Phra Yod Khunphon (พระยอดขุนพล)

Thai. ‘Warlord's Top Buddha images’. Collective name given to a set of five popular Buddhist amulets, that originated in the past, going as far back as the Lopburi, Sukhothai and the early Ayutthaya Periods, and which survived up to the present time, being continuously remade and worshipped throughout. All are cast from a metal and all but one –which is from Sri Sawat (ศรีสวัสดิ์) in Kanchanaburi Province– come from temples that bear the name Wat Phra Sri Rattanamahathat, though from different locations, and all but one –which is standing in the in the pahng hahm yaht pose– are seated in the half lotus position, while performing the maravijaya mudra, i.e. the pose in which the Buddha's right hand touches the earth, and which is known in Pali as bhumisparsa. Individually, the amulets are known as Phra Ruang Lang Peun (fig.), Phra Hoo Yahn (fig.), Phra Chinnarat Bai Sema (fig.), Phra Mahesuan (fig.), and Phra Tha Kradahn (fig.), and collectively they are also referred to as Benjaphahkhih Phra Yod Khunphon (เบญจภาคีพระยอดขุนพล), which translates as ‘Five Associated Warlord's Top Buddha images (or amulets)’, as well as Phra Banja Phaak Neua Chin (พระเบญจภาคเนื้อชิน), i.e. ‘Five Northern Chin Buddha images (or amulets)’, with the name Chin (ชิน) being a derivative of Phraphut Chinnarat (ชินราช - fig.) from Phitsanulok. See also POSTAGE STAMPS. 回