exceptional elemental force.

Horn from a lightning-struck bull or buffalo was therefore carefully preserved and used by certain masters for the preparation of sacred objects.

The bull itself also carries associations with strength, endurance, land, livelihood and material abundance. When combined with the symbolism of lightning, the material became particularly associated with forceful protection, authority and the ability to break through difficult circumstances.

Traditional Wicha of Lightning-Struck Materials

Within older wicha traditions, lightning-struck animal materials have been used for sacred carvings, takruts, ritual implements and protective objects.

Their traditional qualities centre upon several areas.

Protection — guarding the wearer from danger and harmful influences.

Defence Against Wicha — traditionally associated with resisting hostile spiritual influences, curses and black magic.

Breaking Obstacles — the sudden force of lightning symbolically represents breaking through stagnant or difficult circumstances.

Authority & Courage — combining the strength of the bull with the force of the sky element.

Wealth & Property — the bull's traditional relationship with agriculture, livelihood and possessions gives the material an additional association with maintaining and increasing one's resources.

For this piece, Por Sala Tan brought these qualities under the sacred form of Phra Chaiwat, directing the force of the material towards an auspicious Buddhist image.

Burmese Red Wax & Gold Leaf

After carving the Phra Chaiwat, Por Sala Tan finished the figure with red Burmese wax lacquer.

The deep red coating remains visible across the body and face, giving the carving its characteristic aged appearance.

Gold leaf was subsequently applied over portions of the surface.

Traces of red and gold remain together throughout the figure, creating the irregular patina expected from an individually prepared sacred object.

The surface was left with its natural ritual character, preserving the marks of hand preparation and ageing.

Old Ceremony Sai Sin & Sacred Takruts

A particularly distinctive feature is the extensive use of old Sai Sin from sacred ceremonies.

The aged sacred threads were retained after ritual use and later tied directly around the Phra Chaiwat.

Por Sala Tan also attached several individually prepared takruts for wealth and protection.

These can be clearly seen on the figure. One is positioned across the hands at the front, with additional takruts secured around the lower portion of the image. The reverse carries another pair of takruts bound vertically against the body.

The old Sai Sin physically binds these sacred components to the carving, creating a compact arrangement of Buddha image, elemental material, sacred thread and handwritten wicha.

Traditional Blessings

Protection & Safety

Phra Chaiwat has traditionally been associated with protection from danger and maintaining safety during difficult circumstances.

The lightning-struck horn and protective takruts strengthen this aspect of the piece within Por Sala Tan's wicha tradition.

Victory & Overcoming Obstacles

The meaning of Chai is closely associated with victory.

The amulet is traditionally kept when facing competition, important decisions, difficult negotiations or circumstances requiring obstacles to be overcome.

Wealth & Prosperity

The wealth takruts add a deliberate Maha Lap and prosperity aspect.

For modern devotees, this may relate to business opportunities, career advancement, successful negotiations, improved income and the preservation of accumulated wealth.

Health & Well-Being

Through its historical relationship with the Phra Kring and Medicine Buddha tradition, Phra Chaiwat is also associated with health, recovery, longevity and peace of mind.

Baramee & Authority

The combination of the Buddha image, bull symbolism and lightning-struck material is traditionally associated with strengthening baramee, confidence and personal authority.

Modern Application

The broad character of Phra Chaiwat makes this piece suitable for daily wear.

Business owners may keep it for protection of livelihood, continued opportunities and successful dealings.

Those working in competitive environments may value its traditional associations with victory, authority and overcoming obstacles.

Travellers may keep it for protection and safe journeys, while practitioners may appreciate the unusual elemental character of the lightning-struck material.

Above all, the piece combines protection with advancement — safeguarding what has already been established while supporting continued progress.

Physical Details

The amulet depicts Phra Chaiwat seated in meditation, individually carved from old lightning-struck bull horn.

Its tall pointed crown and strongly defined facial features give the image a distinctive old-style character.

The surface is finished with Burmese red wax lacquer and applied gold leaf, producing a deep red, brown and gold patina.

At the front, a takrut rests horizontally across the hands. Further wealth and protection takruts are bound around the lower body with old Sai Sin.

The reverse carries two vertically positioned takruts, again secured using old sacred thread.

The entire arrangement is presently protected within a custom silver-toned casing.

Each figure was individually worked and prepared by hand. The natural horn was carved, lacquered and gilded before the takruts and old ceremonial Sai Sin were individually positioned and tied. Variations in carving, surface, gold-leaf coverage and sacred-thread placement form part of the character of the piece and make it unique.

Recommended Pairings

A Hua Namo pairs naturally with the Phra Chaiwat where additional Metta Maha Niyom, auspiciousness and smooth dealings are desired.

For stronger guardian qualities, Tao Wessuwan complements its traditional protection and authority aspects.

A Phra Sivali may be paired with the piece where the collector wishes to place greater emphasis on livelihood, abundance, travel and the continuous arrival of favourable opportunities.

A Rare Phra Chaiwat of Por Sala Tan

This Phra Chaiwat is distinguished by the unusual relationship between its sacred form and material.

The Phra Chaiwat represents victory, protection, prosperity and flourishing, while the lightning-struck bull horn carries older beliefs surrounding elemental force, protection, courage and the breaking of obstacles.

Por Sala Tan further developed the piece through Burmese red wax, gold leaf, old ceremonial Sai Sin and dedicated wealth and protection takruts.

The result is a complex but carefully balanced sacred object — Buddha wicha for victory and flourishing, rare lightning-struck material for protection and force, and individually prepared takruts directed towards wealth and safeguarding the wearer.

For collectors of Por Sala Tan's uncommon hand-prepared works, it is a distinctive Phra Chaiwat with strong traditional associations across protection, prosperity, victory, health and baramee.